Reading mode: Light Dark

Best CF card for 40D?

Go to last post
D

DiveDr

Leading Member
Messages
712
Reaction score
12
Location
US
I have been shooting with the 40D for some time now primarily using 2Gig generic 80X CF cards. Have been able to sustain bursts of 10-20 frames at about 6fps then the buffer fills and the shooting slows. What's the fastest card the 40D can handle and when does increased CF speed become irrelevant?
 
I use only Promaster 305X Pro cards now. Not only a lifetime warranty, but my local dealer has free recovery on the cards too. Pretty reasonable pricing too.
 
thats very expensive

i got my sandisk 8GB extreme III last year from adorama for $60 after mail in rebate
The Souljourner said:
I got this one, 40MB/sec 8 gig, not ridiculously expensive ($106):

http://www.amazon.com/Kingston-CF-8GB-U2-Ultimate-CompactFlash/dp/B000UC7P0G/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1222801919&sr=8-4

Speed may not change maximum pictures taken in high speed mode
significantly (in-camera memory matters far more), but it'll reduce
the time it takes for the camera to recover once it fills up that
memory, plus it'll transfer faster to your PC when the time comes.

-Nate
Click to expand...
 
For my workflow...
Even If I shoot BIF and sport, I am more concern by the card to computer speed.

Nowadays most fast cards are fastest than your 40D can deliver.

I shoot with a 40D and I hate to wait when downloading the images on my computer.

I use a fast "in computer" card reader and sandisk 4GB extreme III and IV.

--
Michael Ouellet
Quebec city, Canada
http://www.michael.volcan.ca/
 
DiveDr said:
I have been shooting with the 40D for some time now primarily using
2Gig generic 80X CF cards. Have been able to sustain bursts of 10-20
frames at about 6fps then the buffer fills and the shooting slows.
What's the fastest card the 40D can handle and when does increased CF
speed become irrelevant?
Click to expand...
Many above have provided opinions on the best card (I have a 16GB Extreme III).

But cards are going to have a very minor impact on burst duration. I assume you're shooting RAW (as JPEG can typically handle 70+). The buffer fills at 17 shots, per spec (iirc, I may be off by 1). You could have no card in the camera and it would still shoot 17 shots. In that

After the buffer fills, you can only take a shot when a shot has been written to the card. With a fast card, that's about 1fps. With a moderately fast card, maybe .8fps. Even the generic/standard 80x in RG's database show speeds that would yield about .5fps.

So getting a card that's twice as fast won't do anything near doubling your buffer - more like 5-10%. It will speed up your post-buffer fill writing, but only from 0.5 to 1fps. You'll never get to 6fps again until you let the buffer flush.
 
Thank you! That's the answer I was looking for. Then for me there is no need to UG. From what you said the buffer flush will take the same time with any 80X card or above so delayed shooting time will be the same, no?

Thanks for all the replies!
 
It will take the same time to fill the buffer with either card, so you can shoot 17-18 shots in exactly the same time.

A 166x card will write out to the card about twice as fast as an 80x card so you will either be able to shoot twice as fast (1.0fps vs. 0.5 fps) on an ongoing basis once the buffer is full or, if you stop shooting, the camera will clear the buffer and be able to shoot another full burst in half the time (17 seconds vs 34 seconds - all numbers approx.)

Only if you regularly need to shoot long burst on an ongoing basis would a faster card be a significant advantage while shooting. Downloading, of course, it will be twice as fast.
 
Downloading will only be twice as fast if you do it with a card reader (not with a direct USB camera connection) and the card reader can handle the faster speed.

When transferring direct from the camera I find no difference between a 60x and a 166x card.

My card reader is even slower!

--
Arno Krautter

Galleries: http://quark.zenfolio.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top