Burst Speed and SD card data, for X-T4 and X-H1

Sharing some data that some may found interesting and helpful

Someone asked about SD cards and burst speed.

I decided to compare cards (Lexar 2000 -300 MB/s a Lexar 633-95 MB/s, and a SanDisk UltraPlus- 80 MB/s) at different drive speed burst, with an X-T4 and X-H1. I used those cards because are the ones I have.

All similar conditions : manual focus, SS: 2000, A at 2.8, ISO 1600), with Mechanic Shutter, RAW+JPEG L, 3:2, set only for SD slot 1 , sequential (so no backup, both RAW and JPG recorded in same card), film simulation: Standard Provia, cameras in Boost, no Clarity in the T4. Max speed are 15 fps in the Xt4, and 8 fps in the X-H1. Lens was the 60mm, 2.4 but in manual focus.

Target was my phone with the stopwatch already started to calculate number of photos per second, i pressed the shutter until the slowdown in shutter speed was clear. The exception was the T4 at 5 fps when using the 2 faster cards, that I stopped before I could hear a slowdown,

Then I counted how many frames per second.

It was clear, but not measured that the slower the card the longer it took to stop recording (light on the back of the camera showing that it is still recording), with the slower card easily taking 10 seconds or more.

I did not try Stop-go-stop-go burst as I do not have a way to start the burst at reliable lapses.

Here are the results:

In the setup, number of photos per second was more reliable in the T4. I had to repeat the shooting with the X-H1, because the first time I thought I made a mistake because the numbers were not consistent as the X-T4

Overall not surprising, faster cards and newer cameras do a better job as expected, but this tables give some idea idea of how many seconds you can continue to keep the shutter pressed and still capture photos, I have in my mind that a 100 meters race in the Olympics takes about 10 seconds. .. If you press continuously at 15 fps you are going to miss the end!

I am sure that saving backup in slot 2 would have slower more the number of photos. Saving in B&W may have improved the performance (smaller files)

I saved RAW and JPG because is what I always shoot, and Mechanical Shutter because is what I usually use, ..... and to hear the slow down

For me the most important take away is that if you want to capture a scene that is going to take more than 2-3 seconds you want to use slower burst speed., or do short bursts. On the T4, at 5 frames per second I stopped at 15 seconds, not sure for how long it would have kept the same rate.

Mario