Further to the CF Card saga - maybe something for FAx

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x (approx 15 sec to write an image).

The following cards worked (approx 15 sec write time):

• garden variety Sandisk 32 MB
• Kodak 64MB

These CF cards were also tested and did not work well (approx 30 sec write time):

• PQI 512MB
• Power (whatever they are) 512MB

So if you're out to get a new card, make sure you test beforehand (though all the manufacturers, except Sandisk by the looks of it, are now heat sealing their packages, which makes it very hard to test).

Cheers

Ray

--

There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

Hi,

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

Click to expand...

Yep, I too am returning my Ridata & getting a Sandisk Ultra II.

OzRay said:

The following cards worked (approx 15 sec write time):

• garden variety Sandisk 32 MB
• Kodak 64MB

Click to expand...

So you're finding the Ultra II is the same speed as the ordinary Sandisk? I figured the difference wouldn't be all that much, but I was hoping the extra money for the Ultra II would give some results What made you spend the extra?

I have a friend with a Kodak card of some sort, and he tells me it was even slower than the Ridata...

OzRay said:

These CF cards were also tested and did not work well (approx 30
sec write time):

• PQI 512MB
• Power (whatever they are) 512MB

Click to expand...

Yep, glad I avoided exchanging for a Power.

I got the Ultra II because it was the only one available. I called a number of stores and it's quite odd how difficult it is at the moment to get good CF cards. The clincher was that the place I got the card from allowed me to test several (ie had to break the packets to get at the cards).

Cheers

Ray

Namarrgon said:

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

Click to expand...

Yep, I too am returning my Ridata & getting a Sandisk Ultra II.

Namarrgon said:

The following cards worked (approx 15 sec write time):

• garden variety Sandisk 32 MB
• Kodak 64MB

Click to expand...

So you're finding the Ultra II is the same speed as the ordinary
Sandisk? I figured the difference wouldn't be all that much, but I
was hoping the extra money for the Ultra II would give some results
What made you spend the extra?

I have a friend with a Kodak card of some sort, and he tells me it
was even slower than the Ridata...

Namarrgon said:

These CF cards were also tested and did not work well (approx 30
sec write time):

• PQI 512MB
• Power (whatever they are) 512MB

Click to expand...

Yep, glad I avoided exchanging for a Power.

Click to expand...

--

There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

Hi everyone,

This thread might also be interesting:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=8142547

regards,
Steven

OzRay said:

Cheers

Ray

Namarrgon said:

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

Click to expand...

Yep, I too am returning my Ridata & getting a Sandisk Ultra II.

OzRay said:

The following cards worked (approx 15 sec write time):

• garden variety Sandisk 32 MB
• Kodak 64MB

Click to expand...

So you're finding the Ultra II is the same speed as the ordinary
Sandisk? I figured the difference wouldn't be all that much, but I
was hoping the extra money for the Ultra II would give some results
What made you spend the extra?

I have a friend with a Kodak card of some sort, and he tells me it
was even slower than the Ridata...

OzRay said:

These CF cards were also tested and did not work well (approx 30
sec write time):

• PQI 512MB
• Power (whatever they are) 512MB

Click to expand...

Yep, glad I avoided exchanging for a Power.

Click to expand...

--
There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else
said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

Click to expand...

--
With kind regards,

Steven Renders

[email protected]

The 512MB Ridata card would take 41 shots, but the 512 MB Sandisk takes 42. Go figure!

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

The following cards worked (approx 15 sec write time):

• garden variety Sandisk 32 MB
• Kodak 64MB

These CF cards were also tested and did not work well (approx 30
sec write time):

• PQI 512MB
• Power (whatever they are) 512MB

So if you're out to get a new card, make sure you test beforehand
(though all the manufacturers, except Sandisk by the looks of it,
are now heat sealing their packages, which makes it very hard to
test).

Cheers

Ray

--
There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else
said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

Click to expand...

--

There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

I got a Sandisk Ultra II 512MB card when I got my A1 in Jan. I can't really speak about it's performance, but the card failed about a week and a half ago. I had put the card into my usb card reader and the computer couldn't see it. So without removing the card I disconnected the usb cable and plugged it back in. The computer now recognized the reader, but the card wouldn't function and I believe that procedure is what damaged the card. I called Sandisk, told them what happened, and they arranged for an exchange including shipping costs. I got the replacement today, but instead of it being another Ultra II card it is an Extreme card. It's speed performance is rated the same, but the Extreme card is more durable in regard to temperature and physical shock/vibration. It was in an

Ultra II package, but the card itself is an Extreme. So I don't know if this is a mistake or what, but Sandisk did back their warrantee without hassle.

OzRay said:

OzRay said:

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

OK, now I'm confused :-/

A friend with an A2 (and in much the same boat) just went & tried a bunch of 1 GB Sandisk Ultra II cards, and he claims it was almost as slow as the Ridata 52x for him, 25s to write a raw.

So now either he's wrong, or your 512 MB Ultra II is a lot faster than the 1 GB Ultra IIs. Or he has a dodgy camera in some way, but I don't believe that's so.

Tests on the A1 seem to back up your results. I just wish I could find more test results for the A2 around...

I don't think it's just my camera, based on the fact that Power In Number had received two quite independent calls citing the same problem.

The only thing that comes to mind is that the architecture of each CF card must be quite different, within a particular size and brand, though I though everything was built to a standard.

On the other hand, did your friend have the camera set up for just RAW, or RAW & JPG? Don't know if this makes a difference though.

On the other hand, the Ridata worked fine with the A1, quite fast.

I've now come to believe that you just have to test out each individual card to see how it works in your camera. If the retailer won't let you test, don't buy.

Cheers

Ray

Namarrgon said:

Namarrgon said:

Namarrgon said:

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

OK, now I'm confused :-/

A friend with an A2 (and in much the same boat) just went & tried a
bunch of 1 GB Sandisk Ultra II cards, and he claims it was almost
as slow as the Ridata 52x for him, 25s to write a raw.

So now either he's wrong, or your 512 MB Ultra II is a lot faster
than the 1 GB Ultra IIs. Or he has a dodgy camera in some way, but
I don't believe that's so.

Tests on the A1 seem to back up your results. I just wish I could
find more test results for the A2 around...

Click to expand...

--

There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

OzRay said:

I don't think it's just my camera, based on the fact that Power In
Number had received two quite independent calls citing the same
problem.

Click to expand...

One of them was probably me There's definitely an issue with Ridata 52x cards - every report I've seen now backs that up - though Ridata 25x cards seem to be fine.

OzRay said:

On the other hand, did your friend have the camera set up for just
RAW, or RAW & JPG? Don't know if this makes a difference though.

Click to expand...

He tested by shooting one RAW, he said, and he also said he formatted in-camera before each test.

However, pretty much everything else I've read (including yours) supports around 800 KB/s from a Sandisk Ultra II, so I'm willing to give it a shot (with a good return policy of course).

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

The following cards worked (approx 15 sec write time):

• garden variety Sandisk 32 MB
• Kodak 64MB

These CF cards were also tested and did not work well (approx 30
sec write time):

• PQI 512MB
• Power (whatever they are) 512MB

So if you're out to get a new card, make sure you test beforehand
(though all the manufacturers, except Sandisk by the looks of it,
are now heat sealing their packages, which makes it very hard to
test).

Cheers

Ray

--
There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else
said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

Click to expand...

--When giving figures on write times for a given card, please include information on what camera you are talking about. Not everyone will remember what camera you own, and the write times are definitely different.

What happened to that site that compared write times on Minolta Cameras? Wasn't that Brian Biggers' site? I haven't heard it mentioned lately.

Jim Rickards



Photo critiques are always welcome.

If you haven't bought your card yet you might get a Lexar 40x card. On the Minolta Ax series they are faster than the SanDisk Ultra2 cards. This seesm to be unique to this camera line. On other cameras it's slightly slower than the SanDisk. Lexar 40x cards also come with a lifetime warranty. LExar now has a new line of 80x cards out but I haven't seen them or heard any user reports on them.

Going by the speed ratings manufacturers post on cards isn't a good idea as their is no industry standard on rating them. Lexar says 40x means it writes at 40 times the speed of a 1x cd rom drive (40x 150 kbits/second). Other manufacturers would say 52x means its 52 times faster than their base card (whatever speed that was). Others say the marketing department said the number sounded good. There is a site that tests card speeds on DSLR cameras but the Minolta Ax series doesn't seem to work the same way as their test results on DSLR's.

Namarrgon said:

OzRay said:

I don't think it's just my camera, based on the fact that Power In
Number had received two quite independent calls citing the same
problem.

Click to expand...

One of them was probably me There's definitely an issue with
Ridata 52x cards - every report I've seen now backs that up -
though Ridata 25x cards seem to be fine.

Namarrgon said:

On the other hand, did your friend have the camera set up for just
RAW, or RAW & JPG? Don't know if this makes a difference though.

Click to expand...

He tested by shooting one RAW, he said, and he also said he
formatted in-camera before each test.

However, pretty much everything else I've read (including yours)
supports around 800 KB/s from a Sandisk Ultra II, so I'm willing to
give it a shot (with a good return policy of course).

Click to expand...

--
http://www.garageglamour.com/portfolios/greatphotos

These tests were done with an A2. I mentioned elsewhere that I didn't notice any problems with my previous A1, so there must be a difference in the software/hardware between the A1/2 (not just the fact that the file sizes in RAW are somewhat larger).

Cheers

Ray

Jim Rickards said:

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

The following cards worked (approx 15 sec write time):

• garden variety Sandisk 32 MB
• Kodak 64MB

These CF cards were also tested and did not work well (approx 30
sec write time):

• PQI 512MB
• Power (whatever they are) 512MB

So if you're out to get a new card, make sure you test beforehand
(though all the manufacturers, except Sandisk by the looks of it,
are now heat sealing their packages, which makes it very hard to
test).

Cheers

Ray

--
There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else
said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

Click to expand...

--When giving figures on write times for a given card, please
include information on what camera you are talking about. Not
everyone will remember what camera you own, and the write times are
definitely different.

What happened to that site that compared write times on Minolta
Cameras? Wasn't that Brian Biggers' site? I haven't heard it
mentioned lately.

Jim Rickards



Photo critiques are always welcome.

Click to expand...

--

There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

OzRay said:

Just returned my Ridata 512 MB 52x/Pro card (approx 33 sec to write
an image) and replaced it with a Sandisk 512 MB Ultra II 66x
(approx 15 sec to write an image).

The following cards worked (approx 15 sec write time):

• garden variety Sandisk 32 MB
• Kodak 64MB

These CF cards were also tested and did not work well (approx 30
sec write time):

• PQI 512MB
• Power (whatever they are) 512MB

So if you're out to get a new card, make sure you test beforehand
(though all the manufacturers, except Sandisk by the looks of it,
are now heat sealing their packages, which makes it very hard to
test).

Cheers

Ray

--
There are no limitations, only challenges - me (unless someone else
said it first).

http://www.rkp.com.au/PhotoGallery/

Click to expand...

mj1 wrote:

At times there appears to be compatability issues with one brand card and a particular brand camera. The Minolta 7i (not 7 or 7Hi) was very hard to get right. Transcend had big issues with the Nikon D100 (OK now). Canon seems to be the "friendliest" equipment when it comes to card compatibility. For this post, I just shot a raw 8mp file in a Nikon 8700. Write time to a Ridata Pro 52X card, a Sandisk Ultra II 60X card and a Transcend Ultra 45X card was each aound 13 seconds.I'd be willing to bet a standard 8X card would show a significant difference, though. If you go to Rob Galbraith's CF database, you can see a big difference (but he only tests in DSLRs).