5Dm2 and SanDisk Extreme IV?

[Breach]

I just ordered 2x 16GB SanDisk Extreme IV for my 5D Mark II... So it's a bit too late to second guess, but still -- apart from greater bursts and faster transfer speeds to PC are there any other real benefits of using Extreme IV over Extreme III cards...? They are supposedly rated at UDMA - 45MB/sec, but this is theoretical max speed, right? What kind of real difference in performance am I looking towards to? Thanks.

 

[ronm2008]

As far as I know, the reasons you've stated are the only ones. I use Extreme IIIs, although given the huge sizes of 5D2 raw files and videos, the faster transfer rate to the PC would definitely be nice.

 

[ssaito0527]

As ronm2008 mentioned regarding the transfer rate to the PC, it's pretty quick, as long as you have a UDMA card reader, I just purchased the Lexar Professional USB 2.0 one and it's definitely a lot faster than directly connecting the camera or using a non-UDMA one.

 

[JimW577067]

We have been upgrading cards for years as they are developed and have the Extreme III and IV versions... Speed is the feature upgrade. Since Canon and others are developing more and better images and Video, the CF card storage Capacity and READ/Write speeds will continue to keep pace with the Devices/Cameras they are designed for...

FYI, we prefer, as does Canon, Sandisk cards.

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JimWilson, Boca Raton, FL, USA.

 

[AdamJRed]

The only time I can come close to telling I have an Extreme IV card in the 5D2 versus an Extreme III is continuos shooting with RAW or RAW+JPG. Even then, the difference is minimal to me. The IV may allow me about 1 or 2 extra frames before slowing down and it finishes writing about half a second faster.

I would think for 90% of the 5D2 shooters, its a better deal to get the Extreme III 32Gb Card versus the IV 16Gb card... at least I wish I had bought more of the III/32Gbs instead of the IV/16Gbs.

 

[huser]

These are great cards, and belivee me I've gone through 7 -16GB cards on 5d 2 shooting only raw in a 8 hour shoot and that 30-40 seconds you wait for the buffer to clear are HELL and every second counts. Buy the best you can afford and don't look back.

 

[JimW577067]

It is about time for Sandisk to come out with a new generation of speed/capacity cards... It seems that it has been over a yesr since the Extreme IV arrived...

It doesn't seem possible that the SD cards will out-pace the CF format. When Canon's 1D came out with both slots, I was afraid of a Card wars... However now years later, it seems that the CF format will be around for a while.. My guess is Canon's design team thought of users forcing the RAW onto the CF CARD and the JPEGs onto the SD card.. Well that's what we do accosionally when we have a shoot that requires RAW. The in-camera AWB is so good now we do not need to reset the color balance with the RAW files...

JimW
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JimWilson, Boca Raton, FL, USA.

 

[Mark van Oostveen]

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-9784

Kind regards Mark
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Time is Critical.

 

[Julius T Santos]

As far as I can tell, the difference between Extreme III and IV is so minimal...but if it makes you happy...get the IV
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http://www.juliussantos.com

 

[Edymagno]

I got 2 new 8gb IV udma Sandisk cards. Can't tell any difference other than formatting the cards at supersonic speed.
Ed

 

[Mark van Oostveen]

I got 2 new 8gb IV udma Sandisk cards. Can't tell any difference other than formatting the cards at supersonic speed.
Ed

The only difference between the two is the time it takes to clear the camera buffer, so alslong you do not take more than 13 shot (RAW) at a time there will be no difference.

But if you do, the difference can be significant getting that 14/15/16 shot ore not!!!
write time VI = 30,9 MB/Sec and III = 23,2 MB/s
Sandisk VI is 33% faster to clear the buffer than III if you need it is a lot.

source:
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-9784

Kind regards Mark

--
Time is Critical.

 

[Somba1]

that's not a theoretical 45MB/sec speed. It is actual. I clocked it from my Sandisk UDMA (aka firewire 800) card reader to the computer. You have to plug it into the firewire 800 (not 400) port on your PC. If you don't have the port then you need a firewire 800 PCI card. Macs have the firewore 800 port built in. The Canon 5D2 is optimized to take advantage of the Extreme IV. So you did the right thing in getting it. Firewire 800 PCI cards can be a bit touchy on PC's. I'd recommend you stick to Sandisk brand for the card and reader.

If you plug the Sandisk UDMA card reader into a PC or laptop with only the firewire 400 connector then your transfer speed is 1/2 or about 25MB/sec. Might as well buy a cheaper card reader then as you're not using the speed.

If you have a Canon 5D2 then it's all about speed and Sandisk IV card with a UDMA card reader and firewire 800 connector to your computer is as good as it gets! It's smokin fast.