Author Topic: What CF Card for a 5D Mark II? (Read 15626 times)

Giuseppe Parisi · « **on:** January 07, 2010, 13:57 »

Hi guys!

Tomorrow I will finally go take my 5D mark II at the shop but I'm having some doubts about what CF card to purchase.

Considering that I will take advantage of the video feature and shooting in full RAW (what else?

) ~~I was thinking of a 32 GB Flash card but they have a lot of different types.~~ I will chose a couple of Sandisk Extreme 16GB

But which one?

Quote from: FD-amateur on January 07, 2010, 18:41

If you count on doing a lot of video, try the Xtreme IV. My III gave some glitches. Perhaps that's due to the fact I work in the tropics in an ambient temperature of 35°C+.

Thank you for the advice, I checked the site store I'm gonna go tomorrow and that's what they have:

SanDisk Extreme IV CF 16 GB 16GB @ 45MB/s - 169€

Versus

SanDisk Extreme III CF 16 GB 16GB @ 30MB/s - 69€

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2010, 14:38 »

I use the Extreme 3s and 4s, and they work just fine.

Giuseppe Parisi · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2010, 14:40 »

Quote from: sjlocke on January 07, 2010, 14:38

I use the Extreme 3s and 4s, and they work just fine.

Thank you so much, yes I think they are an excellent compromise between price and quality

dgilder · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2010, 14:54 »

I've been using Extreme III 4GB cards for the most part. I like the smaller cards for most things so I don't risk losing everything with one faulty card. Plus the older smaller cards can be pretty affordable.

jsolie · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2010, 14:54 »

I have several of the Kingston Elite Pro 133X cards in 16GB capacities. They work fine for portraiture and stock shots, but are a bit slow for weddings and sports. I don't really shoot video, but in the few times I have, the card has kept up.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:02 »

Quote from: dgilder on January 07, 2010, 14:54

I've been using Extreme III 4GB cards for the most part. I like the smaller cards for most things so I don't risk losing everything with one faulty card. Plus the older smaller cards can be pretty affordable.

Great advice. I've hesitantly gone up to 8gb, but it takes forever to dump onto my portable drive.

ap · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:12 »

even though the 32gb is a great deal, it will slow down a lot once you start filling it up and transferring may take hours. it's best to go above 233x speed.

i just ordered the Lexar Professional Series UDMA 16 GB 300x for my nikon d700 (no video).

gostwyck · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:28 »

I use both Extreme III and Kingston 133x, mainly 8GB, and I can't tell the difference between them from my 1Ds MkIII (no video though obviously). Don't forget the primary limiting factor on capturing images is the speed and capacity of the camera's own buffer, not the speed of the card itself.

Even 8GB cards have a huge capacity __ nearly twice that of a standard 4.7GB DVD for example. You normally get more memory for your money with the smaller card sizes.

melastmohican · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:33 »

Kingston Technology CF/16GB-U3 16GB 266x Ultimate works for me

leaf · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2010, 15:42 »

I always like to check out this page
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-9784

a ton of cards ranked and rated for the 5D mark II (or any other camera if you select it)
then I buy a card that I feel is a good compromise between $$ and speed.

I am currently using Sandisk 16gb Extreme III and have been happy

Giuseppe Parisi · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2010, 16:12 »

Thank you everybody, you are just great and are giving me precious advice I will surely follow.
Now I'm thinking that taking a couple of 16GB is better than a 32 one.

MikLav · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2010, 17:01 »

266x is doing just fine, and I use 32 GB

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2010, 17:05 »

I was all worried about through-put and all that stuff and bought new cards but have since found my old ones all seem to work fine. Back to basic Sandisc IIs.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2010, 17:10 »

I'm in the smaller is better camp - I have Extreme IVs, 8GB. I use my older cards too, and for most purposes those seem fine too.

Giuseppe Parisi · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2010, 17:16 »

I found out that the 5dII writes at 10MB/s so whatever CF is over that threshold is just fine.
I think that the big CF card can be risky just because if you lose it you lost a fortune, not to mention the fact that is safer having more little storage unities just in case someone might fail you won't lose all your work. Although I've never faced a CF failure in the last 6 years of shooting.

RT · « **Reply #15 on:** January 07, 2010, 17:54 »

Whatever you decide do not buy Lexar they didn't work in my 5D Mk2 (and a lot of other Canon models apparently), I use Sandisk and have never had a problem.

Giuseppe Parisi · « **Reply #16 on:** January 07, 2010, 18:24 »

Quote from: RT on January 07, 2010, 17:54

Whatever you decide do not buy Lexar they didn't work in my 5D Mk2 (and a lot of other Canon models apparently), I use Sandisk and have never had a problem.

Thank you so much my friend, I will surely buy a Sandisk, no doubt about that

FD · « **Reply #17 on:** January 07, 2010, 18:41 »

D5-II: Sandisk 32GB Xtreme III. If you go higher in size or speed, you'll pay a hefty price. I like to keep my cards under 100 euro since I don't like the early adopter's premium. There are faster and larger cards all the time. In 2002 I bought a 256MB card for 100 euro. 64GB is too much for now. I can shoot 3 days with it. Sure, they can break down, but every spare moment I save the new shots on my laptop.

I had bad experiences with Kingston (both USB sticks and cards). Perhaps the ones they sell in the West passed a better QC but the ones you buy in the East get fried after a while. I never had any problems with all my Sandisks.

If you count on doing a lot of video, try the Xtreme IV. My III gave some glitches. Perhaps that's due to the fact I work in the tropics in an ambient temperature of 35°C+.

madelaide · « **Reply #18 on:** January 07, 2010, 18:44 »

I find 4GB convenient for being easy to have it saved to a DVD along the way on a trip. However, I suppose it may be not very convenient for the large files you must get with the 5D Mark II.

Giuseppe Parisi · « **Reply #19 on:** January 07, 2010, 20:45 »

Quote from: FD-amateur on January 07, 2010, 18:41

If you count on doing a lot of video, try the Xtreme IV. My III gave some glitches. Perhaps that's due to the fact I work in the tropics in an ambient temperature of 35°C+.

Thank you for the advice, I checked the site store I'm gonna go tomorrow and that's what they have:

SanDisk Extreme IV CF 16 GB 16GB @ 45MB/s - 169€

Versus

SanDisk Extreme III CF 16 GB 16GB @ 30MB/s - 69€

* it, it's a huge difference... I wonder if it is worth it considering I have to buy 2 of'em $:-\$

KB · « **Reply #20 on:** January 07, 2010, 20:58 »

Quote from: FD-amateur on January 07, 2010, 18:41

If you count on doing a lot of video, try the Xtreme IV. My III gave some glitches. Perhaps that's due to the fact I work in the tropics in an ambient temperature of 35°C+.

More likely it's due to the fact that there have been many reports of freezing problems with IIIs and 5DIIs, especially 8GB IIIs (i.e., the camera would suddenly freeze and only removing the battery fixed the problem). If that's the glitches you had, then your card is one of the problem cards.

I had one such card and returned it to Sandisk for replacement. The one they sent back works fine.

Giuseppe Parisi · « **Reply #21 on:** January 07, 2010, 21:03 »

Quote from: KB on January 07, 2010, 20:58

More likely it's due to the fact that there have been many reports of freezing problems with IIIs and 5DIIs, especially 8GB IIIs (i.e., the camera would suddenly freeze and only removing the battery fixed the problem).

Yep I heard of that and probably makes me go for 2 the Extreme IV, wow it will be a nice punch in the stomach

leaf · « **Reply #22 on:** January 08, 2010, 04:15 »

Quote from: Giuseppe Parisi on January 07, 2010, 20:45

Quote from: FD-amateur on January 07, 2010, 18:41
If you count on doing a lot of video, try the Xtreme IV. My III gave some glitches. Perhaps that's due to the fact I work in the tropics in an ambient temperature of 35°C+.

Thank you for the advice, I checked the site store I'm gonna go tomorrow and that's what they have:

SanDisk Extreme IV CF 16 GB 16GB @ 45MB/s - 169€

Versus

SanDisk Extreme III CF 16 GB 16GB @ 30MB/s - 69€

it, it's a huge difference... I wonder if it is worth it considering I have to buy 2 of'em $:-\$

with the large premium for the iv card i Think i would stick to the III cards.

Giuseppe Parisi · « **Reply #23 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:45 »

hmmm yes it's way too much and it's obviously overpriced

Perry · « **Reply #24 on:** January 08, 2010, 07:57 »

Quote from: jsolie on January 07, 2010, 14:54

I have several of the Kingston Elite Pro 133X cards in 16GB capacities.

Me too. Cheap (under 40 euros each) and roomy. Never had an issue with the cards.

I don't shoot action/sports so the slower speed doesn't bother me at all. I have no hiccups of any kind when shooting stock/products/portraiture.

If I'd choose again, I would propably go for the 8GB sizes. If an accident happens I would lose only half of the images. 32GB feels way too big, I don't want to loose 1000 images in one mishap.

The only card that doesn't work anymore is a Sandisk Extreme II 2GB (it cost over 200 euros in 2005!)

Giuseppe Parisi · « **Reply #25 on:** January 08, 2010, 08:35 »

Hear this guys:
A friend of mine who owns a 5D MarkII told me not to spend all those money and go for a FC card like his that he's been using for a year and never failed.

He suggested me a Maxflash 16GB 233X which costs around 40 euros... has anyone ever tried it out?
There's a lot of difference between 70€ and 40€ so I'd like to know your opinion.

In a few hours I'll be out buying the camera YAY

FD · « **Reply #26 on:** January 08, 2010, 11:04 »

Quote from: KB on January 07, 2010, 20:58

More likely it's due to the fact that there have been many reports of freezing problems with IIIs and 5DIIs, especially 8GB IIIs (i.e., the camera would suddenly freeze and only removing the battery fixed the problem). If that's the glitches you had, then your card is one of the problem cards.

Ah, thanks for that info! (+ a hearth).

elvinstar · « **Reply #27 on:** January 23, 2010, 15:59 »

Quote from: RT on January 07, 2010, 17:54

Whatever you decide do not buy Lexar they didn't work in my 5D Mk2 (and a lot of other Canon models apparently), I use Sandisk and have never had a problem.

Found this on the write speed test site listed earlier in the thread...
Note: It's a quirk of the 5D Mark II that after secure erasing, some older Lexar cards must first be formatted in the computer before they can then be formatted and used in the camera.

RT · « **Reply #28 on:** January 23, 2010, 16:48 »

Quote from: elvinstar on January 23, 2010, 15:59

Quote from: RT on January 07, 2010, 17:54
Whatever you decide do not buy Lexar they didn't work in my 5D Mk2 (and a lot of other Canon models apparently), I use Sandisk and have never had a problem.

Found this on the write speed test site listed earlier in the thread...
Note: It's a quirk of the 5D Mark II that after secure erasing, some older Lexar cards must first be formatted in the computer before they can then be formatted and used in the camera.

Thanks, I had found that solution through the web when I had problems with an 8gb Lexar card I had bought, it would work once and then not the next time, sometimes the files would get written to the card and other times they didn't, I gave up and sold it on eBay. I sent an email to Lexar about it and never got a reply.

I did some digging around and found quite a few sites that mentioned problems between Lexar cards and Canon cameras covering all ages and models, so I haven't bothered since, it was just to save a few quid over the Sandisks which have never let me down before or since.

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Author Topic: What CF Card for a 5D Mark II? (Read 15626 times)

Giuseppe Parisi

Sean Locke Photography

Giuseppe Parisi

dgilder

jsolie

Sean Locke Photography

ap

gostwyck

melastmohican

leaf

Giuseppe Parisi

MikLav

PeterChigmaroff

Jo Ann Snover

Giuseppe Parisi

RT

Giuseppe Parisi

FD

madelaide

Giuseppe Parisi

KB

Giuseppe Parisi

leaf

Giuseppe Parisi

Perry

Giuseppe Parisi

FD

elvinstar

RT

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