Eggs in Baskets aka Your maximum gb memory card

Damian Brown

Damian Brown

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Damian Brown
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Like many I have always limited the size of the memory cards I use in my dslr bodies. Usually I use 4gb cards max.

Now had a conversation with a fellow photographer at a wedding on Friday and it dawned on me... I set that rule a good while back and technology has improved... So it got me thinking: Do I start to increase my maximum to say 8gb or 16gb?

Now my files aren't particularly bigger, I have no issues with the capacity per se. Just maybe i'll feel more comfortable getting a couple more 8gb cards now. I already have an 8gb sd and 8gb CF, both have been used as back up cards on shoot days or the sd in my d3100 for travelling.

In fact with the d600 that just arrived, it may be wise anyway. Especially as i'll use the second slot as direct backup so if one card fails, the other catches it.... Kinda thinking out loud
 
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My largest is 8GB in both CF and SD formats. That's still more than I would want to lose (in terms of images - cash can replace a card but lost images are gone) but getting necessary to avoid too frequent card changes in these days of rising file sizes. Of course, it takes but a second or 2 to change a card but the connectors do have a finite life and nobody wants a snapped/bent CF pin or a worn through connection strip on an SD.

Having had a cheap CF card fail (obviously after an unrepeatable shoot - do they ever fail at a convenient time?), I only use SanDisk cards now, Never had a problem with any of them.
 
Totally agree. I only use Sandisk and most recently lexar
 
I only ever used 4GB cards in my D90. I now have a couple of 32GB and a 16GB card, file sizes have more than tripled so has to be done. Need to get a CF card as a back up. I always use Sandisk. Had a TDK card fail on me a while back. It just gave up for no apparent reason.
 
I've got both 16Gb CF and SDHC Duracell cards. They are fast read/write speeds and have been very reliable for me. I was so impressed with the CF cards I got for my 7D I got some extras when I got a 5D3 and also added the SDHC cards for the 5D3 and a 60D, 650D and the kids Fuji bridge cameras. About a dozen altogether and never had any problems at all in the year plus I've had them.
 
I don't really think of cards in terms of GBs, more in terms of how many images I want to lose if it fails. As a result I tend to use 4GB cards and switch them every 100 shots, or so. if I'm in the studio then I'll push that up to 150 cos you can reproduce studio shots without too much hassle.
 
Bristolian said:
I don't really think of cards in terms of GBs, more in terms of how many images I want to lose if it fails. As a result I tend to use 4GB cards and switch them every 100 shots, or so. if I'm in the studio then I'll push that up to 150 cos you can reproduce studio shots without too much hassle.
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That's a good methodology, like it. Using 4gbs I was around 230/240 per card. Thinking in terms of image count is wise
 
modchild said:
I've got both 16Gb CF and SDHC Duracell cards. They are fast read/write speeds and have been very reliable for me. I was so impressed with the CF cards I got for my 7D I got some extras when I got a 5D3 and also added the SDHC cards for the 5D3 and a 60D, 650D and the kids Fuji bridge cameras. About a dozen altogether and never had any problems at all in the year plus I've had them.
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Never tried Duracell cards but notice them around more, interesting thanks!
 
I use 4 & 8Gb cards with a 16gb backup SD card in the second slot ...Only issue I have ever had was forgetting to put the camera back to high res in the primary slot before shooting a rugby game. as it turned out, the secondary slot was more than adequate for what I needed.
 
For those of you who have had card failure (in particular CF cards) - when did it happen? During the middle of a shoot? when taking the card out of camera? Just curious if there is weakspot in the process that tends to cause failures.
 
rbrown74 said:
For those of you who have had card failure (in particular CF cards) - when did it happen? During the middle of a shoot? when taking the card out of camera? Just curious if there is weakspot in the process that tends to cause failures.
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Hard to tell exactly when it happened - took the photos, checked on the review screen, removed from camera, plugged into card reader (after using the same reader to read a Snadisk card) and nothing. Luckily, a local camera shop chap managed to get the images off the card for me after a while trying and some proper software and I could provide people with prints. Unfortunately, one of the people in the shot had passed away in the meantime - the main reason the shot was unrepeatable.
 
i shoot on 16gb and 8gb Sandisk cf cards, to date i've not suffered a failure ...... runs off to find a piece of wood
 
i too have had card failure and thought i had lost 700 images, was from the oktoberfest but i managed to get them back using a program. well about 550 anyway which i was very happy about, now i only take around 200-300 images per card , i have 5 8gb sandisk
 
I'd much rather keep all my eggs in one secure basket, rather than trying to juggle several baskets of eggs.

I've been using CF cards for a dozen years and never, ever, had one fail (well, I did have one; but that was my fault as I removed it from a PDA while it was writing data to it). If I ever did have a problem with data loss I understand that there are several programs that do a good job of data recovery.

I've not lost data through card failure, but I have lost a card along with a load of images. That was in the days when I couldn't get a card large enough for a whole day's shooting (when 64MB was huge). In the heat of the moment I took the old card out and put it somewhere 'safe'. I've also seen a friend turn a strange colour when she realised the card she'd just formatted wasn't an empty one.

For several years I've used a card large enough to hold a whole day's shooting. The only way I can possibly lose it is if I lose the camera. I don't need to keep track of which card is full and which card is ready to be used.
 
Thats why 2 card slots is a great idea. Personally i use 8gb cards and by sticking to sandisk have never had one fail.
 
16GB here. Was great in the D7000, but the D800 with 14bit uncompressed RAWs nets me 201 shots :(
 
I know it won't help those without the facility but I use 16GB CF cards (~500 images) and and a 64GB SD card in the second slots (writing RAW to each). Changing both cards when necessary.

I love the security that the second card slot gives, I used to be very nervous if I was away for a couple of weeks filling 4 to 6 16GB cards without recourse to back-up.

I would add that I have never had a card fail on me yet, either CF or SD. However, I'm not naive enough to think it won't happen at some point.
 
I prefer to use 2 or 4GB cards, but fast ones are hard to come by now.
I've never had a card fail as such, but did have one card throw up a few corrupt files last weekend at at event & that was an 8 month old Sandisk bought from Jacobs, so not exactly a dodgy source. Luckily running twin cards, so the files on the SD backup were fine.
 
I just buy the biggest and fastest I can afford...I use Extreme Pro 64GB in both slots...With backup between...I've never been close to filling them :)
 
Wouldn't smaller cards work better for you then? If you never find that you fill them? It would certainly be cheaper.
 
Nah, because if I do then I have to start swapping them...And then there is video :)

And then there is value for money...Taking a look at the ads on this page...8GB Duracell for 21.97...I paid £92 for each of my 64GB Extreme Pro's...Much better value for money..

Ultimately it is whatever you/anyone is happy with, there is no right answer...
 
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digitalfailure said:
i shoot on 16gb and 8gb Sandisk cf cards, to date i've not suffered a failure ...... runs off to find a piece of wood
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Brian, I've never had a SanDisk fail, only a cheapy (back in the days when cards were a significant cost!). Keep that piece of wood handy, just in case. If/when it happens, it's a feeling like someone opening a darkroom door while you're loading a reel of film into the spiral.

hollis_f said:
I'd much rather keep all my eggs in one secure basket, rather than trying to juggle several baskets of eggs.

I've been using CF cards for a dozen years and never, ever, had one fail (well, I did have one; but that was my fault as I removed it from a PDA while it was writing data to it). If I ever did have a problem with data loss I understand that there are several programs that do a good job of data recovery.

Lost data, yes - corrupted can be a bit harder, I understand.

I've not lost data through card failure, but I have lost a card along with a load of images. That was in the days when I couldn't get a card large enough for a whole day's shooting (when 64MB was huge). In the heat of the moment I took the old card out and put it somewhere 'safe'. I've also seen a friend turn a strange colour when she realised the card she'd just formatted wasn't an empty one.

How big was the lost card? How many shots on it? Surely a card half the size would lose half the number of pictures if put somewhere "safe"? SanDisk's Rescue Pro can recover files from a formatted card, as long as the card hasn't been used after the format.

For several years I've used a card large enough to hold a whole day's shooting. The only way I can possibly lose it is if I lose the camera. I don't need to keep track of which card is full and which card is ready to be used.

I keep my cards in aftermarket cases - label up means empty, down means used - not rocket science and almost foolproof.
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But what if you open the case upside down :P
 
All the data falls off them. :p
 
I now use 8 and 16 gig cards as the files are so much larger than previously! But I backup to a 64gig sd.
 
Well put me down in the "biggest/fastest" camp. I've never had a card fail, but I've lost one that I've swapped out....

Back up at the end of every day, but my main card (32GB) is bigger than I'd ever expect to fill in one day with my current camera.
 
Nod said:
How big was the lost card? How many shots on it? Surely a card half the size would lose half the number of pictures if put somewhere "safe"?
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You miss the point. With one large card I don't need to swap the full card out and put it somehwere 'safe'. The one card is always somewhere safe - inside the camera. With multiple cards, all of the ones not inside the camera are somewhere where they're much more likely to be lost, stolen or accidentally re-used.
 
hollis_f said:
You miss the point. With one large card I don't need to swap the full card out and put it somehwere 'safe'. The one card is always somewhere safe - inside the camera. With multiple cards, all of the ones not inside the camera are somewhere where they're much more likely to be lost, stolen or accidentally re-used.
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I agree 100% with this...I have got 2x 16GB Sandisk Extreme cards. If I am going away for a few days I backup my card(s) to my netbook (could also use smart phone these days as well).

Can't see the point of juggling small cards. Personally I'd hate it more if I missed what may have been the most perfect shot (even though it may not have been) because the small card was full...

Suppose it depends on what you shoot...each to their own. If I had el cheapo cards, I may be more hesitant, not quite sure as I don't buy the cheapest cards as it seems like a false economy to me.
 
I think physical handling of the cards is the biggest threat since my fingers are clumsy, my pockets are many, are big and have holes.

32GB is more than enough for a single shoot (for me) and once a shoot is over, an instant backup is done to save my bacon.

Over the years I've had one CF cards gradually go bad, and a couple of SD cards just simply stopped working. Never happened to my Sandisk and Transcend cards though, even a ten-year old 48MB Sandisk card is still going strong in a classic Ixus.
 
Definitely considering a shift to 32gb cards with the d600 using the second slot as direct back up as I did with the d300S. Thinking to get these: SanDisk Ultra 32GB UHS-I Class 10

The d700 will still have plenty of my Sandisk and lexar CFs, actually more now the d300S has been replaced. I'm happy to keep working with the 4gb cards for that. No need to spend on new cards as I have loads that work sweet. Still, now I'm using a backup slot, I'd prefer that option on both bodies. Poor d700. Amazing camera, superseded really only by two options I didn't care about until I got them: quiet mode and twin card slots...
Another topic tho!
 
I'm biggest fastest too. I've never had a card fail thankfully. I think there's a greater chance of me losing a card I've taken out halfway through a shoot than having a completely unrecoverable hardware failure.
 
SLRUser said:
I agree 100% with this...I have got 2x 16GB Sandisk Extreme cards. If I am going away for a few days I backup my card(s) to my netbook (could also use smart phone these days as well).

As do I. I use 8GB cards in My D700 and back them up at the end of each day's shooting.

Can't see the point of juggling small cards. Personally I'd hate it more if I missed what may have been the most perfect shot (even though it may not have been) because the small card was full...

Juggling small cards? You would hate my smallest card - a 16MB CF that came with a Nikon Coolpix 3100 several years ago. No longer used due to me usually wanting to take more than a single shot! Miss a shot due to swapping cards? Careful planning and timing of card changes avoids the possibility - if there's a chance to swap cards (say between races etc), I'll often take it, even if there's space for a hundred or so more shots - as you say, missing a shot is a pain.

Suppose it depends on what you shoot...each to their own. If I had el cheapo cards, I may be more hesitant, not quite sure as I don't buy the cheapest cards as it seems like a false economy to me.

Having had a cheapo card fail, I now use only SanDisk cards, as fast as I could afford at the time of purchase. I could now afford to change them all to the latest, fastest models but find it hard to justify disposing of (or even relegating to a drawer) the (not cheap at time of purchase) Ultra rather than Extreme cards. I take good care of all my equipment - cards especially and ensure that full ones are kept secure, either in a well secured rucksack or a zipped (non holey) pocket. As you say, each to his own! I would be devastated if I lost even a 4GB card full of images let alone a 32 or bigger, so I'll stick to my collection of 4s and 8s!
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This is what I do, you are many times more likely to drop or lose a card than have one fail and even if that should happen you can recover. So fear aside and being logical it makes more sense to run on one card.

hollis_f said:
I'd much rather keep all my eggs in one secure basket, rather than trying to juggle several baskets of eggs.

I've been using CF cards for a dozen years and never, ever, had one fail (well, I did have one; but that was my fault as I removed it from a PDA while it was writing data to it). If I ever did have a problem with data loss I understand that there are several programs that do a good job of data recovery.

I've not lost data through card failure, but I have lost a card along with a load of images. That was in the days when I couldn't get a card large enough for a whole day's shooting (when 64MB was huge). In the heat of the moment I took the old card out and put it somewhere 'safe'. I've also seen a friend turn a strange colour when she realised the card she'd just formatted wasn't an empty one.

For several years I've used a card large enough to hold a whole day's shooting. The only way I can possibly lose it is if I lose the camera. I don't need to keep track of which card is full and which card is ready to be used.
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I'm a multiple small(ish) card person. :)

If all the pictures are on the v. large card in the camera, and something happens to the camera, then everything has gone. If you drop a card, or one gets damaged, then some of the files have gone. People say that they are never without their camera, so the images inside are safe, but that's OK until the camera gets knicked or damaged. :shrug:

You pays your money, you makes your choice. :)

I started with a 1GB Microdrive when I had a Bridge camera, and then went to 2GB cards with a D70. Then 4GB cards with a D200, and now 8GB with a D300S.

The only cards I've had problems with were MyMemory CF cards about 5-6 years ago. They didn't fail completely, but would corrupt the odd file in a high speed burst. :( After that I went to mostly Sandisk cards, and the fastest appropriate for each camera, rather than the fastest available. So far, I've had no problems. :thumbs: I know, famous last words. :lol:

I put about 300-500 images on a card and then change. If it is something important I will write to two cards at once, otherwise I use the extra card as an overflow card.

If I'm doing high speed bursts I'll only write to one card too, as the extra data of writing to two cards can slow the camera down, and the extra slot on my card is a SD card, which isn't as fast as the CF slot afaik.
 
I stick with large memory cards (32GB at the moment), over the years I've had the odd memory card fail but not lost any shots from the cards whereas I have lost shots when I've run out of memory and had to switch cards. If shooting video or shooting a lot of burst raw+jpegs there isn't always a convenient time to swap cards over so much preferable to have one that means I don't need to worry about it.

John
 
I have 3 x 16gb cards and 2 x 32gb cards.... I start with the 32's then go to the 16's if I need to. Works well for me. I have a pocket in my camera bag solely for empty cards and a second one I put the full ones in so I never get confused.
 
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