SD and CF Cards

[Shazad]

Awaiting the delivery of a Canon 5d mk3 im wondering will my existing sd hc card suffice for now or is the CF Card a Must..

I will be getting one at some point but if the camera really needs it it will be sooner rather than later.

Thank you

 

[grotty]

It will still operate and save images with just a SD card, if that's what you're asking - though video may well be more requiring. Enjoy the 5D mkIII.

 

[philby1]

Hi Shaz, will be slower to write then a CF card. the camera by default copies at a higher speed to the CF card, compared to the SD card. If you are splashing the cash on a 5D Mk3 then I think you should treat yourself to a decent CF card as well, and enjoy the benefits.

 

[Gaz J]

SD card is 117x no matter how fast a card you use.

These are the results I got recently from Sandisk 16GB CF cards at different write speeds.

Sandisk Extreme Pro16GB 160MB/S CF card.

All Sandisk 16 GB CF cards

60MB/S Max RAW 13. Frames before FPS slowed 17. Time to clear buffer to Max RAW of 13 again 5.5 secs.
90MB/S Max RAW 13. Frames before FPS slowed 21. Time to clear buffer to max RAAW of 13 again 4.0 secs.
160MB/S Max RAW 13. Frames before FPS slowed 25. Time to clear buffer to max RAW of 13 again 3.25 secs.

 

[Shazad]

I thought as much.. I will get one ordered. Amazon seems cheapest with a 32gb sandisk at roughly £65

 

[Nod]

Have a look at 7dayshop as well, they're usually pretty good for card prices.

 

[SixToes]

Awaiting the delivery of a Canon 5d mk3 im wondering will my existing sd hc card suffice for now or is the CF Card a Must..

I will be getting one at some point but if the camera really needs it it will be sooner rather than later.

Thank you

It depends how you shoot. If you spend most of your time with your finger mashed down on the shutter button get the faster CF card. If you shoot more sparingly stick with the SD.

 

[Shazad]

haha maybe I will mash the shutter occasionally but mostly not..