Canon A-70 users !!

[gluck]

Can I use a 512MB CF card or is there any limitations on the max size. I heard someone say 256MB.
Incase the max is 256, theres a san disc 256 CF card for $37.00 on amazon . Is it worth it ?
If 512MB can be supported, I am waiting on a deal for that.
There was a powerizer charger+batteries deal flaoting around. Is that ok or should I get a Maha charger ?

 

[samgau]

I don't have my manual with me... but I believe the max size is 256MB..... better to wait for somebody to second that....

 

[JackBurton]

I could have sworn you could slap a 1GB card in it? I have an A80 and I'm looking at either 2 X 512MB or 1GB CF card.

 

[NFS4]

I have a 512MB Viking CF card in mine.

 

[gluck]

so I can buy 512 card then. Are there any deals around ?
Has anyone even gone higher ?

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: gluck
so I can buy 512 card then. Are there any deals around ?
Has anyone even gone higher ?

amazon currently has good deals on Viking cards. I have a 256mb for my G3 and it is a great card. noticably faster than my sandisk card.

Edit: my bad. Looks like the viking card's rebate was only good through 2/29.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: gluck
so I can buy 512 card then. Are there any deals around ?
Has anyone even gone higher ?

Yes, but I seriously doubt you'll need anything larger for that camera. You'd have to take a heck of a lot of shots to fill up a 512 MB card, even at the highest possible resolution setting. Even a 256 MB card would probably be sufficient 95% of the time.

 

[SuperFreaky]

640x480 avi's can eat up a 256MB card faster than you think, get the 512MB!


The Waterproof Case is great too, if you like to snorkle/scuba dive. You'll definately want the 512 for that, its harder than you might think to change cards underwater

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: SuperFreaky
640x480 avi's can eat up a 256MB card faster than you think, get the 512MB!


The Waterproof Case is great too, if you like to snorkle/scuba dive. You'll definately want the 512 for that, its harder than you might think to change cards underwater

Whoops, wasn't thinking about movie mode. I agree, I'd get a 512 if you want to take a lot of movies or if you go on vacation a lot. For general picture-taking use, though, I'd still say 256 is more than enough,

 

[gluck]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth

Originally posted by: SuperFreaky
640x480 avi's can eat up a 256MB card faster than you think, get the 512MB!


The Waterproof Case is great too, if you like to snorkle/scuba dive. You'll definately want the 512 for that, its harder than you might think to change cards underwater

Whoops, wasn't thinking about movie mode. I agree, I'd get a 512 if you want to take a lot of movies or if you go on vacation a lot. For general picture-taking use, though, I'd still say 256 is more than enough,

Thats what I wann do. Make some movies !! ..
512 it is but I will have to wait a bit for the deals.

 

[Sketcher]

Something to consider:

Those of us in the DSLR forums tend to regard a couple mid-size cards better than one large card. That way if your card is lost/damaged/whatever you still have a backup card and don't lose all of your data in one fell swoop. Of course, we're usually referring to 512MB as being a minimum size now-a-days in the DSLR world but 256MB cards with the A70 get along pretty good for images (154 at highest rez) and OK for video (4.15 minutes @ 640x480).

According to Canon's Support page, the #1 question asked regarding available storage is "What's the Largest CF Card that is compatible with my camera?".

Due to the ever increasing number of companies manufacturing and selling CompactFlash cards, we cannot test and evaluate all the different brands, sizes, and speeds of cards available in the retail market. Any card with a capacity up to 2048GB that adheres to the Type I CompactFlash card standard, and is formatted with a FAT16 or FAT32 file system, should work in your camera.

 

[gluck]

Originally posted by: Sketcher
Something to consider:

Those of us in the DSLR forums tend to regard a couple mid-size cards better than one large card. That way if your card is lost/damaged/whatever you still have a backup card and don't lose all of your data in one fell swoop. Of course, we're usually referring to 512MB as being a minimum size now-a-days in the DSLR world but 256MB cards with the A70 get along pretty good for images (154 at highest rez) and OK for video (4.15 minutes @ 640x480).

According to Canon's Support page, the #1 question asked regarding available storage is "What's the Largest CF Card that is compatible with my camera?".

Due to the ever increasing number of companies manufacturing and selling CompactFlash cards, we cannot test and evaluate all the different brands, sizes, and speeds of cards available in the retail market. Any card with a capacity up to 2048GB that adheres to the Type I CompactFlash card standard, and is formatted with a FAT16 or FAT32 file system, should work in your camera.

Thanks for this. I was thinking of getting 512 MB card since I would never run out of space.
So should I get one 512 or 2X256 cards ?

 

[Sketcher]

Originally posted by: gluck

Thanks for this. I was thinking of getting 512 MB card since I would never run out of space.
So should I get one 512 or 2X256 cards ?

If I were buying cards for myself and limited to those options; I would buy two 256 MB cards rather than one 512. Personally, I would only buy the 512 or larger if I intended to buy an additional card in the not too distant future. The whole idea is having more than one card in case of damage/theft/loss/whatever. I just wouldn't want all my data tied up in one card and no other option if something happened to it. The unthinkable will likely happen when you least expect it - and you miss the chance to capture an image or video until you replace the card. But that's just my opinion.

I run four 512MB cards instead of two 1GB cards or even one 2GB card.

I'd choose two 256MB cards over one 512MB card, two 512MB cards over one 1GB card, two 1GB cards over one 2GB card, two 2GB cards over one 4GB card etc, etc...

 

[0roo0roo]

the advantage of cf is that the memory controller is built into the card. unlike other types which have camera based limits.

 

[gluck]

Originally posted by: Sketcher

Originally posted by: gluck

Thanks for this. I was thinking of getting 512 MB card since I would never run out of space.
So should I get one 512 or 2X256 cards ?

If I were buying cards for myself and limited to those options; I would buy two 256 MB cards rather than one 512. Personally, I would only buy the 512 or larger if I intended to buy an additional card in the not too distant future. The whole idea is having more than one card in case of damage/theft/loss/whatever. I just wouldn't want all my data tied up in one card and no other option if something happened to it. The unthinkable will likely happen when you least expect it - and you miss the chance to capture an image or video until you replace the card. But that's just my opinion.

I run four 512MB cards instead of two 1GB cards or even one 2GB card.

I'd choose two 256MB cards over one 512MB card, two 512MB cards over one 1GB card, two 1GB cards over one 2GB card, two 2GB cards over one 4GB card etc, etc...

I think there is a sandisk deal going on right now on the 256 MB card for like $37.00. Is this the normal price or can I do better. Does the brand of card matter. I heard someone say that viking was faster or something.

 

[0roo0roo]

not for an a70, speed matters for uber megapixel cams

 

[Riprorin]

Originally posted by: gluck
Can I use a 512MB CF card or is there any limitations on the max size. I heard someone say 256MB.
Incase the max is 256, theres a san disc 256 CF card for $37.00 on amazon . Is it worth it ?
If 512MB can be supported, I am waiting on a deal for that.
There was a powerizer charger+batteries deal flaoting around. Is that ok or should I get a Maha charger ?

I'm using a 512 mb card in mine.

 

[LordSnailz]

How do you get beyond the 15second limit for the movie mode. Right now, I just get a bunch 15second files ...

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
How do you get beyond the 15second limit for the movie mode. Right now, I just get a bunch 15second files ...

I think 640x480 is limited to 15 seconds and 320x480 has no limit.... am I right/wrong?

I've had my A70 since Christmas and have only taken about 200 pictures and no movies, hm.

 

[SuperFreaky]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
How do you get beyond the 15second limit for the movie mode. Right now, I just get a bunch 15second files ...

I think 640x480 is limited to 15 seconds and 320x480 has no limit.... am I right/wrong?

I've had my A70 since Christmas and have only taken about 200 pictures and no movies, hm.

640x480 is limited to 30sec. (the other 2 lower quality modes can do 2 mintues) There is no known way around this.

 

[yllus]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
the advantage of cf is that the memory controller is built into the card. unlike other types which have camera based limits.

Beat me to it. As long as the card is a bona fide Type I CompactFlash card, it'll work.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
How do you get beyond the 15second limit for the movie mode. Right now, I just get a bunch 15second files ...

probably based on camera memory limit, not flash memory.

 

[LordSnailz]

Originally posted by: SuperFreaky

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm

Originally posted by: LordSnailz
How do you get beyond the 15second limit for the movie mode. Right now, I just get a bunch 15second files ...

I think 640x480 is limited to 15 seconds and 320x480 has no limit.... am I right/wrong?

I've had my A70 since Christmas and have only taken about 200 pictures and no movies, hm.

640x480 is limited to 30sec. (the other 2 lower quality modes can do 2 mintues) There is no known way around this.

Any experience on which of the lowest quality is the best? if we're looking at quality vs duration ...

 

[Sketcher]

Faster CF cards will have ZERO performance effect on in-camera operation for the A70. Where you will notice a difference in card speed is if you are able to use a USB 2.0 or Firewire CF Reader and then performance can be measured transferring files from CF to HD.

The following link is one of the most extensive CF databses that is actually maintained. The specs are in regard to DSLR's but it will give you an idea of Card performance in-camera for the noted DSLR's.

Rob Galbraith

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Sketcher
Faster CF cards will have ZERO performance effect on in-camera operation for the A70. Where you will notice a difference in card speed is if you are able to use a USB 2.0 or Firewire CF Reader and then performance can be measured transferring files from CF to HD.

I'm not sure how true that would be. My G3 isn't much more of a camera compared to the A70 and I see a noticable difference in the speed of writing the pictures to the card between my Sandisk card, and my other cards.

Unless that is only the case for the A70. I've never used one, so i'm not sure. I've read Rob's research and it is a great resource though.