Compact Flash vs. Smart Media

glen

Lifer
Apr 28, 2000
15,995
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Isn't smart media less expensive assuming capacity and write speed is held constant?
Does the 5D Mark 2 take both types?
 

corkyg

Elite Member | Peripherals
Super Moderator
Mar 4, 2000
27,370
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My EOS 5D MKII takes only CF cards. My Powershot SX50-HS takes only SD cards. They do not compete.
 

iGas

Diamond Member
Feb 7, 2009
6,240
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My 5D MkII take only CF card also, and I have 5 CF cards at 4 different speeds (133X~1000x). They all take video equally well and the different between them is slight in burst and write speed that doesn't affect my shooting style at all. IMHO, the only people that may need the fast expensive cards are sport photographer that constantly shoot in bust mode, and have the 1D MkIV (10 fps), or 7D (8 fps). 5D MkII only get 4 fps.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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doesn't smartmedia have licensing fees? iirc CF doesn't, that would make it cheaper as licensing fees probably outweigh any difference in materials or controllers.

but smartmedia is pretty much dead. so this is an odd question at this date.
 

sswingle

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2000
7,183
45
91
Did you mean SD instead of smart media?

I use SD instead of compact flash in my D800, primarily because my other cameras all use SD only, but also because its cheaper.
Very few cameras take both though, so you are really limited on what your camera takes. As others have pointed out, the 5D mk II takes CF only.
 

AkumaX

Lifer
Apr 20, 2000
12,647
4
81
I have had very good luck with SD-CF converters in my 5Dmk2. Get a recent/latest version that supports UHS-I and SDXC!