Do i need high speed SDHC cards for non-dSLR usage?

[DJFuji]

hey guys, quick question.

-Adata 16gb class 6 (6MB/Sec) card runs $36.
-Sandisk 16gb Ultra II (15MB/Sec) card runs roughly double ($60)
-Sandisk 16gb Extreme III (30MB/Sec) card runs over 3.5x as much ($130)

Now the question:

I'm using these cards right now to record video on an archos 405 device which maxes out at 2500kb/sec. That's nowhere near even the class 6 card.

Is there any reason for me to spend the extra money on the Ultra II or extreme cards except for the faster transfer rates off the card? It seems like a waste of money except for that.

Finally, I want to get into dSLR photography in the next year or so but i'll probably start off small and basic. I'm assuming the class 6 card will more than suffice, judging by transfer rate comparisons. Am i correct?

Thanks in advance.

 

[troytime]

keep in mind those transfer speeds are also related to copying data from the card to your computer.

for your current project, i'd probably roll with the class 6

wait around for another sandisk rebate offer before buying more. I recently got THREE 4gb extreme III cards for about 15 bucks (total) - thanks fatwallet

 

[OdiN]

What kind of dSLR?

My 40D has around 12MB RAW files. That would take 2 seconds to write to a class 6 card. Unacceptable to me. I use Sandisk Extreme III cards, and I have some older Ultra II's as well.

 

[DJFuji]

Ahhh didn't think about that. Hm. I honestly know nothing about dSLRs so i have no idea what kind of camera. Probably something entry-level since I don't know much about photography. I'd like to keep it under a grand. Will class 6 cards suffice for entry level dSLRs?

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: DJFuji
Ahhh didn't think about that. Hm. I honestly know nothing about dSLRs so i have no idea what kind of camera. Probably something entry-level since I don't know much about photography. I'd like to keep it under a grand. Will class 6 cards suffice for entry level dSLRs?

Even entry level cameras produce large RAW files. It depends on the Megapixels to how large the file size will be. Figure around 1MB per Megapixel, though sometimes it's a bit less, and sometimes more. My files range from around 10MB-14MB on a 12MP camera.

You may not shoot in RAW initially, but if you do at one time, you may want do consider a bit faster card.

Now, it will work, you may just have to wait longer between shots, so if you are doing something like sports where things happen quickly, you may not be happy. Really depends on what you shoot, what mode, etc.

Oh and for my shooting style, and the buffer in the 40D, I cannot tell too much difference between the Ultra II's and Extreme III's save for transferring to my computer. It's there, just not much. But I don't shoot sports much and I don't do a lot of burst shooting. Typically the only burst shooting I do is for boquet/garter tosses, dove releases, etc. at weddings.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: DJFuji
Ahhh didn't think about that. Hm. I honestly know nothing about dSLRs so i have no idea what kind of camera. Probably something entry-level since I don't know much about photography. I'd like to keep it under a grand. Will class 6 cards suffice for entry level dSLRs?

Even entry level cameras produce large RAW files. It depends on the Megapixels to how large the file size will be. Figure around 1MB per Megapixel, though sometimes it's a bit less, and sometimes more. My files range from around 10MB-14MB on a 12MP camera.

You may not shoot in RAW initially, but if you do at one time, you may want do consider a bit faster card.

Now, it will work, you may just have to wait longer between shots, so if you are doing something like sports where things happen quickly, you may not be happy. Really depends on what you shoot, what mode, etc.

Oh and for my shooting style, and the buffer in the 40D, I cannot tell too much difference between the Ultra II's and Extreme III's save for transferring to my computer. It's there, just not much. But I don't shoot sports much and I don't do a lot of burst shooting. Typically the only burst shooting I do is for boquet/garter tosses, dove releases, etc. at weddings.

Very good point about the buffer on a DSLR. Chances are that if he's not shooting sports or fast action, he'll never run into an issue with the class 6 card. If he's firing off bursts in continuous mode, then yeah, he'll definitely want a faster card. I know that there's a HUGE difference between my old 66x CF card and the new 300x UDMA CF card with my A700 when I shoot in bursts, definitely worth the price difference when shooting that way. On the other hand, when shooting casually the old 66x card does just fine because there's a large enough buffer in the camera.

ZV

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: DJFuji
Ahhh didn't think about that. Hm. I honestly know nothing about dSLRs so i have no idea what kind of camera. Probably something entry-level since I don't know much about photography. I'd like to keep it under a grand. Will class 6 cards suffice for entry level dSLRs?

Even entry level cameras produce large RAW files. It depends on the Megapixels to how large the file size will be. Figure around 1MB per Megapixel, though sometimes it's a bit less, and sometimes more. My files range from around 10MB-14MB on a 12MP camera.

You may not shoot in RAW initially, but if you do at one time, you may want do consider a bit faster card.

Now, it will work, you may just have to wait longer between shots, so if you are doing something like sports where things happen quickly, you may not be happy. Really depends on what you shoot, what mode, etc.

Oh and for my shooting style, and the buffer in the 40D, I cannot tell too much difference between the Ultra II's and Extreme III's save for transferring to my computer. It's there, just not much. But I don't shoot sports much and I don't do a lot of burst shooting. Typically the only burst shooting I do is for boquet/garter tosses, dove releases, etc. at weddings.

Very good point about the buffer on a DSLR. Chances are that if he's not shooting sports or fast action, he'll never run into an issue with the class 6 card. If he's firing off bursts in continuous mode, then yeah, he'll definitely want a faster card. I know that there's a HUGE difference between my old 66x CF card and the new 300x UDMA CF card with my A700 when I shoot in bursts, definitely worth the price difference when shooting that way. On the other hand, when shooting casually the old 66x card does just fine because there's a large enough buffer in the camera.

ZV

Another thing to consider on the buffer is that entry level dSLR's have a smaller buffer, and thus, fewer shots can be stored in it while it's pushing stuff out to the card.

The Rebels are probably around 5-10 RAW images in the buffer depending on model, vs. a 40D's around 17.

But again, unless you're doing a lot of bursting, even 5 in the buffer isn't too bad.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bi...ulti_page.asp?cid=6007

CF/SD card speed tests on specific cameras.