memory card speed

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allanmb@gmail.com - 03 Jan 2007 12:32 GMT

I have an old 256MB compact flash card for my Canon EOS300D but I think
its too slow (not to mention not very large capcaity). I was looking
at upgrading to a new 2GB card and see that there are a lot of
different speed cards. I was going to opt for the top 133x speed but
then thought to myself, "does the camera utilise this speed to its
fullest?". So basically is it worth spending the money to get the
fastest card or will a slower one be just as quick in practice in the
camera?

Thanks
Allan

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Dr Hfuhruhurr - 03 Jan 2007 12:48 GMT

> I have an old 256MB compact flash card for my Canon EOS300D but I think
> its too slow (not to mention not very large capcaity). I was looking
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thanks
> Allan

Can't find the 300D on the site but this should give you an idea
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007-7699

The faster memory isn't always faster in the camera. In reality it's
unlikely to reach anywhere near the maximum speed on a X133 card when
writing images. may be more noticable when copying to your PC but
that's about it.

Doc

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Jim Redelfs - 03 Jan 2007 13:02 GMT

> I have an old 256MB compact flash card for my Canon EOS300D but I think
> its too slow (not to mention not very large capcaity).
> is it worth spending the money to get the fastest card or will
> a slower one be just as quick in practice in the camera?

The 300D uses Canon's PREVIOUS generation processor (read: slower).
Therefore, in YOUR camera, the "standard" card would probably be just as
"quick" as a faster card.

The value of a faster memory card would be if you used a card reader to
transfer the data to a computer, and then it would have to use USB 2.

Signature

:)
JR

Canon EOS 20D

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Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) - 03 Jan 2007 14:21 GMT

>>I have an old 256MB compact flash card for my Canon EOS300D but I think
>>its too slow (not to mention not very large capcaity).
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> The value of a faster memory card would be if you used a card reader to
> transfer the data to a computer, and then it would have to use USB 2.

There several reasons why a faster card is useful, including:

1) a fast reader will allow faster downloads

2) Eventually, when you upgrade cameras, then you have a
fast card to use in the camera.

3) The speeds on the Rob Golbraith site
http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007
are for empty cards. As a card fills up, speed drops,
so a faster card has better performance. See:
http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/compact_flash_card_speed

I buy the largest, fastest cards I can afford.

Roger

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allanmb@gmail.com - 03 Jan 2007 14:41 GMT

Thanks for the input guys. It looks like the Canon EOS 300D uses an
old interface so burst speed will not benefit from ultra high speed
cards however downloading the images to the PC will benefit. The
contents of the card play a part too, however I think this may be down
to fragmentation of the file system. Since I use RAW at all times and
regularly clear the contents this shouldnt be too much of an issue. I
think with this in mind I have found a 40x card at a local shop (2GB)
for ?32.00 which seems good - there are cheaper online but once P&P
gets added it doesnt seem worth it. This is unless anybody can
recommend a specific card from a specific location?

Many Thanks
Allan

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Dr Hfuhruhurr - 03 Jan 2007 14:55 GMT

> Thanks for the input guys. It looks like the Canon EOS 300D uses an
> old interface so burst speed will not benefit from ultra high speed
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Many Thanks
> Allan

Have a look on 7dayshop.com 2Gb CF cards start at around £17

Doc

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Roger N. Clark (change username to rnclark) - 03 Jan 2007 15:28 GMT

> Thanks for the input guys. It looks like the Canon EOS 300D uses an
> old interface so burst speed will not benefit from ultra high speed
> cards however downloading the images to the PC will benefit. The
> contents of the card play a part too, however I think this may be down
> to fragmentation of the file system.

The speed drop shown on my web page has nothing to do with
fragmentation. Cards were fresh formatted and a series of
files written. If you delete in camera and cause fragmentation,
speed will drop further than shown.

Roger

> Since I use RAW at all times and
> regularly clear the contents this shouldnt be too much of an issue. I
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Many Thanks
> Allan

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Smokey - 11 Jan 2007 13:42 GMT

Allan,

I recommend taking a look at transcendusa.com. They have very good
prices on 80x compact flash (and other) memory cards. I bought a 2GB
SD card for my Nikon, and it works very well, for about $37.

> Thanks for the input guys. It looks like the Canon EOS 300D uses an
> old interface so burst speed will not benefit from ultra high speed
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> Many Thanks
> Allan

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just bob - 03 Jan 2007 23:10 GMT

>I have an old 256MB compact flash card for my Canon EOS300D but I think
> its too slow (not to mention not very large capcaity). I was looking
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> fastest card or will a slower one be just as quick in practice in the
> camera?

No. That camera will not benefit from the speed. However when you put the
card in a reader it will move files very quickly.

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Phisherman - 05 Jan 2007 01:53 GMT

>I have an old 256MB compact flash card for my Canon EOS300D but I think
>its too slow (not to mention not very large capcaity). I was looking
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>Thanks
>Allan

I buy SanDisk Ultra II 1 GB cards. Images transfer fast to my PC.

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Jon B - 10 Jan 2007 16:33 GMT

> >I have an old 256MB compact flash card for my Canon EOS300D but I think
> >its too slow (not to mention not very large capcaity). I was looking
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> I buy SanDisk Ultra II 1 GB cards. Images transfer fast to my PC.

Seconded, based on the Rob Golbraith site, I upped from a Blue Sandisk
(one of the slowest cards out (0.75mbps)), to an Ultra II which doubled
the speed in camera (1.4mbps), anything else gained only marginal
improvements at much higher % cost increases.

I also picked Sandisk going on user reliability reports on some of the
no name cards available.

Signature

Jon B
Above email address IS valid.
<http://www.bramley-computers.co.uk/> Apple Laptop Repairs.

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