Compact Flash speed

bwana

bwana

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I use 32GB SanDisk Extreme 60MB/s UDMA cards in both my cameras.

They seem to get the job done satisfactorily.
 
K

koffiejunkie

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Dolby said:
What's an average sort of speed that you guys use?
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I have a mix of the Sandisk 30MB/s (Extreme III) and 45MB/s (Extreme IV) cards. If I had to buy now, I'd go for the 90MB/s ones. They may seem like overkill now, but when I got my 45MB/s card, I had the 40D which didn't have DMA and couldn't write that fast. Now my camera is about twice as fast as my card. But as it is, I have about 30GB worth of CF storage, so I can't justify it.

Edduck said:
Check Rob Galbraith's compact flash/SD speed database. It is HUGE, and I am sure you will find the best price/performance card here!!
Click to expand...

It's also quite outdated. Best bang for buck right now are the 60MB/s cards if you consider size and performance. If you just consider size for money, the slower cards are probably better.
 
P

Paul_S

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Dolby said:
What is DMA?
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DMA = Direct Memory Access
Basically the ability of a device to access primary memory directly without the host CPU being used in the transaction.
It's a bit more involved than that but that is good enough in lay man's terms.
Before DMA was introduced the CPU would have to stop what it was doing to handle data transfers between devices and primary memory.
DMA allows the CPU to carry on with it's tasks while data is being moved between primary memory (RAM) and system devices.
The CPU is involved a little bit to set up the DMA transfer.

In my opinion the term DMA is actually used incorrectly when it comes to storage devices since it has bugger all to do with primary memory but I guess it was a buzzword that most people equated to "speed" so it makes a little bit of sense.

* CompactFlash Revision 1.0 (1995), 8.3 MB/s (PIO mode 2)

* CompactFlash+ aka CompactFlash I/O (1997)

* CF+ and CompactFlash Revision 2.0 (2003) added an increase in speed to 16.6 MB/s data-transfer (PIO mode 4). At the end of 2003, DMA 33 transfers were added as well, available since mid 2004.

* CF+ and CompactFlash Revision 3.0 (2004) added support for up to a 66 MB/s data transfer rate (UDMA 66), 25 MB/s in PC Card mode, added password protection, along with a number of other features. CFA recommends usage of the FAT32 filesystem for storage cards larger than 2 GiB.

* CF+ and CompactFlash Revision 4.0 (2006) added support for IDE Ultra DMA Mode 6 for a maximum data transfer rate of 133 MB/s (UDMA 133).

* CF+ and CompactFlash Revision 4.1 (2007) added support for Power Enhanced CF Storage Cards.

* CompactFlash Revision 5.0 (2010) added a number of features, including 48-bit addressing (supporting 128 Petabyte of storage), larger block transfers of up to 32 Megabytes, quality-of-service and video performance guarantees, and other enhancements [22]

* CompactFlash Revision 6.0 (November 2010) added UltraDMA Mode 7 (167MB/s), ATA-8/ACS-2 sanitize command, TRIM and an optional card capability to report the operating temperature range of the card.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlash
 
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Dolby

Dolby

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Thanks!

Wow - so many more choices that I thought over storage :/
 
bwana

bwana

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Dolby said:
... only satisfactory at that price? ;)
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Well I'm not convinced I need better. The speed is fine and 32GB means I can fit 1800 RAW files from my 1Dmk3 and 1200 from my 7D.

I'm also not convinced CF will be around for that much longer on anything but the pro series bodies. The EYE-FI integration they implemented on the 60D could be an indication of the direction they're taking.

O/T - I was playing with a 60D the other night and it's actually a very nice bit of kit.
 
Dolby

Dolby

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bwana said:
O/T - I was playing with a 60D the other night and it's actually a very nice bit of kit.
Click to expand...

If they had the alloy body as with the other xxD, it would be a seriously strong contender.

Btw - after near on a year of deciding, querying, contemplating and reading everything I can get my hands on, I've placed my order for a Canon 7D and 70-200mm L F2.8 MKII lens :)

Unfortunatley - as you pointed out - I'm going to be lacking a close lens ... but with a wedding 16 April and Prime Circle on the 24 April, I wanted the longer before anything :)
 
BigAl-sa

BigAl-sa

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Dolby said:
What's an average sort of speed that you guys use?
Click to expand...

I'm interested as to why is it important to you? Are you taking RAW pics at high burst rates that you need the fast writes? Or are you impatient to wait more than 5 minutes to get it onto the PC (read rate)?

I'm happy with the performance of my mixture of Sandisk UltraII and ExtremeIV with my Canon 40d.
 
bwana

bwana

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BigAl-sa said:
I'm interested as to why is it important to you? Are you taking RAW pics at high burst rates that you need the fast writes? Or are you impatient to wait more than 5 minutes to get it onto the PC (read rate)?

I'm happy with the performance of my mixture of Sandisk UltraII and ExtremeIV with my Canon 40d.
Click to expand...
must . . . have . . . more . . . speed . . . :D

Seriously though the only benefit I derive from having UDMA cards for my 1DMk3 is getting the data off the card and onto the computer. On the 7D is makes a considerable difference clearing the buffer.
Dolby said:
If they had the alloy body as with the other xxD, it would be a seriously strong contender.
Click to expand...
Plastic body or not its a sturdy, comfortable camera.

Dolby said:
Btw - after near on a year of deciding, querying, contemplating and reading everything I can get my hands on, I've placed my order for a Canon 7D and 70-200mm L F2.8 MKII lens :)
Click to expand...
Congrats

Dolby said:
Unfortunatley - as you pointed out - I'm going to be lacking a close lens ... but with a wedding 16 April and Prime Circle on the 24 April, I wanted the longer before anything :)
Click to expand...
the 70-200 isnt the best wedding lens but I can see the point for a concert if you're shooting from the genpop area.
 
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Dolby

Dolby

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:)

It's not that the speed is or isn't important. Its more than the this is my first camera and first CF purchase.

I didn't know there were option and before wasting money, I'd like to know if and how much of a difference it makes. I'd also hate not to be ablr to use their 8fps by getting a 'incompatible' card.

They're at Barnyard - should be on the website. You can't come though, koffie! Let me enjoy my photo taking time and learning experience alone ;)
 
Dolby

Dolby

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Nice!

I've just seen your photos and especially the band stuff ... And I haven't touched a dSLR ;)

Do you have arrangements to take anything? Perhaps one day I can join you and learn a bit?
 
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