Memory Cards

**Iguide** · 07-11-2009, 10:27 AM

Good Day Everyone:

I would like to know if anybody in the community has any experience with SanDisk Vs Lexar memory cards? I have done enough research to learn that SanDisk are the most popular cards, while it seems that Lexar seem to be used by more professional, like Moose Peterson for instance. I have lost corrupted shots twice on a Transcend compact flash 33x 16GB and am looking to replace that card & acquire a few more while at it. I don't care to repeat that experience. I have done enough reading to learn that it might also be my reader or firewire and plan on replacing those also. Any suggestions? Also just what is the difference between UDMA cards and non UDMA cards, and which would be more appropriate for my work?

I shoot with a 50D, all outdoor photography in RAW format.

Thanks for the help![

]

**Chuck Lee** · 07-11-2009, 01:11 PM

Iguide,

My wife and I use Sandisk 2G Ultra II CF cards.We shoot RAW on 40D and 5D. That's around 130-150 photos/cardand as many aswe would gamble to loose at one time. Westarted withPentax DSLRs that used SD.All but one was Sandisk 2G. We hada Lexar 4GB card.We used the reader that came with it because none of our other readerswould work. We fortunately never had an issue with it. 4Gs is a lot of info to loose. To me, speed has never been as important as reliability and I have to say that Sandisk has always been reliable.The 4G LexarSD card is in my son's 260IS and has been working just fine.My wife reads her cards with the CF reader in the HP 7560. It's slow, but gets the job done. I use a Digital Concepts CF to USB Converter Drive. Cheap as dirt, but works decent. Never had an issue. I guess you could say we're semi-professional. We make money but don't rely on it to live. We've shuttered well over 50,000 photos. Never lost one do to the card. We did have a mishap once but was able to use an undeleter to recover the files. I've been nothing but satisfied with the performance of our memory cards.

That's my experience,

Chuck

**ShutterbugJohan** · 07-11-2009, 01:13 PM

I use Sandisk and Lexar cards, and have never had any problem.

**Benjamin** · 07-11-2009, 02:04 PM

I use both Sandisk and Lexar cards. I constantly have a Lexar 4GB 133x card in my 50D and I find it has more than enough capacity I need. The lexar has never let me down, it's pretty reliable through almost 3 years of use. The Sandisk hasn't had any problem either. As far as I know, the sandisk extreme III or IV is not just for fast speed, the design is meant to take abuse. If I remember correct, the extreme cards will work in temperature ranged from -20 to 80 celsius. It's somewhat more shock proof than other cards too although I haven't tried myself.

The UDMA cards are faster in terms of speed, the difference in speed will only show up when used with a camera that supports UDMA cards. The latest mid-range DSLRs such as your 50D will support UDMA. Practically speaking, you will not need UDMA unless you shoot more than 50 images in a blast in JPG or more than 20 in RAW. UDMA will not increase speed of continuous shooting, it will extend the buffer to allow more images to be taken in one blast at the camera's defaut speed.

Getting either Lexar and Sandisk professional grade cards (Sandisk Extreme III or IV, Lexar Professional series) will both be good choices. The sandisk gives very strict performance information for every parameter.

Ben

**Chris White** · 07-11-2009, 08:08 PM

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<p class="MsoNormal"]Iguide,
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span> I also have a 50D
and the only cards I have used with it are 8GB either the Lexar Professional UDMA
300x speed or SanDiskExtreme IV cards. I have never lost any images or had any other
problems with either brand. That is the main reason I stick with only these
brands. They cost a little more, but they are worth it in my opinion. I would
hate to save $20 or $30 but lose an irreplaceable image. These two brands also
come with recovery programs for lost images. I have played around with both,
and they could be helpful with images accidently deleted, but not on cards
reformatted. There is also always – it seems – a rebate program on one or both
of them. Currently, the Lexar has a $65.00 rebate good for up to three cards
and the Extreme IV is $60 on one, $130 on two or $200 on three ( 8GB cards).
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span> As to '<span>UDMA’,
it stands for Ultra Direct Memory Access, which as Ben above states the 50D
does take advantage of. Since I have always used UDMA cards with my 50D, I cannot
speak to the difference. To second Ben, you cannot go wrong with either of
these cards.
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span> The earlier Extreme
IV cards were 40MB/s = 266x speed write and read. The newer ones are 45MB/s = 300x
speed like all my Lexar cards. I really do not notice a difference; perhaps I have
not pushed the 266x speed cards hard enough. I do know that the earlier
editions included a nice travel case that no longer is included with the latest
cards.
<p class="MsoNormal"]<span> <span>If anyone does know if there is a noticeable difference
or for that matter how noticeable the difference with an Extreme III card at 30MB/s
= 200x, the Extreme IV 266x and Extreme 300x cards, I would appreciate it if
they would share their knowledge. Maybe we can we can get the SanDisk quality with
a lower price. I have been tempted to try the Extreme III cards; the price with
the rebate makes them @ $15 less than the Extreme IV cards. I just do not know
if the burst would handle my sports photos, so I just stick with the faster
write cards.
<p class="MsoNormal"]Chris

**mpphoto12** · 07-11-2009, 11:05 PM

I use the sandisk as well and have no problem at all... however, my friend who is going to college for photojournalism and makes a living already from photography uses Lexar and has shown me his cards after years of use.. They look like they are ancient but they still work great. He has no visible markings on the from becasue of how many times they have gone through the wash and survived. he has had them steped on and once ran over by a motocycle. And he just wrote the size on each one is sharpy so he can remember. I would go with lexar if you plan on shooting very often or just want a solid card that will not be water damaged. He even used the photos from the cards after the wash to sell from a wedding the next day. Im fne with Sandisk but it depends on your style and uses.

**Ragingblues** · 07-11-2009, 11:08 PM

I highly recommend the Kingston Ultimate 266X CF cards in 8 GB or 16 GB. I use them with my 50D in RAW format and have exceptionally pleased with the peformance.

~ Ken

**jeffersonposter** · 07-11-2009, 11:45 PM

I have 3 Extreame III 8GBs, a 4GB Extreame III, a 2GB Extreame III, and a Kingston 4GB 133x. The 8GBs write faster from the camera to the card than the 4GB Ex.III or the 2GB ExIII, but not by a lot. The Kingston 4GB is noticeably slower on both a 30D and a 5D. I'm very satisfied with the 8GB ExIIIs.

JeffersonPoster

**Iguide** · 07-13-2009, 07:08 AM

<div id="post_message_8270869"]Good Day All:

I would like to thank everyone that took the time to respond to this
thread. Just in reading
many of the different threads has been an incredible help so far.

I am fairly new to the digital world and Canon Cameras etc.. I had shot
for almost 20 years with film with good but basic equipment, Pentax K
1000 & various lens and this has been quite an adventure into
modern technology for a guy the does not even own a cell phone ( don't
want one of those infernal things either ). This community is very
helpful. THANK YOU!!!

Now if I could only find someone who lives near me that has a 50D to
help explain all of the aspects of operation I might actually be making
progress.

Thanks again and every one have a great day in Gods Great Outdoors!!!!!</div>

<div>
</div>

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