Best SD memory cards?

[firemanchip]

As I am preparing for my next trip I`m looking at SD cards to purchase. I`ll be doing still photography only with my 70D. I will be shooting Raw as well as large JPEG. I can get 212 pics on a 8GB and 421 on a 16GB. I do not erase the images after uploading, I store the memory cards away in a safe place. In the past I`ve used Transcend and haven`t had any issues. As far as IQ goes is there a certain speed or brand that I should be looking at? I plan on taking about 250-300 a day.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Asking what is the best SD card is a lot like asking what is the best camera? You can get all kinds of different ideas and opinions! I have used Sandisk, Transcend, Sony, Panasonic and Kingston. The only one that I will no longer purchase is the Sandisk. I know that is heresy to many, however I have had three come apart and lose the lock switch somewhere (maybe in my camera). Yes, they have a lifetime warranty, but to get a replacement is a long, drawn out affair and took a month to 6 weeks. I have had a Transcend break and the replacement process was painless compared to Sandisk. In using all the different manufacturers (Class 6, 10 and whatever that new number system is, (1) something or other), in real life use, I can't tell the difference. I shoot a lot of action with my cameras, so its not like I take one shot, wait, adjust and take another. I machine gun it. I have had great luck with Transcend and recently Sony.

 

[hakepb]

But, you could get 13,100+ of your pictures on this card
http://petapixel.com/2014/09/11/sandisk-unleashes-massive-512gb-sd-card-worlds-highest-capacity/

Which means you will have to go to Disney World for 45 days

On a more serious note, memory card doesn't Impact IQ. It can improve shot-to-shot times (up to a certain point) and how fast you can copy pictures to your computer.

 

[xlxo]

• I've had good success with Patriot cards if you want to save money.
• No complaints with Sandisk.
• Mixed success with Transcend.
• Lots of disasters with Lexar over the years. One pattern I'm seeing for failures is heat.... ie continuous shooting.

Personally.... I copy the images to dual hard drives when I get home. Format the cards so they can be reused the next time.

If you motor drive (continuous frame), look for Class 10 or faster cards with that DSLR. Check the manual for details.

32gb cards appear to be the norm now. 64gb cards are becoming more common. Something to consider when shooting RAW or going to places where you will be using your camera a lot.

I agree Image Quality makes no difference on cards. However slower cards may not keep up with the buffer and poorly made cards will lose data. I hate corruption.

 

[bob100]

As I am preparing for my next trip I`m looking at SD cards to purchase. I`ll be doing still photography only with my 70D. I will be shooting Raw as well as large JPEG. I can get 212 pics on a 8GB and 421 on a 16GB. I do not erase the images after uploading, I store the memory cards away in a safe place. In the past I`ve used Transcend and haven`t had any issues. As far as IQ goes is there a certain speed or brand that I should be looking at? I plan on taking about 250-300 a day.

never erase the cards? I'm assuming you mean for the trip and then eventually erase the cards after a backup.
I've never had a problem with Transcend, I just get the cheapest Sandisk SD card class 10 off ebay - 32 GB cards have come way down, just $5 now

 

[Coach]

I've been using Lexar CF cards since 2003 with no issues at all. I'm now using their SD cards in my D610 and also having no issues what so ever. I highly recommend them.

 

[SevenSeas]

I currently use both SanDisk and Transcend and haven't noticed a huge difference between the two, but then I'm certainly in the lower 'pro-sumer' end of things. That said, go ahead and get a Class 10 card, as others have mentioned. That's the most significant difference in cards.

 

[Groucho]

I've got a pretty decent pile of SD cards and I may have had one, if that, that's failed. It's all about speed and price now. My primary card is a Samsung 32gb:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009SK57Z6

~80m read, 40m write. Older cameras won't be able to take advantage of higher speeds, so you may check that before splurging for a fast card. It's not much of a splurge though, so you might as well so you'll be all set for your next camera!

The 32gb Samsung is in my primary slot and a little 8gb EyeFi Mobi card is in the second. If I fill the 32gb and it starts writing to the EyeFi, is feels glacially slow! It is dog slow. I keep it there if I want to share a photo immediately - I process the raw to a jpg onto that card, then tell it to upload to my phone.

 

[Skywise]

I've got a Sandisk 128gb that never leaves the camera. Once home I transfer everything off onto the main hard drive (which gets backed up) but leave the pictures on the SD card until the next trip.

 

[KCmike]

SanDisk is usually highly recommended by pro's but I've used just about any one you can think of and have never had an issue. Go with a class 10 rating for sure no matter what you do.