Do I need the high speed memory card?

[eugeniuss]

I am buying the Pentax DL tomorrow . Do I need to get a high speed memory card, or will a regular one suffice do the job? I saw the need when I was considering the Canon S2 for the video mode, but dont know if it makes a difference with the DL.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

As long as you use something like Sandisk Ultra II (approx 60x), it's good enough. Although considering the price of Extreme III (approx 80x) is not much more, you may want to go with Extreme III. At least when you're downloading the data to your PC it's going to be that much faster.

 

[eugeniuss]

oh yes, didnt think of the output advantage of the memory card... thanks

 

[Greg K.]

I am buying the Pentax DL tomorrow . Do I need to get a high speed memory card, or will a regular one suffice do the job? I saw the need when I was considering the Canon S2 for the video mode, but dont know if it makes a difference with the DL.

I think you'll be happy with the Pentax. I am! Can't wait until July and my next Disney trip...!

 

[Anewman]

IMO
When it comes to shooting the only time speed of the card will be noticed is when you use up the cameras buffer. On the DL the buffer is around 5 shots @2.8 fps. So if you shoot sports I can see high speed cards having an advatange, but otherwise even the slowest SD card will not noticeably slow you down. Some say "what about previewing the images", well I believe camera read a small thumbnail of sorts when previewing. I mean on a 20D with 4gb microdrive(considered slow) full of RAW files, after shot preview pops right up and I there is no delay when going through the card.

Yes when transferring to and from computers the speed of the card has advatanges and depending on the SIZE of the card it could have a real impact. But when transferring 1gb or less it will really not be that big of a difference, IMO. I mean by the time you open the first image in your photo editor(even just browsing) the card just finished downloading in the background.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I beg to differ. I tried using 32x, 40x, 60x and 80x CF on Canon 300D (approx 2.8fps too). In theory, anything higher than 32x should not be noticable. However, in my real life apps, the difference of card speed is very noticable and maxed out (for my camera) at 60x. Beyond 60x, the difference is only noticable when you're browsing within the camera.

Also at 1 Gb card (or worse, 2 Gb card) the browsing becomes unbearable on the slower card (40x or lower) when it passes the 50% capacity.

 

[mhutchinson]

I had the same question and contacted Canon support about card write speeds. They had said that the write speed for the 20D fell between 12X-24X, anything greater would not show any recordable performance gains. For camera bursts it may help allow for more pictures to be captured during the burst by emptying the buffer quicker, but nothing significant.

The main advantage of the faster cards is for unloading the images to your PC after you have taken them....but only if you remove the card from the camera or have a fast interface (eg USB 2). Otherwise your read performance won't be that much greater than the write.

I had seen a comment here on the Ultra II vs. Ultra III Extreme cards and I have personally found the Ultra II to seem to be quicker than the one and only Ultra III I bought...which seems to be in line with what other reviews have found on dfferent DSLR forums. Plus the Ultra II and similar speed competitors have dropped in price over the past couple weeks.

 

[Anewman]

I beg to differ.

Feel Free

I am sure in your experiences you feel that you have gotten better results with higher speed cards. I have never owned a 300D. I own the 20D(2 of them), I notice no benifits from higher speed cards as long as I do not exhaust the buffer. I shoot Raw 99% of the time. I even have a 4gb Microdrive that can be completly full of raw images and the browsing is as crisp as a recently formatted 1gb UltraII(paid about the same for both). Of course I do not garantee that everyone will feel the same.

 

[Razor Roman]

I have a Digital Rebel and I have one Ultra II card, and the rest are all the standard SanDisk cards that you can buy at best buy (the red and blue cards). For shooting at Disney and birthday parties, and other stuff that I do, I have never felt like I missed anything with the slower cards.

I will buy the better cards when I can afford them, but lately I've needed to get the cheapest one since money has been tight

 

[manning]

Don't know if everyone caught this. Posting this so all will know

Konica Monalta is getting out of the camera and photo business. They will be transferring camera related assets to Sony.

1) Camera Business

In camera business, we have reached an agreement with Sony Corporation(Sony), having numerous image sensor technologies such as CCD and CMOS, to jointly develop digital SLR cameras in July 2005. In order to continue to have our customers use Maxxum/Dynax lenses, and to maximize possibilities of the optical, mechanical and electronics technologies accumulated through development of SLR cameras in the years to come, we came to the conclusion that it was best to transfer assets concerning camera business to Sony. Since then, we have been negotiating with Sony, and as a result, we have reached an agreement with Sony to transfer a portion of assets regarding digital SLR camera system to Sony*1. In this relation, we have decided to withdraw from camera business*2, such as film cameras and digital cameras, within Konica Minolta Group as of March 31, 2006.

Sony is planning to develop digital SLR cameras compatible with Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system, so that the current Maxxum/Dynax users will be able to continue to use them with Sony’s digital SLR cameras. In addition, we will consign camera service operations for Konica Minolta, Konica,Minolta brand cameras and related equipment to Sony.




Under this agreement, on March 31 2006, Sony will receive certain assets from Konica Minolta PI that are necessary for the development, design, production and so forth of digital SLR cameras compatible with Konica Minolta PI’s “Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system”.** Sony will accelerate development of new digital SLR cameras based on and compatible with the Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system with a view to marketing these models this summer.



From April 1 2006, Konica Minolta PI will consign the customer service operations for Konica Minolta cameras and related products* to Sony, and Sony will implement service operations from that date onward.

Press release can be found here:


http://www.dpreview.com/news/0601/06011901konicaminoltaout.asp#press

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I even have a 4gb Microdrive that can be completly full of raw images and the browsing is as crisp as a recently formatted 1gb UltraII(paid about the same for both). Of course I do not garantee that everyone will feel the same.

What kind of Microdrive do you use? I used to use a Hitachi 2Gb Microdrive on a 10D and 300D but it crawls (but also that was more than a year ago, technology, for sure, have advanced since) I'm contemplating in getting a 4Gb Microdrive if the price is right and the reliability have improved (since the 1Gb and 2 Gb microdrive of the earlier days)