Right I have had a 8gb Kingston and a 4gb kodak cf card go on me and refuse to take images over the last month or so, so I was wondering is there an heirachy of decent to rubbish makes, in terms of reliability of compact flash cards - I am down to a 2gb card and want some more long term reliable cards (8gb preferably) your opinions are eagerly awaited :beer:
i've always used sandisk - but others on here wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.
I know others get all their cards from 7 day shop.
I've as yet to see any thing concrete about memory cards...
Quote from: picsfor on March 28, 2010, 09:40:07 PM
i've always used sandisk - but others on here wouldn't touch them with a barge pole.
I know others get all their cards from 7 day shop.
I've as yet to see any thing concrete about memory cards...
I also use Sandisk, and usually get them from 7dayshop. Been very reliable for me. ( Quickly touches wood) :tup:
Quote from: irv_b on March 28, 2010, 09:30:44 PM
Right I have had a 8gb Kingston and a 4gb kodak cf card go on me and refuse to take images over the last month or so, so I was wondering is there an heirachy of decent to rubbish makes, in terms of reliability of compact flash cards - I am down to a 2gb card and want some more long term reliable cards (8gb preferably) your opinions are eagerly awaited :beer:
Have you tried doing a low level format on your PC? In Vista or WindowsXP, right click Start Button, select the card and right click and select Format from the drop-down list. Make sure the Quick Format option isn't ticked and click start. This might take over two hours to complete. When it finishes put into camera and select the format option in camera and the card should now be OK. IF it's still no good try contacting Kingston as they should replace the card for free. :tup:
As to which cards try Sandisk which is what I use after Lexar let me down. ;D
Another vote for Scandisk - I also have tried Transdata (??) and are ok, but not so quick.
One question, do you format in the camera (Or out, it doesn't really matter!) once you have cleared the pictures off? Or do you just delete? If you delete, it can leave some data in the header, which then gets larger and larger, and eventually, the card becomes unusable until a format.
Also, how old are they? Have they just been used alot and have worn out? Unlikely with non-pro use, but possible.
For no particular reason I only use Kingston. Have done for years, speed is not important to me so just use 133x.
I always format via the PC unless out in the "field"
Harry
I use Kingston 133x and Scandisk, but I do not care whatever make it is, as long as it is cheap and quick. Mind you I use as my main card a 4Gb Lexar Pro UDMA card that was given to me.
Never had trouble with any card. (Knocks on his wooden head rapidly)
I have found both Dane-Elec and Transend from 7dayshop.com to be reliable and I also have some Kingston. Lexar and Sandisk plus one 2gb noname cheapo card. Up to now they have all worked faultlessly (Glad my computer desk is wooden, it's given something to touch). I always format in camera just in case the camera maker has a prefered format built in.
I would also add that I have a little experience with SD cards and have found them less reliable - maybe I've just been unlucky.....
I have used Sandisk for quite a while now for football matches and they have never let me down ( average about 150 shots per game )
I have also used Integral ( made by Toshiba ) which I have also found reliable. See www.memorybits.co.uk if you buy from them they have a 15% discount at the moment. You have to type in promo code ' spring15 ' at the checkout...... :legit:
Thanks for all the replies guys it seems sandisk is the way forward :tup:
I usually format in camera after I have downloaded to the computer but I will give Oldboys' method a try and see what happens as they are only 2-3years old I was surpised that they are knackered but that is just my luck >:(
Sorry for the late reply but I've been away for a while....
Anyway, if two quite different cards started to misbehave at about the same time I might be tempted not to blame the cards, but look for another explanation. Perhaps a slightly dirty contact on the camera's edge connector for example. Just a thought!
What turned into a simple question has turned into a technical lecture :tup: but one with a good point.
Reading Simons comment about different makes and types of card failing simultaneously - i think he may have a point and maybe using Oldboys low level format through your computer could be worth a try.
Dirty or not quite so snuggly fitting contacts seem to provide the cause of many of problems with modern cameras of all makes and type.
While what Simon say may be correct, I think there is less chance of this with compact flash cards, as the pins are inserted into the card thereby, reducing the chance of bad contacts. Formatting cards in camera only removes the Fatfile and not the images. It's the same for quick format in windows whereas, a low level format will remove the images as well as the folders the camera sets up in the card boot sector which, is why you need to format in camera after the low level format on the PC. ;D
I use Sandisk, Kingston and Transcend cards, all 4gb.
The only one Ive had issues with was the Sandisk and its happened twice and I had to use some recovery software to get my shots (thanks to spinner)
Before I bin the card I will try OB's suggestion
Incidently I also had some issues with a SD card used on my D50 and again it was Sandisk
RR
Alf
Hi
I was quite impressed with the write speed of Lexar Professional 600x UDMA Compact Flash Cards I want one their, great for sports and wild life shooting, 16gb £194.99, 8gb £129.99, from warehouse express so you'll probably be able to pick them up a little cheaper elsewhere
Check them out here Clicky Linky (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOALy-tYdUk)
Dave
Just a quick update to let you all know I tried Oldboy's suggestion and it worked :tup: so I have all my cards back in a fully functioning capacity :fworks3: :fworks2:
Thanks for all your words of wisdom with a special thanks to Oldboy :tup: :beer:
Glad it worked OK. :tup: