Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: Killer Angel on January 07, 2007, 08:19:37 am

Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Killer Angel on January 07, 2007, 08:19:37 am
I am thinking of getting a Sandisk Extreme III compact flash card for my Canon 30D camera.Has anybody out there ever had had any experiences with this compact flash card?If yes,what do you think about it?Would you highly recommend it?
THANKS.

Killer Angel
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Chris_Brown on January 07, 2007, 09:29:28 am
Quote
I am thinking of getting a Sandisk Extreme III compact flash card for my Canon 30D camera.Has anybody out there ever had had any experiences with this compact flash card?If yes,what do you think about it?Would you highly recommend it?[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=94290\")
I've tried Lexar, Viking and [a href=\"http://sandisk.com/Corporate/About/]SanDisk.[/url] I've used these cards in Olympus and Canon cameras and none of them have failed, but like any flash memory device, after a certain number of read/write cycles they do eventually fail. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlash)

According to SanDisk, the Extreme series is designed for rugged use in adverse conditions. Although I'd never dunk one in boiling water to find out, I've used my Extreme CF cards in every kind of condition that my cameras can handle. So far, so good.

Another area for you to research is the Galbraith CF/SD database. (http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007) Here you will find an excellent resource on the strengths and weaknesses of various CF brands.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: feppe on January 07, 2007, 10:16:39 am
Quote
I've tried Lexar, Viking and SanDisk. (http://sandisk.com/Corporate/About/) I've used these cards in Olympus and Canon cameras and none of them have failed, but like any flash memory device, after a certain number of read/write cycles they do eventually fail. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompactFlash)

I bought a Lexar 2GB card with my 30D, shot it full of pictures in Virginia and Washington D.C. A few days later I tried accessing it and the card was toast. After first use. Data recovery service recovered only 20 or so shots. Needless to say I'm never going to use anything Lexar ever again.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: mtselman on January 07, 2007, 10:26:10 am
Quote
I am thinking of getting a Sandisk Extreme III compact flash card for my Canon 30D camera.Has anybody out there ever had had any experiences with this compact flash card?If yes,what do you think about it?Would you highly recommend it?
THANKS.

Killer Angel
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=94290\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Have been using SanDisk Ultra II, 2GB  for over a year now in Canon 350D. It survived cold and dry at 6000m in Nepal, humid and hot in Laos and Thailand, worked in "el-cheapo" card-readers in internet cafes around the world and is still going fine.
Paid almost $200 for it back than. Just picked up another one for a meager $40.

The "Extreme" version should only be better.

  --Misha
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Paul Sumi on January 07, 2007, 06:11:12 pm
I've got Sandisk Extreme III (2 gig) CF cards along with an assortment of older Lexar cards.  No problems with any of them.  

Paul
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: francois on January 08, 2007, 04:46:02 am
Quote
I am thinking of getting a Sandisk Extreme III compact flash card for my Canon 30D camera.Has anybody out there ever had had any experiences with this compact flash card?If yes,what do you think about it?Would you highly recommend it?
THANKS.

Killer Angel
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=94290\")
If you're quick enough, you might even get a Capture One LE free license with your Extreme 3 memory card. I'm not sure if the promo is still valid.
See [a href=\"http://www.phaseone.com/Global/Campaigns/SanDisk%20info.aspx]this link[/url].
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: GregW on January 08, 2007, 06:01:15 am
This my card of choice these days.  I currently using an 8GB, 4GB and 2 2GB.  Like other here I have used them in a range of conditions including a lot in cold alpine weather at high altitude.  The only conditions I have not used them in is high humidity tropical conditions, simply because I haven't had the opportunity.

Since the introduction of the IV cards the III's have come down in price (Switzerland) nicely and imo represent excellent value for money.  The advice to look at Rob Galbraith's (Card database)  is good.  Many camera bodys' will not be able utilise the extra speed in the IV cards.  So if you are happy to wait a little longer in post you can get a larger III or simply save some cash.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: matt4626 on January 08, 2007, 03:00:15 pm
Extreme III's have worked great for me. Everything from sub-zero to Africa.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: aaykay on January 11, 2007, 05:48:22 pm
Quote
I am thinking of getting a Sandisk Extreme III compact flash card for my Canon 30D camera.Has anybody out there ever had had any experiences with this compact flash card?If yes,what do you think about it?Would you highly recommend it?
THANKS.

Killer Angel
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=94290\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I have a couple of Extreme III CF cards and they have never failed me.  I just bought an 8GB Extreme IV but am yet to receive it from B&H.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: kaelaria on January 11, 2007, 09:18:02 pm
If you need it for the extreme temp ranges that's one thing, but if you just need good performance, anything more than the Ultra II is a waste of money, the camera isn't fast enough to take advantage of faster cards.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Paul Sumi on January 11, 2007, 11:16:01 pm
Quote
If you need it for the extreme temp ranges that's one thing, but if you just need good performance, anything more than the Ultra II is a waste of money, the camera isn't fast enough to take advantage of faster cards.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=95204\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

There's also download speed to be considered.  With the appropriate card reader you'll spend significantly less time sending the files to your computer.

Paul
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: kaelaria on January 12, 2007, 08:09:38 am
That's true, you can save a minute or so dumping a full card.

Personally it wasn't worth $80 more for me to save it, but if I was dumping full cards on a regular basis it may have been.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Raw shooter on January 12, 2007, 08:36:10 am
Quote
I bought a Lexar 2GB card with my 30D, shot it full of pictures in Virginia and Washington D.C. A few days later I tried accessing it and the card was toast. After first use. Data recovery service recovered only 20 or so shots. Needless to say I'm never going to use anything Lexar ever again.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=94310\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Same exact problem with Lexar.  I was a loyal Lexar user - but the failure of 2 of their cards ended that loyalty.
The Sandisk Extreme III cards have been totally reliable.  I would recommend Sandisk as well.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: aaykay on January 12, 2007, 10:09:11 am
Quote
If you need it for the extreme temp ranges that's one thing, but if you just need good performance, anything more than the Ultra II is a waste of money, the camera isn't fast enough to take advantage of faster cards.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=95204\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

That is a good point.  The cameras **currently in the market**, are not optimized to take advantage of the speed of any of these cards.  In fact, Rob Galbraith's site had some detailed objective tests taken with several of these cards, mated to several high-end dSLRs and it showed that the high speeds of these cards are never used.

But, it does not mean that the cameras currently in the pipeline, would remain the same.  Why would companies maintain the status quo, if they can speed up the file-write-to-card process (enabling either a smaller/cheaper buffer or extending the number of files that can be written to the existing buffer) and claim a competitive advantage in the marketplace ?  

Methinks, with Extreme IVs with 40MB/S  *Read AND Write* speeds available, it is only a matter of a year or so before cameras that can take advantage of that speed, will hit the market.  Memory manufacturers like Sandisk, work hand-in-hand with camera manufacturers and if they come out with such a high-speed product, the writing on the wall is that cameras that can take advantage of the speed, are definitely in the pipeline.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: kaelaria on January 12, 2007, 10:20:11 am
Yeah, and by the time we all upgrade to the faster cameras, there will #1 be faster and larger cards out, and #2 be huge price drops on the current lines.  No point whatsoever in buying technology ahead of the curve that you can't harness.  Total waste of money.

Spend $250 for a card you can't use now, and *maybe* a year+ from now....or wait for that year+ and your next upgrade *if* it will indeed be faster - and pay $120 for the same card.   Hmmmmm
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Paul Sumi on January 12, 2007, 10:37:24 am
Quote
That's true, you can save a minute or so dumping a full card.

Personally it wasn't worth $80 more for me to save it, but if I was dumping full cards on a regular basis it may have been.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=95252\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I admittedly was using older CF cards before, but with the Extreme III's I have cut download times nearly in half.

Paul
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Coke on January 12, 2007, 09:45:22 pm
Quote
If you need it for the extreme temp ranges that's one thing, but if you just need good performance, anything more than the Ultra II is a waste of money, the camera isn't fast enough to take advantage of faster cards.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=95204\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


Very true, the speed gain is only a few hundred kb/s in camera.
The difference in speed shows much more when downloading
the images to your pc. But if you dont have a fast cardreader
it's again not worth to buy extreme cf cards. ultra II is great.
robgalbraith has a cf speed database for different camera
models on his site, only i dont have the link at hand right now.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: aaykay on January 20, 2007, 10:26:37 am
Quote
Spend $250 for a card you can't use now, and *maybe* a year+ from now....or wait for that year+ and your next upgrade *if* it will indeed be faster - and pay $120 for the same card.   Hmmmmm

Okay, there is one camera that is able to take advantage of the high speed cards.  The Sony Alpha 100.  With Extreme III, it is able to transfer data at over 13-14MB/sec (according to dpreview.com), thus making it currently the speed champion among all the dSLRs, including the high-end Canons.  Obviously, during PMA, they are expected to announce even higher end cameras.

The below link shows a person testing his Extreme III and Extreme IV with the Alpha and finds that with the Extreme III, the buffer fills up after around 9 shots, when shooting RAW.  But when using the Extreme IV, the buffer never fills up when shooting continuously, since the write to the card is fast enough to keep the buffer from ever filling up !  

So, it is spending "$250 for a card you can use NOW" !  No "*maybe a year+ from now"....   Hmmmmmm

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp...essage=21723319 (http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1037&message=21723319)
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: kaelaria on January 20, 2007, 11:39:25 am
We're talking Canon cameras, not Sony.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: aaykay on January 23, 2007, 02:26:25 am
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We're talking Canon cameras, not Sony.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=96739\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I think the point is that a dSLR exists right now, which transfers at over 14MB/sec, using the Extreme III card and the performance by the tester above indicates that it is transferring data at well over 30MB/sec when using the Extreme IV card, since with continuous RAW shooting, the camera is creating over 35MB/sec (at 3FPS) and the buffer never fills up.  

That is HUGE and Canon would not be far behind, when they introduce their 1D series shortly.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: kaelaria on January 23, 2007, 08:12:56 am
And again, pure speculation, as I pointed out.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: aaykay on January 24, 2007, 04:03:43 am
Quote
And again, pure speculation, as I pointed out.

Would have been "pure speculation" if a competitor's product with the capability did not exist currently.  But with such a product in the market for around a year, I would term it as "intelligent projection" rather than "pure speculation".
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: kaelaria on January 24, 2007, 08:12:40 am
LOL - you can call it whatever you like - you know absolutely nothing about what is coming out, when it's coming out or what it will do.  That's pure speculation.  I suppose you also posted about the 40D coming out last fall right?  After all, there was plenty of 'intelligent projection' going around about it

The only fact is, there is no Canon out now.  Unless you work for Canon, for example, there is nothing intelligent about your projection/speculation - simply what is called 'wishfull thinking'.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: aaykay on January 24, 2007, 10:28:57 pm
Quote
I suppose you also posted about the 40D coming out last fall right?

It may have been someone else.  I was never interested in the 20D/30D or its successors, including any upcoming 40D.  

I would be very interested however, in any new wide angle lenses that Canon comes out with and also the replacement for the 5D.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Phil Lamerton on March 01, 2007, 06:58:40 pm
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There's also download speed to be considered.  With the appropriate card reader you'll spend significantly less time sending the files to your computer.

Paul
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=95218\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Hello, I'm new to digital photography. I've filled a few Extreme III cards and now I'm stuck as I haven't been able to find a card reader which I can plug into my USB port. Could you advise which is the best card reader for this card? I'd appeciate any advice you might have. I looked on the Sandisk site and it seems to me that some of the card readers can only read JPEG files (but surely I'm mistaken?).  Thanks in anticipation,  Phil Lamerton
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Roy on March 01, 2007, 08:55:33 pm
Quote
Hello, I'm new to digital photography. I've filled a few Extreme III cards and now I'm stuck as I haven't been able to find a card reader which I can plug into my USB port. Could you advise which is the best card reader for this card? I'd appeciate any advice you might have. I looked on the Sandisk site and it seems to me that some of the card readers can only read JPEG files (but surely I'm mistaken?).  Thanks in anticipation,  Phil Lamerton
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=104094\")

Any compact flash card reader will read the card. Some will read it faster.

There is a great deal of information on the [a href=\"http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=6007]CF/SD page[/url] of Rob Galbraith's web site. Use the drop-down menu at the top right of the page to access all the data.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: Khun_K on March 01, 2007, 09:33:59 pm
Quote
I am thinking of getting a Sandisk Extreme III compact flash card for my Canon 30D camera.Has anybody out there ever had had any experiences with this compact flash card?If yes,what do you think about it?Would you highly recommend it?
THANKS.

Killer Angel
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=94290\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
I did not use a 30D, but faster card is indeed working faster on camera such as Canon 1Ds MK2 and in my digital back, P45. Once the buffer filled up, the faster card can refresh the buffer faster, and let you shoot at lower continuous rate, but still faster than with a slower card. I was using cards I bought a few years ago (many brands) mixed with new Extrem III and IV and you can see the difference. Another matter is that if you eventually have the newer card reader can support faster transfer rate, then it makes download a lot faster. I suggest faster card the better, you can use it today, and still use them tomorrow.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: KolinP on March 01, 2007, 11:19:30 pm
Just to clarify ...

Quote
If you need it for the extreme temp ranges that's one thing, but if you just need good performance, anything more than the Ultra II is a waste of money, the camera isn't fast enough to take advantage of faster cards.
You say "... the camera isn't fast enough ..."

Do you mean the Canon 30D isn't fast enough to take advantage of the Sandisk Extreme III cards?

I acknowledge Killer Angel's query mentioned that specific camera, but other camera's will certainly be able to take advantage of the extra "III" speed.  My Nikon D200 gains a whole 1 second faster write-to-CF-card per image with the Sandisk Extreme III 4GB compared to the earlier Sandisk Ultra II 4GB card.

And I really appreciate that extra 1 Second when I choose to chimp ...  

Colin

P.S. My timings are my own in-camera + stop-watch tests and not Rob Galbraith's figures.
Full RAW(uncompressed NEF) + high quality JPEG:
Sandisk Extreme III 4GB, 28 image burst - 8.3MB/Sec to CF card.
Sandisk Ultra II 4GB, 27 image burst - 5.3MB/Sec to CF card.
Colin

Edited to add that with both cards the D200 accepted 18 images on the fly, at 5FPS, before starting to queue the remainder. The balance of the 27(or 28) images were taken as fast as the D200 could process those earlier in its queue - but I'm in danger of digressing from the original question ... sorry.

Yes, it's definitely worth buying/using faster cards when possible    

Colin
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: kaelaria on March 02, 2007, 08:07:34 am
Yes, I mean the 30D.

If you are buying memory for your 'future' camera purchase(s), save your money and do it when you are ready.  If you buy beyond the camera now, you only burn cash.  Buy a better camera and the same memory will be a lot less money then.  Or think of it this way - when you buy a faster camera there will be even faster memory out - and you'll be in the same position as now.

Don't over buy your memory, it's like putting premium in a car that only needs regular.  It doesn't hurt anything but your wallet.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: sxat on April 05, 2007, 03:20:40 am
I can't understand what went wrong with the memory cards.
Some time back I also lost my pictures from my canon. I have to used Stellar Phoenix Digital Media Recovery Software (http://www.stellarinfo.com) to recover my images from the memory stick.

So can anybody tell me what are the ways in which these cameras should be handled so that no data loss can occur in future.
Title: Sandisk Extreme III Compact Flash Card
Post by: iGuy on April 07, 2007, 12:59:08 pm
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Don't over buy your memory, it's like putting premium in a car that only needs regular.  It doesn't hurt anything but your wallet.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=104190\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

It's clear to me that you are a photographer on a budget with very specific needs. It is the hight of arrogance  for you to assume that everyone else in the world suffers your limitations.

There are many reasons to purchase ahead of the curve if you can rationalize it or simply afford it. It appears that you can do neither. Good for you. I'm glad that you can work within your limitations. And I don't mean that sarcastically.

Please feel free to offer advice but please don't lecture or try to dictate. It only underscores your lack of maturity.

As for me, I like being able to use my CF cards for multiple purposes including as fast thumb drives. There is a plethora of new adapters for CF cards enabling them to be used as fast cache for laptops; everything from IDE and SATA adapters to ExpressCard/34. And of course the more traditional USB and FireWire 400/800. You can even use them to replace the harddrive in Apple's iPod Mini.

So I'm willing to pay the premium. You're not. We get. Let it go.

~iGuy