Compact Flash Cards - Extreme III v. Extreme IV

[Josh-H]

Has anyone got any direct experience with wether the Sandisk Extreme IV cards [45mbs write] are worth the extra money over the Extreme III's [30 mbs write] with EOS 1DS MK3 files? -Extreme IV's are double the price.

I need to buy some more compact flash cards for my 1DS MK3 before I leave for New Zealand.

In general  I dont use motor drive, so are not to hung up on no. of frames per second - but may do so for photographing the Dolphins in Milford Sound.

Another point to consider - I have been shooting simultaneously to the Compact Flash Card and the Mini SD card in the 1DS MK3 for what is effectively a RAID set-up - But, doing so seriously slows down the write speeds. So I dont think I will keep doing this.

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.

[francois]

Josh,
I have only used Extreme 3 on my 1Ds3 but Rob Galbraith CF/SD database indicates that  performances are in the same ballpark for Extreme 3 & 4.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_mu...p?cid=6007-9256

I think that you will an improvement in card to computer transfer download speed.

[paul_jones]

Josh,
I have only used Extreme 3 on my 1Ds3 but Rob Galbraith CF/SD database indicates that  performances are in the same ballpark for Extreme 3 & 4.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/camera_mu...p?cid=6007-9256

I think that you will an improvement in card to computer transfer download speed.

the big improvement with the 4s over the 3s, is the download speed with a fw800 sandisk reader. it is  twice as fast to download , but the shoot speed to camera is basically the same.
i have 4 x 4gb extreme 4s when im in a hurry to download, but all my other cards are 3s as they are heaps cheaper, especially the large ones.

paul

[Jim Pascoe]

I have both types and I have to agree with the others here that I have not noticed any perceptible difference between the two when shooting with the 1DS mk3.  Downloading may well be different, but when downloading from my 16gb Extreme 3, I just go and put the kettle on.  Seems to have finished by the time the coffee is ready!

Regarding the two card slots.  Ever since I have had the camera I have shot Raw to the CF, and fine jpeg to the SD.  It seems to run quite quickly, but have not tried just the one slot to see if it speeds up.

Jim

[wollom]

Has anyone got any direct experience with wether the Sandisk Extreme IV cards [45mbs write] are worth the extra money over the Extreme III's [30 mbs write] with EOS 1DS MK3 files? -Extreme IV's are double the price.

In general  I dont use motor drive, so are not to hung up on no. of frames per second - but may do so for photographing the Dolphins in Milford Sound.

The write speed is really only a factor if you hit the buffer on the 1Ds.  click, click.... no problem.  click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click... wait... buy extreme IV! (for about one more click)

Shooting RAW>CF, large fine JPG >SD gives a backup and no slowdown. They are holiday pics. Right?

Cheers

Wollom

[Ken Bennett]

The Extreme IV are made for people who have to download very quickly. Photojournalists, wedding photographers, etc. Anyone for whom time is money (or deadlines) when waiting for 20 gigs of photos to download.

[bradleygibson]

+1 what Paul & K_bennett said.

I have both and the advantage is in the apres ski, when you are dumping the contents onto your PC.  1.5x speed for the Extreme IV's.

You'll need a fast reader to keep up, but for me it's worth it.  Some do other things or go to bed while it's downloading, so the extra speed isn't a benefit to them...

-Brad

[runee]

Nice info...

So, in terms of let's say capturing HD video on the 5D2, the speed difference between 3 and 4 does not matter either?

I bought a 4 for my camera, to be sure I could record video without a buffer overrun - but will 3 perform as well for the video part and save me some $$$ ?