Has anybody here used the Sandisk version of the SxS card instead of the Sony? Any issues to report? I've been quoted a price that was about $60 lower for the Sandisk 8 gig than the Sony but wasn't sure of compatibility.

Wow, nobody has the Sandisk? Okay, I guess I'll be the guinea pig for this one. I'm going tp pick up the EX1 tomorrow with the Sandisk 8 gig and wait for the rebate Sony card too. I'll post the results if there's any problem.

Dave I was about to order from B&H last week but they closed up for the holidays. I've heard many people say the Sandisk works perfectly fine.
It's on the EX1 brochure and B&H list it in their accessories for the EX1.

You should have no problem
Thanks
Paul

Thanks Paul. That $60 price difference was nothing to sneeze at so I'll probably get one. Do you think that the fact that Sandisk is getting into this format will drive down the prices any time soon?

I would hope the Sandisk cards are compatible, since SxS stands for Sony (interconnected with) Sandisk. The development was a joint effort by both companies.

Let us know how it works out for you with the other brand of SxS card.

-gb-

Hi Dave, as Greg mentioned, the actual Sony SXS disk are manufactured by Sandisk. This is a joint venture.

The specs on the Sandisk card are identical to the Sony card.
I think they are both the exact same cards - different stickers :)

I think prices for 16 GB cards will come down to about $500 once the 32 GB card comes out. Panasonic already annouced the 64GB P2 card

A few members mentioned that the firmware update will come in Fall which will allow cheap cards to work - but I wouldn't trust them. The day I destroy a wedding with those el cheapo cards - I'll be wishing I hadn't saved the 2 or 3K :)

I don't know if you do weddings Dave but I have five 16GB cards and two 8 GB (came with cam) - that's enough to go through 1 wedding nicely. That's about 6 HDV tapes.

Let us know how the card works.
Cheers
Paul

I don't know if you do weddings Dave but I have five 16GB cards and two 8 GB (came with cam) - that's enough to go through 1 wedding nicely.

The forthcoming 60gb hard drive is tailor made for your application. 210 minutes of continuous recording at the highest quality.

-gb-

Dave/Paul,

Please let us know as soon as you confirm that the Sandisk works.

I will need to buy some 16Gb cards urgently. Was hoping that the price would drop after NAB - but I have to have these by mid May at the latest.

Hi Paul,
Thanks for the info re: Sandisk/Sony. That figures that they would have somebody else build the cards for them. After all, they don't make their own batteries so why should they do the cards, huh?

When I got to the dealer, I found out that they only had 16 gig Sandisks and not the 8's. So, I bought an additional 8 gig Sony and will save up my pennies for the 16 gig. Is the Sony offer still in effect for the additional 8 gig card? Also spent an additional $300+ on a black Portabrace case and a BP-U60 battery so I'm a little "tapped out" right now! ;)

B&H is listing the Sandisk cards at $499 for 8GB and & 899 for 16GB. That's more than the Sony's! What gives here? (I know they're closed for a week, but this seems strange and is contrary to popular belief.)

Disregard:
Sorry, for got to add to cart for lower price!

The specs on the Scandisc 16gb card also states 2 hours of recording time where the Sony only says approx 1hr....

Whats the difference??

The specs on the Scandisc 16gb card also states 2 hours of recording time where the Sony only says approx 1hr....

Whats the difference??

That must be incorrect data. A 16gb card holds approx. 1 hour in HQ whether its Sony/Sandisk/etc.

Hi Graeme - for sure! Will do.

Greg - yes that HDD looks very good. I think that is about $1500
Boils down to about $25/GB vs. $55/GB for SXS.
Only thing is you have to dock extra 'stuff' on the camera :)

Edward - the specs say:
Approx 2 hours recording time with 2 x 16GB memory cards

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(1046)-SDX-VS-008G-A101-SanDisk_Express_ExpressCard_8GB.aspx

At 35Mbps you are recording 4.17 MB/Sec or 250MB/Minute
For 60 minutes that is about 15GB. Minus some filesystem over head etc - you are going to get about 58 minutes max on one 16GB card

Dave - yes - I had to add to cart to see the $799 price for 16GB :)

Paul

I am using the Sandisk version. They work just fine. Cheaper too.

I too have been waiting for the price of SXS to come down but I just can't wait any longer and have been buying 8Gb cards in the last week. There are bargains to be had if you spend time searching around and I picked up an 8gb card last night for £168 inc postage, compared to £299 + postage in the UK.

I would prefer to buy 16Gb cards but the prices seem to be holding steady and they are not being discounted down to s sensible price anywhere. BHPhoto has them a $875, or in the UK £517, so I can get 2 8Gb cards for $670(£335). So a decent saving.

As a wedding videographer I need about 5 and a half hours of recording time, and to be on a very safe side, 6 hours for a full day and evening. Although it will be a bit of a pain with 8Gb cards, at least I wil have enough not to worry about downloading to a laptop, formatting the card, then reusing in the same day, with the worry that something has gone wrong with my copying!

...I picked up an 8gb card last night for £168 inc postage, compared to £299 + postage in the UK.


Steve! Can you share the link where you purchased 8g card for £168 please? Seems to be very nice price!

Steve! Can you share the link where you purchased 8g card for £168 please? Seems to be very nice price!

Ditto.
I wanna know where i can got one/some.

And Steve,if you ever need a hand on a shoot then let me know,i'm not far from you.

Paul.

I get them off ebay.
370045643715 is one at the moment. Sells them all the time.

I purchased one today for £400 (16Gb) Whether it is an empty box I will open tomorrow (he has sent it recorded) or the real thing I will soon know. Not the usual scammer item though!

I know a shop in the UK where you get an 16GB SxS card for £450.
If someone is interested, you can PM me, they are not a sponsor, so I can't say.

Comparing to Belgium, that price was good, that amounts to about 550 euros. In comparison, an 16GB card costs 990 euros here!

The 16Gb card I won off ebay yesterday arrived this moring in as new condition. Must admit I was slightly worried waiting to see if it was an empty box but all was well.

I now have 4 hours 35 minutes of SXS recording at HQ. One more card and I can do a whole wedding day without breaking sweat about running out of space. Only once have I gone over 5 hours so an 8Gb card will be enough.

Sandisk's 16gb cards are in the channel now, a certain reputable UK dealer has stock for around £389...cant say who yet as we're still in the process of becoming a sponsor :)

Sandisk's 16gb cards are in the channel now, a certain reputable UK dealer has stock for around £389...cant say who yet as we're still in the process of becoming a sponsor :)

Thats 389+VAT?

Got a bargain today. 16Gb SXS card for £331 inc vat and postage.

Got a bargain today. 16Gb SXS card for £331 inc vat and postage.

Was it that one: 190218272209 ?

Congrats, and please let us know when you get it safely...

Yes that is it. Already purchased one off this seller a couple of days ago and it arrived yesterday.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190218272209

The 16Gb card I won off ebay yesterday arrived this moring in as new condition. Must admit I was slightly worried waiting to see if it was an empty box but all was well.

I now have 4 hours 35 minutes of SXS recording at HQ. One more card and I can do a whole wedding day without breaking sweat about running out of space. Only once have I gone over 5 hours so an 8Gb card will be enough.

Dang! How long are those weddings in the UK? I rarely shoot more than 2.5 hours (1 hour ceremony and 4 hour reception). My finished product runs about 1:40.

Yes that is it. Already purchased one off this seller a couple of days ago and it arrived yesterday.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190218272209

That is an excellent price - $ 664 including postage to the U.S. Must be a huge markup considering "discounted" price here is $ 875.

I shoot about 5 hours. 2 hours before the wedding at the brides house, until 2 hours after the first dance. A long day!

Anyone know how long the big BP-U60 batteries last? I have one of those and u-30, but am unsure if I need to buy another 60.

That is an excellent price - $ 664 including postage to the U.S. Must be a huge markup considering "discounted" price here is $ 875.

It arrived this morning, just like the other one I got from the same seller.

Well chuffed!

Steve
A 30 and a 60 battery should be plenty enough for 5 hours shooting,i've done closer to 7 or 8 hours with the same 2 batteries.
I did a 3 hour shoot recently,using motor zoom throughout,my 60 battery still showed nearly half when i finished.

Paul.

is the U30 capable of 2hrs with the LCD ON all the time?

Steve
A 30 and a 60 battery should be plenty enough for 5 hours shooting,i've done closer to 7 or 8 hours with the same 2 batteries.
I did a 3 hour shoot recently,using motor zoom throughout,my 60 battery still showed nearly half when i finished.

Paul.

Thanks for that.