See this:

Charts, benchmarks SDHC Memory Card Charts, Minimum Write Transfer Rates (http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/sdhc-memory-card-charts/Minimum-Write-Transfer-Rates,864.html)

And this:

silicon Power Silicon-Power Products (http://www.silicon-power.com/product/pro_detail.php?main=9&sub=46&pro=74&sub_v=&currlang=utf8)

Sorry for not getting this but what exactly is considered overcranking on the EX1 1080 30p?
or 720 60p?
Either, is the kensington adapter the way to go? Most reliable, etc?
Best, Craig

I've used the Kensingtons without one failure. But they are too long and the door does not close on the EX1. I sold them and have been using the MxRs with the Sandisk and Transend 16bg (without one failure).

DO you guys have as many MxR cards as you have SD cards, or do you swap them "on the fly"?

DO you guys have as many MxR cards as you have SD cards, or do you swap them "on the fly"?

I've got a dozen adaptors now.

I've been on a four day shoot, just shoving the suckers in like fresh tapes, bag for empties, bag for fulls. No stress.

You really don't want to be fiddling about when shooting.

Compared to SxS, we can afford to have an adaptor per card. You may sell the cards on to the client post-shoot, and that's not a problem.

Just that lovely feeling of a pocket full of sticks - we'll shoot until the talent runs out of oxygen. Man, the time I asked for a little break to offload? For those who had never done this before, I got so much stink. Bad enough changing tapes. Swapping cards? Anathema. Sheesh, the shorter it is, the bigger the problem.

Before all this SDHC stuff became possible, I remember planning a point in which I would do a download while on a train between locations on a hectic day's shoot, but was worried about battery life with 2x HDs, 1 MacBook Pro and finding a fricken seat with a table on the train between locations. That's when I purchased a truck load of adaptors and SD cards.

IMHO buy an adaptor per SDHC card so you have, erm, a sort of 'clip'. Insert alternative scene of your favourite action movie here.

Has anyone tried the Silicon Power card in the ex1 ?

Wayne

To me it's so easy to take the SDHC cards out of the adaptors that I get by easily with just two adaptors.

To me it's so easy to take the SDHC cards out of the adaptors that I get by easily with just two adaptors.

Yes,

As long as you remove the adapter from the camera first. So if you are shooting for more than 108 minutes you still have to take the adapter out of the camera and change SDHC cards before re-inserting it back into the camera. It's easier to have many of them loaded and ready to go.

John

I think it's all about reducing work when on location. I have seen a post somewhere that highlights that the cock up factor is not something to contemplate with this media. I have 10 MXR with Transcend 16gbs + 4 SXS 16gbs - these will normally keep me going for 2-3 days without downloading. I can mark the adaptors much more easily than the SDHC card.

Would I like anybody to know it is using the cards Silicon Power, and if they are good same? I saw in Tom´s Hardware that test Minimum Write Transfer Rates and I liked a lot!
Will it be that the card is good same?

Charts, benchmarks SDHC Memory Card Charts, Minimum Write Transfer Rates (http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/sdhc-memory-card-charts/Minimum-Write-Transfer-Rates,864.html)

Newegg.com - FileMate 3FMS4U64M-WR 64GB ExpressCard 34 with Mini USB 2.0 External Solid state disk (SSD) - Solid State Disks (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161318)

Anyone tried one of these yet? $165... 64GB... 30MB/s read/writes (which should be plenty)

I'm looking to move to the EX3... but paying the ridiculous prices for SxS cards was deterring me (Mainly because I shoot 4-6 hours a day and need to do it all in one shoot)

Another random question, can you record to both slots at the same time? I'm just starting my research on the camera (probably won't buy it for a year or so, and by then something better might come out? heh) but that's a big deal... I don't trust SDHC cards much at all... I'd rather be recording to two at the same time and have a backup if needed... what I shoot can't be re-shot.

Newegg.com - FileMate 3FMS4U64M-WR 64GB ExpressCard 34 with Mini USB 2.0 External Solid state disk (SSD) - Solid State Disks (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161318)

I don't trust SDHC cards much at all... I'd rather be recording to two at the same time and have a backup if needed... what I shoot can't be re-shot.

I have been using Transcend 16gb SDHC cards in a Kensington holder and have never lost anything, - touch wood. But have lost footage on at least four jobs using DV tape

Hehe, well I've never had a tape go bad, I've had dropouts ofcourse...

But It's nice having an instant archivable backup...

I did have about 700GB of raw footage on my server when the RAID array corrupted and I lost all that, but I was able to retrieve all of it with my tapes.

Then again, I could have a real backup solution in-place instead ;)

Either way, it seems like that 64GB SSD is a decent deal... if it works...

I had a minor failure on a SDHC card recently (I posted about this but it was kind of buried in another post) which left me somewhat concerned about using the adpaters, but given the amount I have shot with SDHC cards without failure, it's still an excellent ratio. Certainly better than tape! I'm not certain what caused the problem, or really whether the issue was the SDHC card, Clip Browser, or File Transfer. The clip recorded fine, showed up fine in Clip Browser, (played back just fine) but that one clip would not transfer with File Transfer.... it just wasn't recognized. Everything else on the card was fine. Still can't figure that one out....

But here's my concern about using larger capacity cards. I'd be nervous about putting that much footage in one place. I'd much rather have lots of 16GB cards (the perfect size for me) than fewer 32GB or 64GB cards because if you DO have a failure, you lose so much more material. That's a risk I'm just not comfortable taking yet.

That said, when a Sony rep told me a few months ago that they had developed a 1TB Memory Stick, all I could think of was how great something like that would be to archive with? I would trust solid state memory over a hard drive any day.

Given the posts I see on all the forums, I think there's a much greater chance of human error transferring a card during a shoot than the card having a technical issue.

Some people may even blame the card when actually the human pulled it out while the light was still red (which may be the case after one stops recording) or copies without using CRC in ClipBrowser.

With two Sandisk 32GB cards, I don't have to touch a thing during most shoots.

Derek,

Can you give the details (again) about which adapter you were using along with the specific SDHC card you used?

Sure. I was using a MxR adapter, with a Transcend 16GB class 6 card.

Everything seemed to go normally with the shoot, we were doing several on-cameras with talent. Later that evening, I went to download all the cards to two separate LaCie Rugged drives (one for backup) which I then deliver to the client. Everything downloaded perfectly using Clip Browser (version 2, CRC enabled). I then decided to look at some of the takes in File Transfer (because it's a better interface for viewing) and when I tried to bring that particular BPAV folder into File Transfer, it would display a dialog box saying something about that one clip was not recognized. There was no thumbnail image for it in File Transfer either. (I can't remember the exact wording, but I still have that card and can replicate it again). I tried several times to import the files into File Transfer from both drives, and got the same result every time with that one clip. I then tried a third drive, (another LaCie rugged, this time a 7200rpm field edit drive) and tried to import it into FCP, but no go.

The weird thing is the clip played perfectly in Clip Browser. The good thing was that it wasn't a 'good' take, so no big deal.... but it sure could have been a keeper, in which case I would have had some explaining to do.

Anyone have any ideas? I'll try to replicate it today before I erase that card, so I can get the exact wording of the dialog box....

Please post the error message.
Maybe there's a bug in XDCAM Transfer (what version?).
Current version is 2.9.

Here are the error messages I got when trying to import that one clip. I believe I have the latest version of XDCam File Transfer, but I'll double-check.
I got these errors directly from the card, so that rules out Clip Browser..... the problem must be either something weird happened with that single clip, or with File Transfer.

I would NOT use XDCAM Transfer directly on the cards. If the file is damaged you've damaged your master. Copy to hard drive FIRST with ClipBrowser.

If you aren't backing up those BPAV you're walking into an accident waiting to happen . . . or maybe it has already for you.

I'm seeing an issue to XDCAM Transfer 2.9 in which it takes a while for the image to appear and be playable. It's as if there's a slow import/thumbnail buffer. If I wait a short bit it'll eventually work.

Sure. I was using a MxR adapter, with a Transcend 16GB class 6 card.

Everything seemed to go normally with the shoot, we were doing several on-cameras with talent. Later that evening, I went to download all the cards to two separate LaCie Rugged drives (one for backup) which I then deliver to the client. Everything downloaded perfectly using Clip Browser (version 2, CRC enabled). I then decided to look at some of the takes in File Transfer (because it's a better interface for viewing) and when I tried to bring that particular BPAV folder into File Transfer, it would display a dialog box saying something about that one clip was not recognized. There was no thumbnail image for it in File Transfer either. (I can't remember the exact wording, but I still have that card and can replicate it again). I tried several times to import the files into File Transfer from both drives, and got the same result every time with that one clip. I then tried a third drive, (another LaCie rugged, this time a 7200rpm field edit drive) and tried to import it into FCP, but no go.

The weird thing is the clip played perfectly in Clip Browser. The good thing was that it wasn't a 'good' take, so no big deal.... but it sure could have been a keeper, in which case I would have had some explaining to do.

Anyone have any ideas? I'll try to replicate it today before I erase that card, so I can get the exact wording of the dialog box....
Derek,
Did you ever try to copy the bad clip to another card in the other slot? Perhaps that would make it a new clip with it's own BPAV folder.

the prices on amazon are quite wide ranging for the Sandisk Ultra II SDHC.

I've heard of counterfit SDHC cards. How reliable is an Amazon SDHC card vendor at bargain prices? Aren't they screened pretty well by Amazon?

Also, what is the practical difference between the Ultra II and Extreme III for use in my EX-3? The III is a lot more expensive.

Thanks

Derek,
Did you ever try to copy the bad clip to another card in the other slot? Perhaps that would make it a new clip with it's own BPAV folder.

I did not try that..... good idea. I'll give that a try and see what happens. How exactly do I do that?

I did not try that..... good idea. I'll give that a try and see what happens. How exactly do I do that?
Derek,
Turn the camera on in Media mode(not camera). Look to see if you see all of the thumbnails displayed on the lcd screen. Select the "bad" clip and click on it using the joystick or the thumbwheel. One of the menu options that will pop up will be "copy clip."
Select that option and then it will give you a larger window that says "copy clip A>B" (actually it says A arrow B, but I don't have an arrow on my keyboard). Push execute and you're done. Of course you need to have a card in the B slot before you do this. Then try clip browser with the new clip.

I've heard of counterfit SDHC cards. How reliable is an Amazon SDHC card vendor at bargain prices?

I have bought these cards at cheap prices from Amazon Marketplace and eBay. They have all worked fine.

I look carefully at the customer approval ratings and comments and buy accordingly.

SONNET TECHNOLOGIES MMRW-E34 Sonnet 21-in-1 MultiMedia Card Reader Writer 21-in-1 Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, Memory Stick PRO, Memory Stick PRO-HG, MultiMediaCard MMC , RS-MMC, MMCplus, MMC mobile, MMCmicro, Secure Digital SD Card, microSD, mini (http://www.keenzo.com/showproduct.asp?M=SONNET-TECHNOLOGIES&ID=1171697&ref=GB)

This should work too right?

I live sonnet stuff having used there cards in my Mac for many years.

I tried that one back when we were all trying to find out which adapters would work. I found it didn't work.

Thanks Keith.

Has anyone tried the Silicon Power card in the ex1 ?

Wayne
I have tested yesterday, with the SDHC adapter. Worked fine in all modes, but don't have the ability to overcrank, like the Transcend and Sandisk.

I have 5 cards of Sandisk 16GB Ultra II class4 and also 5 Transcend 16GB class 6. In some strange way the all those Transcend cards have been playing me for a sucker. Sandisk cards work perfectly but with the Transcend cards I keep getting "unknown media errors" and "unreconizable media" and what have you.

I actually haven't lost any data, and all the Transcend cards do work after changing them between adapters and "restoring data".

I have 8 Transcend 16gb class 6 SDHC cards. I haven't seen what you describe.

Where did you buy these cards?

I bought them from a reputable internetshop in Germany.

I don't know if it's been mentioned in this 96 page thread yet, but the idea of putting those Express Card adapters together with one of those nanoFlash units that Convergent Design is coming out with in June could be an utterly fantastic combo - high quality 4:2:2 recording on CF, with "low quality" backup on SDHC, and cheap as heck (after biting the bullet to pay for the nanoFlash unit).

Just for the record, I'm using the e-films MxR adapter with 32 GB Transcend SDHC card (Class 6) and it works fine up to 720p50.

Just to remind people, frame rate is irrelevant in normal HQ recording as all frame rates and size are 35mbps VBR. It's only in OVERCRANK that frame rate increases data rate.

720p24, 1080p30 or 720p60 all the same data rate.

Just for the record, I'm using the e-films MxR adapter with 32 GB Transcend SDHC card (Class 6) and it works fine up to 720p50.

At HQ and filling the entire card? I can record for 30-40 minutes on a blank card before getting a media error on my Transcend 32GB Class 6. Several cards, several MxR adapters. Cards work flawlessly at SP. Transcend 16GB works flawlessly at HQ. My advice: beware if you're doing long-format recording.

On a related note, anyone else notice that new 32GB SxS cards have dropped to ~$850? Looks like Sony pulled the 16GB SxS cards, and Sony's new 32GB are now only ~$200 more than SanDisk's current 16GB SxS offering. Still a lot more expensive than the MxR/MxM route.

Just for the record, I'm using the e-films MxR adapter with 32 GB Transcend SDHC card (Class 6) and it works fine up to 720p50.

Hi Phil, welcome to the video club :-)

The problems will start when you try to overcrank with Transcend cards, the standard USB transfer (as used by SD) can't cope with the higher transfer speeds required for overcranking. I tend to use the 16gb cards just to keep the data safe.

Vincent (photo-i.co.uk)

I filmed a documentary in India and in the USA using the EX3 and sandisk Ultra II 16Gb cards + a Kensington card adapter.
What Ive found after having shot roughly 80 hrs of footage is that overcrank upto 50/ playback at 25fps HQ 720p/25, seems to work absolutely ok on the Sandisk 16Gb cards.(even going upto 1 minute of recording slo mo),

The Transcends are another story, same adapter, I noticed straight away that overcrank works max upto 48/25, on these. Other wise it says media error.
Not sure why that happens, havent experimented going above 50/25 for the Sandisk though.

Does anybody know if the Kensington (or any) adapter will work in the JVC KA-Mr100G recorder? MXMExpress told me their card won't work in it.

I picked up the MxR cards (these are great) and then bought 8 Transcend Class 6 16GB SDHC cards. I have found one SDHC card out of the eight that will start recording clips normally but before if is half full it will fail (every time) and need to be restored. I've done multiple re-formats on this card and always re-formated the card if it has been read by my Mac.

So I'm double checking all my SDHC cards to be sure there are not other cards with a consistent problem like this.

Now I'll try to exchange the bad one...

Has anyone tried the Pretec SSD cards, they're exactly the same size as sxs ?

Paul.

I'm interested if anyone has tried any of the solid state Expresscards, like this one:

Newegg.com - Transcend TS16GSSD34E-M 16GB ExpressCard External Solid state disk (SSD) - Solid State Disks (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208292)

My hope is that the storage is on the PCI bus rather than the USB bus, thereby allowing overcranking.

Thoughts?

I think the reason why you're not getting responses is that people tend to stick with what works. People who have a solution tend not to experiment unless there's a potential advantage.

There's good reason why MxR, MxM, Hoodman came into existence and others use KxS as well. I don't think anyone found a single "native" Express Card solution that worked reliably so no one is looking too hard in that area.

Why experiment when you can get one of the aforementioned adaptors and an ATP ProMax SDHC card which you KNOW works?

I can probably Google and list scores of cards people can try but the incentive isn't there for people to try. This goes for SDHC as well as "native" Express cards.

People may buy something out of desperation since nothing may be immediately available in an emergency and even if a single person tested and vetted it may not be enough for others to look that way.

People have gone through Sandisk, Transcend, ATP because they had to as previous SDHC cards manufacturers apparently changed production. That necessity resulted in quick testing and when a solution was found it was more widely tested and confirmed.

If there was success, you'd likely see it posted and if it were buried you'd find the results in a forum search.

Feel free to buy and try and report though.

I'm interested if anyone has tried any of the solid state Expresscards, like this one:

Newegg.com - Transcend TS16GSSD34E-M 16GB ExpressCard External Solid state disk (SSD) - Solid State Disks (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208292)

My hope is that the storage is on the PCI bus rather than the USB bus, thereby allowing overcranking.

Thoughts?

I tried the Transcend Expresscard SSD's last year and they didn't work. Errors after a few seconds, worse than bad SDHC cards. Unless they've improved the design since then, they're too slow.

I'm interested if anyone has tried any of the solid state Expresscards, like this one:

Newegg.com - Transcend TS16GSSD34E-M 16GB ExpressCard External Solid state disk (SSD) - Solid State Disks (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820208292)

My hope is that the storage is on the PCI bus rather than the USB bus, thereby allowing overcranking.

Thoughts?

As that card comes with a small USB adapter, I seriously doubt that it uses the PCIe bus. If it was a PCIe card, that little USB adapter would cost at least double what the entire combo costs.