CF Card problems at DVinfo.net

Daniel Weber · September 19th, 2010, 07:25 AM

I am just finishing up a two week shoot in Siberia with the Canon 7D and I am having problems with a couple of my CF cards. I am using the Kingston 32 gig 133x cards which have been highly rated.

One of the cards works fine, occasionally getting the buffer warning, but two of the others have been getting more frequent stops during recordings after a buffer warning comes on. It gets worse as the card gets full. I have a whole bunch of two second clips.

I am formatting the card in camera each time I shoot, so I am thinking that somehow the card has gone bad.

In looking for replacement 32 gig cards, I found the Lexar Professional UDMA 300x card for a reasonable price on Amazon. The Sandisk cards around around $170.

Has anyone used the Lexar 32 gig 300x card?

The Kingston cards are just under one year old, I can't remember what the warranty period on them is. Has anyone had to return a CF card?

Thanks,

Daniel Weber

Jon Braeley · September 19th, 2010, 09:40 AM

Actually I just glanced at a few sites and the kingston has some bad reviews - on reliability.

I use Sandisk and some obscure make I bought in Tokyo - and for 12 months not one problem. BUT I never use 32G - only 16Gig cards as I think thats the safe bet.

Jeremy Pevar · September 19th, 2010, 09:47 AM

I have been using two 533x 16GB cards from Delkin for the past 6 months with no problems. Having filmed dozens of hours of video I have experienced no dropped frames, no corrupt files, in fact I've had no issues at all. And, they are cheap - something like $50 each at Frys Electronics.

Having said all that, you have to figure that any manufacturer's cards will go bad at some point. It is best, therefore, to plan for the worst: use smaller cards to limit the possible data loss (I wouldn't go over 16GB which is about 45 minutes of 1080p video), backup immediately in the field when the card is full, keep multiple backups of all video.

Good luck!

Bill Pryor · September 19th, 2010, 10:17 AM

I use 16 gig Sandisk cards and have had no problems. Seems to me that 32 gigs is pushing the limit, since Canon says that's the maximum size for the camera. I have one Transcend 133x and it's been fine as well. I always reformat the card in camera after uploading its contents. I don't know if that helps anything but it can't hurt. The only manufacturer that claims zero failures is Hoodman. Naturally you pay for that quality.

Guillermo Ibanez · September 19th, 2010, 10:48 AM

I've been using the 16gb Kingston 133x and i had to slowly replace them all (i had 4 of them) as they used to drive me mad everytime. Constant buffer filling and stop, in fact i've missed a few important moments (thank god i always have another camera running) because of this problem.
When talking about media cards, CHEAP is VERY EXPENSIVE always!

ps: i now have lexar 233x and no problem at all

Daniel Weber · September 20th, 2010, 12:52 AM

Thanks for the feedback.

Looks like I might be going with 16 gig cards from now on. It sure was nice having 32 gigs to fill though. I have been going through about two cards a day.

I will look for some 16 gig Sandisk cards....

Daniel Weber

Bill Pryor · September 20th, 2010, 10:00 AM

Read the specs carefully. The cards have to be UDMA, otherwise you could have trouble.

Michael Dalton · September 20th, 2010, 07:56 PM

definitely your cards. They are not UDMA. Had the same problem. Go for the new sandisk 60 or 90mb/s UDMA. THe 60's are ok in price but well worth it.

Daniel Weber · September 22nd, 2010, 06:02 PM

I ordered two 32 gig Sandisk UDMA 60 mbs cards. I will be trying them out on some interview tomorrow morning.

Jon Braeley · September 23rd, 2010, 03:51 PM

I think the best deal is the Transcend CF cards - 16Gb are about $62 each. They are UDMA and rock solid.

September 19th, 2010, 07:25 AM	#1
Daniel Weber Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 696	CF Card problems I am just finishing up a two week shoot in Siberia with the Canon 7D and I am having problems with a couple of my CF cards. I am using the Kingston 32 gig 133x cards which have been highly rated. One of the cards works fine, occasionally getting the buffer warning, but two of the others have been getting more frequent stops during recordings after a buffer warning comes on. It gets worse as the card gets full. I have a whole bunch of two second clips. I am formatting the card in camera each time I shoot, so I am thinking that somehow the card has gone bad. In looking for replacement 32 gig cards, I found the Lexar Professional UDMA 300x card for a reasonable price on Amazon. The Sandisk cards around around $170. Has anyone used the Lexar 32 gig 300x card? The Kingston cards are just under one year old, I can't remember what the warranty period on them is. Has anyone had to return a CF card? Thanks, Daniel Weber

September 20th, 2010, 07:56 PM	#8
Michael Dalton Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Torotnto, Canada Posts: 139	definitely your cards. They are not UDMA. Had the same problem. Go for the new sandisk 60 or 90mb/s UDMA. THe 60's are ok in price but well worth it. __________________ www.digitalcrossing.ca www.4kafrica.com documentary filmmaker/screen writer

September 19th, 2010, 09:40 AM	#2
Jon Braeley Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 528	Actually I just glanced at a few sites and the kingston has some bad reviews - on reliability. I use Sandisk and some obscure make I bought in Tokyo - and for 12 months not one problem. BUT I never use 32G - only 16Gig cards as I think thats the safe bet.

September 19th, 2010, 09:47 AM	#3
Jeremy Pevar Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 48	I have been using two 533x 16GB cards from Delkin for the past 6 months with no problems. Having filmed dozens of hours of video I have experienced no dropped frames, no corrupt files, in fact I've had no issues at all. And, they are cheap - something like $50 each at Frys Electronics. Having said all that, you have to figure that any manufacturer's cards will go bad at some point. It is best, therefore, to plan for the worst: use smaller cards to limit the possible data loss (I wouldn't go over 16GB which is about 45 minutes of 1080p video), backup immediately in the field when the card is full, keep multiple backups of all video. Good luck!

September 19th, 2010, 10:17 AM	#4
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	I use 16 gig Sandisk cards and have had no problems. Seems to me that 32 gigs is pushing the limit, since Canon says that's the maximum size for the camera. I have one Transcend 133x and it's been fine as well. I always reformat the card in camera after uploading its contents. I don't know if that helps anything but it can't hurt. The only manufacturer that claims zero failures is Hoodman. Naturally you pay for that quality.

September 19th, 2010, 10:48 AM	#5
Guillermo Ibanez Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 111	I've been using the 16gb Kingston 133x and i had to slowly replace them all (i had 4 of them) as they used to drive me mad everytime. Constant buffer filling and stop, in fact i've missed a few important moments (thank god i always have another camera running) because of this problem. When talking about media cards, CHEAP is VERY EXPENSIVE always! ps: i now have lexar 233x and no problem at all

September 20th, 2010, 12:52 AM	#6
Daniel Weber Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 696	Thanks for the feedback. Looks like I might be going with 16 gig cards from now on. It sure was nice having 32 gigs to fill though. I have been going through about two cards a day. I will look for some 16 gig Sandisk cards.... Daniel Weber

September 20th, 2010, 10:00 AM	#7
Bill Pryor Contributor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 4,449	Read the specs carefully. The cards have to be UDMA, otherwise you could have trouble.

September 22nd, 2010, 06:02 PM	#9
Daniel Weber Major Player Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 696	I ordered two 32 gig Sandisk UDMA 60 mbs cards. I will be trying them out on some interview tomorrow morning.

September 23rd, 2010, 03:51 PM	#10
Jon Braeley Major Player Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 528	I think the best deal is the Transcend CF cards - 16Gb are about $62 each. They are UDMA and rock solid.