Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? at DVinfo.net

George Odell · July 16th, 2015, 09:47 AM

Hello all and thanks for any help you can provide.

Need to use an F5 for a job next week. Shooting 1080/60I @ 35Mbit.

Been using/renting the F3 of late and using SanDisk Extreme Plus 95MB/s cards with no issues.

Can I do the same with the F5 if not shooting slow mo? Warn me if there will potentially be trouble, please.

Thanks!

Robin Probyn · July 16th, 2015, 07:14 PM

The lowest the F5 goes to is 50 Mbps.. XDCAM 422 HD.. not sure if thats a problem for you..

Jack Zhang · July 17th, 2015, 03:14 AM

That is actually a big problem cause XDCAM HD422 by default is UDF. Sony does not allow you to format SD cards as UDF.

You have to use the Sony MEAD-SD02 adapter with exFAT formatting (which means 64GB or higher) and even then I cannot guarantee this would work cause I've never experienced said configuration. The MEAD-SD01 will NOT work on the F5. exFAT SDXC cards IN THEORY should work with XDCAM HD422, but to be sure, rent a SxS-1.

Robin Probyn · July 17th, 2015, 07:03 AM

All codec,s are EXFAT in the F5.. even XDCAM 422 HD.. you can rent the "cheap" yellow SXS for just XDCAM.. you wont have time lapse or S&Q in XDCAM either.. I agree with Jack.. just going SXS is really going to give you a lot less stress on the day.. 1 X 32GB .. will give you about 1 hr..

George Odell · July 17th, 2015, 08:14 AM

Point taken. Thanks.

As it turns out this client is now saying they will be supplying their own SxS cards.

Appreciate the advice. Interestingly, the rental house could not tell me if they work either way : (

Robin Probyn · July 17th, 2015, 06:24 PM

Im pretty sure there are people using SD cards with the F5, with adaptors for SxS card slots.. personally I never would, its just another thing that can and seems sometimes does go wrong.. I,d hate to have to say to a dir/producer that their shoot is toast because I was recording to SD cards.. unless they knew up front and it was a reflection of a very bad rate :)..

Jack Zhang · July 17th, 2015, 07:58 PM

I switched so that the primary first copy goes to an XQD card. People have been reporting great success with XQD and the entire Sony 4K professional lineup.

Robin Probyn · July 18th, 2015, 06:17 AM

Yes I presume there is a XQD to SxS card adaptor.. I would feel safer with an XQD card than SD IMHO..

There has been some confusion.. along the line of old Varicam/HDX900 tape size of yesteryear .. of prod co,s thinking the FS7 takes SxS.. I also originally thought the FS7 was SxS.. I was a bit surprised it was XQD only..

David Heath · July 18th, 2015, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Probyn

I,d hate to have to say to a dir/producer that their shoot is toast because I was recording to SD cards.. unless they knew up front and it was a reflection of a very bad rate :)..

On the flip side, the good thing about SD cards (and why some people actually specify XDCAM 35Mbs, even when XDCAM 422 is possible) is that they can simply take the card away at the end of the shoot if that's what they need to do. It's like the best part of using tape, with all the solid state advantages.

Personally, I've never had a problem with an SD card (but make sure you're using a good make) but if you're worried don't forget you can shhot to SxS, then clone the card to SD in camera. (So you can give that to a director and keep your SxS copy.)

Doug Jensen · July 18th, 2015, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Probyn

Im pretty sure there are people using SD cards with the F5, with adaptors for SxS card slots.\

No there aren't. You can't use SD cards with the F5, F55, or FS7.

Robin Probyn · July 18th, 2015, 10:06 PM

Ok thanks for the info.. thats probably a good thing too! .. can you use XQD with adaptor .. in F5/55

Robin Probyn · July 18th, 2015, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Heath

On the flip side, the good thing about SD cards (and why some people actually specify XDCAM 35Mbs, even when XDCAM 422 is possible) is that they can simply take the card away at the end of the shoot if that's what they need to do. It's like the best part of using tape, with all the solid state advantages.

Personally, I've never had a problem with an SD card (but make sure you're using a good make) but if you're worried don't forget you can shhot to SxS, then clone the card to SD in camera. (So you can give that to a director and keep your SxS copy.)

Yes so they can lose it rather than the DP.. :)

They just don't have file recovery/robustness etc that SxS has.. each to their own.. Im sure Im on the twitchy side ! anything that can lessen the worry factor Im willing to pay for it.. but really i think for any shoot paying a proper professional wage .. I feel there is an obligation on my part to provide the "best " gear too.. but just my personal and no doubt paranoid thinking :)

Doug Jensen · July 19th, 2015, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Probyn

Ok thanks for the info.. thats probably a good thing too! .. can you use XQD with adaptor .. in F5/55

Yes, XQD cards with an adapter are fine in the F5/55. S and G cards are recommended, rather than H or N.

David Heath · July 19th, 2015, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin Probyn

They just don't have file recovery/robustness etc that SxS has.. anything that can lessen the worry factor Im willing to pay for it.. but really .. I feel there is an obligation on my part to provide the "best " gear too.. but ........

In the vast majority of cases where I've heard of "lost" data, it's been down to human error - typically formatting the wrong card - rather than hardware failure, and this is common to all solid state formats. It's normally come down to an operator thinking they've transferred a card, and formatting it for reuse before realising they haven't...... And it's normally been someone who thought "I'd never do that!!"

So whilst SD cards may be (very slightly) more prone to hardware failure than such as SxS or P2, that their cheapness means far less pressure to transfer/format/reuse may actually improve overall reliability.

Robin Probyn · July 19th, 2015, 05:50 PM

Yes thats a good point.. if your just handing over the cards ..(although many directors are not the best at keeping hold of stuff.. e.g. scripts,any keys and monitors :) and agree must be 90% of errors are human ones.. !. Ive had about twice rental batteries die on me during a shot.. with SXS this is no problem .. you get a repair file message (or similar) and hit execute and your back in business.. I believe with SD you would lose that shot .. as I say its a lot to do with your threshold to worry..mine is low and so to have SD cards in an adaptor is just something for me to worry about ! ...

July 16th, 2015, 09:47 AM	#1
George Odell Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 270	Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? Hello all and thanks for any help you can provide. Need to use an F5 for a job next week. Shooting 1080/60I @ 35Mbit. Been using/renting the F3 of late and using SanDisk Extreme Plus 95MB/s cards with no issues. Can I do the same with the F5 if not shooting slow mo? Warn me if there will potentially be trouble, please. Thanks! __________________ "the difference between an amateur photographer and a professional is the amateur shows you all his pictures"

July 16th, 2015, 07:14 PM	#2
Robin Probyn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Posts: 590	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? The lowest the F5 goes to is 50 Mbps.. XDCAM 422 HD.. not sure if thats a problem for you..

July 17th, 2015, 03:14 AM	#3
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? That is actually a big problem cause XDCAM HD422 by default is UDF. Sony does not allow you to format SD cards as UDF. You have to use the Sony MEAD-SD02 adapter with exFAT formatting (which means 64GB or higher) and even then I cannot guarantee this would work cause I've never experienced said configuration. The MEAD-SD01 will NOT work on the F5. exFAT SDXC cards IN THEORY should work with XDCAM HD422, but to be sure, rent a SxS-1.

July 17th, 2015, 07:03 AM	#4
Robin Probyn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Posts: 590	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? All codec,s are EXFAT in the F5.. even XDCAM 422 HD.. you can rent the "cheap" yellow SXS for just XDCAM.. you wont have time lapse or S&Q in XDCAM either.. I agree with Jack.. just going SXS is really going to give you a lot less stress on the day.. 1 X 32GB .. will give you about 1 hr..

July 17th, 2015, 08:14 AM	#5
George Odell Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 270	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? Point taken. Thanks. As it turns out this client is now saying they will be supplying their own SxS cards. Appreciate the advice. Interestingly, the rental house could not tell me if they work either way : ( __________________ "the difference between an amateur photographer and a professional is the amateur shows you all his pictures"

July 17th, 2015, 06:24 PM	#6
Robin Probyn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Posts: 590	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? Im pretty sure there are people using SD cards with the F5, with adaptors for SxS card slots.. personally I never would, its just another thing that can and seems sometimes does go wrong.. I,d hate to have to say to a dir/producer that their shoot is toast because I was recording to SD cards.. unless they knew up front and it was a reflection of a very bad rate :)..

July 17th, 2015, 07:58 PM	#7
Jack Zhang Inner Circle Join Date: May 2005 Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada Posts: 3,053	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? I switched so that the primary first copy goes to an XQD card. People have been reporting great success with XQD and the entire Sony 4K professional lineup.

July 18th, 2015, 06:17 AM	#8
Robin Probyn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Posts: 590	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? Yes I presume there is a XQD to SxS card adaptor.. I would feel safer with an XQD card than SD IMHO.. There has been some confusion.. along the line of old Varicam/HDX900 tape size of yesteryear .. of prod co,s thinking the FS7 takes SxS.. I also originally thought the FS7 was SxS.. I was a bit surprised it was XQD only..

July 18th, 2015, 10:06 PM	#11
Robin Probyn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Posts: 590	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? Ok thanks for the info.. thats probably a good thing too! .. can you use XQD with adaptor .. in F5/55

July 19th, 2015, 05:50 PM	#15
Robin Probyn Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Posts: 590	Re: Renting an F5: Can I use my SD cards? Yes thats a good point.. if your just handing over the cards ..(although many directors are not the best at keeping hold of stuff.. e.g. scripts,any keys and monitors :) and agree must be 90% of errors are human ones.. !. Ive had about twice rental batteries die on me during a shot.. with SXS this is no problem .. you get a repair file message (or similar) and hit execute and your back in business.. I believe with SD you would lose that shot .. as I say its a lot to do with your threshold to worry..mine is low and so to have SD cards in an adaptor is just something for me to worry about ! ...