SDHC substitute for SxS cards

Jay Gladwell · November 1st, 2008, 07:00 AM

Alex, that's very well done, but you have ignored the minor differences between the EX1 and EX3. A newcomer with an EX3 will probably have a couple of questions. I would suggest the following minor additions:

How to:

1. Make sure your EX1's firmware is upgraded to v1.11 (You can send it to Sony for the upgrade if you have older version, and pay $100 fee. Some people DIY that at home though using the leaked firmware files and a sledgehammer. OK, not a sledgehammer - a tiny philips screwdriver to uncover the special USB port will do.)

The EX 3 does not require a firmware upgrade.

2. Get Kensington adapter.

3. Get Transcend 16Gb Class 6 or Sandisk 16Gb Ultra II card. (Sandisk also makes other cards compatible with the camera/adapter, but they do not improve performance appreciatively and have worse price/performance ratio than above listed cards.)

4. Stick the Transcend or Sandisk card into Kensington adapter. Treat the combo like you would an SxS card (it even looks similar) - insert it into EX1 or EX3 as one piece, and eject it the same way. Here you have it - a substitute for SxS card at 10x lower price.

Prices: Currently SxS can be had for under $800, while the Transcend combo will cost you under $80, and Sandisk combo under $100. Of course you can also use these cards in your compatible DSLR camera, such as Nikon D80/D90, as well.

Again, you cannot do overcranking at full range with Kensington-based combos. 24p usually maxes out at 40fps overcrank for reliable recording; but all other shooting modes will work fine.

And, adapter/card combos do not fit inside the EX1's compartment entirely, so the door won't close. Not too good in dusty environment - but a small piece of lo-tek gaffers tape will help.

EX3 owners will be able to close the slot cover door without any trouble.

Jay Gladwell · November 1st, 2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Raskin

It may be a good idea to get as many Kensington adapters as many cards you have, so to keep the cards in the adapters at all times and simply insert a new blank combo in your camera as needed, if you have to record for longer than 56 minutes that 16Gb cards allow, without having to offload/delete the cards on location.

I'm not quite sure I agree with that, if I understand it correctly. Over time, with many clients, one could easily accumulate an awful lot of cards. Are you saying one should have an adapter for every card he's ever filled?

John Peterson · November 1st, 2008, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay Gladwell

I'm not quite sure I agree with that, if I understand it correctly. Over time, with many clients, one cold easily accumulate an awful lot of cards. Are you saying one should have an adapter for every card he's ever filled?

I think he means at least enough adapters for your average shoot which is why I suggested that you keep the two extra adapters you were looking to sell.

John

Bruce Rawlings · November 1st, 2008, 07:31 AM

I have bought 8 adapters as I am terrified of losing an SD card when on location. I think for the price of the Kensington + Transcend/Sandisk cards the we now have great freedom for shooting at sensible prices. SxS of course for slo mo's etc.

Edit. Should have made clear will be running two EX1s

Giroud Francois · November 1st, 2008, 07:35 AM

4 adapters seems a good deal.
anyway you can't put more than two in the camera, get one ready for the next swap and get one for PC transfer or spare.
i f you go two cam, this will push to eight adapters.
If you count on the already existing SxS card delivered with cam (1 or 2) , you can lower this number.

Perrone Ford · November 1st, 2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giroud Francois

4 adapters seems a good deal.
anyway you can't put more than two in the camera, get one ready for the next swap and get one for PC transfer or spare.

Of course, this assumes that you will have a handy PC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Giroud Francois

If you count on the already existing SxS card delivered with cam (1 or 2) , you can lower this number.

Not necessarily. The existing cards are 8GB each. More of a pain for long form work than anything.

I have a conference to shoot in December. A three hour morning session followed by a three hour afternoon session. With two 32GB cards, I would have been covered for for the morning with no swap. Same with a 32 and a 16. However, with two 16s, now I MUST hot swap a card in, and potentially two swaps since they are just short of an hour. Adding an 8GB card in the mix does nothing for me other than increase the number of swaps.

After the morning session, it will be necessary for me to offload the cards, and then resume for the afternoon session. I have an hour to try and do that. So the question will come, can I offload three or potentially four 16GB cards in an hour? We will see, as I am going to time my transfers from my session today.

Anthony McErlean · November 1st, 2008, 01:40 PM

Great post Alex... and Jay for the update.

Michael Maier · November 1st, 2008, 09:00 PM

Amazon won't ship the Kensington adapter or the Transcend 16Gb cards to overseas. Are there any known sources in the US that ship overseas or does anybody know where to get them in Europe?
Thanks.

Peter Kraft · November 2nd, 2008, 02:51 AM

Hi, Amazon.de just let me know they would ship my kensington to arrive sometime between nov 17 - 21. As it seems, they are to get new stock in early november. Do have the same info from cyberport.de .

And this is the most performant SDHC Card I found: SANDISK SDHC Card 16GB 30MB/s eXtreme III
SDSDX3-016G-E
Price: 107,66 € @ www.pixmania.de

Hope this helps. Pe.

Giroud Francois · November 2nd, 2008, 06:24 AM

i found the Transcend 16Gb for cheap here
.: Webshop von PC-HIGH Computers Eichmann :. in switzerland
50 Frs or $43 or 34 euros.
the sandisk ultra II (16G) is 63 Frs, 43 euros, $55.
i still need to test to see if they are not cheap copy.
the 32Gb sandisk is listed everywhere, but no shop indicate they have stock.

Michael Maier · November 2nd, 2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Peterson

Amazon.co.uk: Kensington 7-in-1 Media Reader for ExpressCard slot - Card reader - 7 in 1 ( Memory Stick, MS PRO, MMC, SD, xD ) - ExpressCard: Kensington: Electronics & Photo

Amazon.co.uk: Kensington 7-in-1 Media Reader for ExpressCard slot: KENSINGTON: Electronics & Photo

What's the difference between these 2?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Kraft

Hi, Amazon.de just let me know they would ship my kensington to arrive sometime between nov 17 - 21. As it seems, they are to get new stock in early november. Do have the same info from cyberport.de .

And this is the most performant SDHC Card I found: SANDISK SDHC Card 16GB 30MB/s eXtreme III
SDSDX3-016G-E
Price: 107,66 € @ www.pixmania.de

Hope this helps. Pe.

Thanks Peter.

John Peterson · November 2nd, 2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Maier

What's the difference between these 2?

Different sellers through Amazon......"Bingo" and "HelpdeskIT"

John

Robert Young · November 3rd, 2008, 12:09 PM

Has anyone figured out how to non destructively remove the SxS "door" on the EX1??
I don't so much mind the door being open, but the way it slides forward, it gets in the way and is just begging to get snapped off.

John Peterson · November 3rd, 2008, 01:31 PM

I wish someone would figure out how to replace the Camera - Off - Playback switch with something resembling a real one. In fact I'd settle for a toaster oven switch over the piece of garbage switch they put on these "professional" cameras.

John

Alex Raskin · November 3rd, 2008, 02:14 PM

I was very surprised to see that weirdo little thing that is impossible to get to the Off position without using precision instruments to do so :)

On the other hand, I heard that EX3's switch is designed better?

November 1st, 2008, 07:31 AM	#799
Bruce Rawlings Major Player Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cardiff, Wales, UK Posts: 410	I have bought 8 adapters as I am terrified of losing an SD card when on location. I think for the price of the Kensington + Transcend/Sandisk cards the we now have great freedom for shooting at sensible prices. SxS of course for slo mo's etc. Edit. Should have made clear will be running two EX1s Last edited by Bruce Rawlings; November 1st, 2008 at 10:38 AM.

November 2nd, 2008, 02:51 AM	#804
Peter Kraft Major Player Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Europe Posts: 245	Hi, Amazon.de just let me know they would ship my kensington to arrive sometime between nov 17 - 21. As it seems, they are to get new stock in early november. Do have the same info from cyberport.de . And this is the most performant SDHC Card I found: SANDISK SDHC Card 16GB 30MB/s eXtreme III SDSDX3-016G-E Price: 107,66 € @ www.pixmania.de Hope this helps. Pe. Last edited by Peter Kraft; November 2nd, 2008 at 03:29 AM. Reason: Added SDHC Card

November 3rd, 2008, 12:09 PM	#808
Robert Young Trustee Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Coronado Island Posts: 1,472	Has anyone figured out how to non destructively remove the SxS "door" on the EX1?? I don't so much mind the door being open, but the way it slides forward, it gets in the way and is just begging to get snapped off. __________________ Bob

November 1st, 2008, 07:00 AM	#796
Jay Gladwell Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,244	Alex, that's very well done, but you have ignored the minor differences between the EX1 and EX3. A newcomer with an EX3 will probably have a couple of questions. I would suggest the following minor additions: How to: 1. Make sure your EX1's firmware is upgraded to v1.11 (You can send it to Sony for the upgrade if you have older version, and pay $100 fee. Some people DIY that at home though using the leaked firmware files and a sledgehammer. OK, not a sledgehammer - a tiny philips screwdriver to uncover the special USB port will do.) The EX 3 does not require a firmware upgrade. 2. Get Kensington adapter. 3. Get Transcend 16Gb Class 6 or Sandisk 16Gb Ultra II card. (Sandisk also makes other cards compatible with the camera/adapter, but they do not improve performance appreciatively and have worse price/performance ratio than above listed cards.) 4. Stick the Transcend or Sandisk card into Kensington adapter. Treat the combo like you would an SxS card (it even looks similar) - insert it into EX1 or EX3 as one piece, and eject it the same way. Here you have it - a substitute for SxS card at 10x lower price. Prices: Currently SxS can be had for under $800, while the Transcend combo will cost you under $80, and Sandisk combo under $100. Of course you can also use these cards in your compatible DSLR camera, such as Nikon D80/D90, as well. Again, you cannot do overcranking at full range with Kensington-based combos. 24p usually maxes out at 40fps overcrank for reliable recording; but all other shooting modes will work fine. And, adapter/card combos do not fit inside the EX1's compartment entirely, so the door won't close. Not too good in dusty environment - but a small piece of lo-tek gaffers tape will help. EX3 owners will be able to close the slot cover door without any trouble.

November 1st, 2008, 07:35 AM	#800
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	4 adapters seems a good deal. anyway you can't put more than two in the camera, get one ready for the next swap and get one for PC transfer or spare. i f you go two cam, this will push to eight adapters. If you count on the already existing SxS card delivered with cam (1 or 2) , you can lower this number.

November 1st, 2008, 01:40 PM	#802
Anthony McErlean Trustee Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 1,081	Great post Alex... and Jay for the update.

November 1st, 2008, 09:00 PM	#803
Michael Maier Trustee Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,269	Amazon won't ship the Kensington adapter or the Transcend 16Gb cards to overseas. Are there any known sources in the US that ship overseas or does anybody know where to get them in Europe? Thanks.

November 2nd, 2008, 06:24 AM	#805
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	i found the Transcend 16Gb for cheap here .: Webshop von PC-HIGH Computers Eichmann :. in switzerland 50 Frs or $43 or 34 euros. the sandisk ultra II (16G) is 63 Frs, 43 euros, $55. i still need to test to see if they are not cheap copy. the 32Gb sandisk is listed everywhere, but no shop indicate they have stock.

November 3rd, 2008, 01:31 PM	#809
John Peterson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Monroe, NY Posts: 703	I wish someone would figure out how to replace the Camera - Off - Playback switch with something resembling a real one. In fact I'd settle for a toaster oven switch over the piece of garbage switch they put on these "professional" cameras. John

November 3rd, 2008, 02:14 PM	#810
Alex Raskin Trustee Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,435	I was very surprised to see that weirdo little thing that is impossible to get to the Off position without using precision instruments to do so :) On the other hand, I heard that EX3's switch is designed better?