SxS vs SDHC simplified

Sharon Dennis · December 22nd, 2009, 09:13 PM

Well, I thought I had a solution to my transfer issue--sadly no. I took delivery today of the new S12 Lenovo with Nividia Ion...the Lenovo sales guy assured me it included the Express Card slot. It does not. It will be returned

Anyway...here's my issue. I edit on a MacPro Desktop and don't want to buy a 17 Mac Book Pro just to use as a glorified Express Card reader for my Sony EX1 SxS cards..it also weighs a lot and I need to travel light.

I've looked at a reader as a conduit to a lighter--more affordable MacBook that doesn't have an express card---but that just seems inelegant.

There is also a Sony 250 GB Drive, correct? But unless you jog through in the camera...you can't view clips in the field independent of the camera....and it's around $1,000 I think?

Thanks much for any help.

Sharon

John Peterson · December 22nd, 2009, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Seeman

You shouldn't be using cards that give you "media restore" errors.
I've been using 32GB Sandisk Ultra II since January 09 have never had a media restore message. I tested the cards by recording straight through one to the other (nearly 4 hours) and then also a series of short records deleting individual files periodically so it would have to overwrite erased recordings as ell. Rock solid, No issues.

Currently ATP ProMax are reportedly reliable.

It's simply impractical to bring a laptop or netbook and try to transfer during some shoots.

The new SxS cards are not half the price. At B&H the original 32GB SxS are $845 and the new less expensive 32GB shows at $750 although I believe I've seen them for about $650 elsewhere. Hardly anything resembling half the price.

I had to return my Sandisk Ultra (II)?? card because Newegg sent a Sandisk Ultra card with the exact same part number as the Ultra II. It did not work at all. Fortunately Newegg is fantastic about returns. So perhaps Sandisk did away with the Ultra II. Either way, things seem to change pretty fast and none of the decisions seem to revolve around anything EX owners need which doesn't speak well of our impact on this market.

John

Kent Beeson · December 22nd, 2009, 10:35 PM

so are all these Transcend card issues with the EX1 or 3 or Ex1R or all? I got my EX1R last month and the sales guy said I could use the transcend cards so I bought 2 x 32GB using Hoodman adapters...I've only shot a couple of minutes on each card as a test, no problems yet, but I'd like to know if perhaps the transcend cards (32GB) WILL work reliably with the EX1R, and is it just the EX1 that might have issues with these cards?

Craig Seeman · December 23rd, 2009, 07:35 AM

It may not be that ALL Transcend cards are problem. It's just that their manufacturing spec is loose enough that some number will not work well in the EX series.

Test the cards by putting two in the camera (adaptor) and recording straight through crossing the cards. In other words either a nearly 2 hour (2x 16GB) or 4 hour (2x 32GB) record. If you have ANY media restore errors, simply don't use the cards. They are too risky. The other test is to do many short records, occasionally deleting clips (forces it to write over as well as use "fragmented" space), filling up the cards. Again you should have no media restore errors.

Marcus Durham · December 23rd, 2009, 10:15 AM

You also really need to test the overcranking ability as well. Although you are never likely to use it, it's a great way of stressing the cards.

One of the things I noticed with the "slow" cards was they are reluctant to overcrank much beyond 35fps. I personally wouldn't be happy with any card that is reluctant to go above 40fps.

My ATP/MxM combos will do 48fps happily.

Tuy Le · December 23rd, 2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig Seeman

It may not be that ALL Transcend cards are problem. It's just that their manufacturing spec is loose enough that some number will not work well in the EX series.

Test the cards by putting two in the camera (adaptor) and recording straight through crossing the cards. In other words either a nearly 2 hour (2x 16GB) or 4 hour (2x 32GB) record. If you have ANY media restore errors, simply don't use the cards. They are too risky.

I suggest after this test, leave it on camera and PLAY each card for at least 2 minutes.
I had 2 cards it ran thru the test but failed when played (about 1min 30).

Marcus Durham · December 23rd, 2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuy Le

I suggest after this test, leave it on camera and PLAY each card for at least 2 minutes.
I had 2 cards it ran thru the test but failed when played (about 1min 30).

Absolutely. You must transfer the footage to a computer to check if its all OK before you wipe the card for the next test.

December 23rd, 2009, 10:15 AM	#20
Marcus Durham Major Player Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 693	You also really need to test the overcranking ability as well. Although you are never likely to use it, it's a great way of stressing the cards. One of the things I noticed with the "slow" cards was they are reluctant to overcrank much beyond 35fps. I personally wouldn't be happy with any card that is reluctant to go above 40fps. My ATP/MxM combos will do 48fps happily. __________________ Marcus Durham Media2u, Corporate Video Production For Your Business - http://www.media2u.co.uk

December 22nd, 2009, 09:13 PM	#16
Sharon Dennis New Boot Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 20	Well, I thought I had a solution to my transfer issue--sadly no. I took delivery today of the new S12 Lenovo with Nividia Ion...the Lenovo sales guy assured me it included the Express Card slot. It does not. It will be returned Anyway...here's my issue. I edit on a MacPro Desktop and don't want to buy a 17 Mac Book Pro just to use as a glorified Express Card reader for my Sony EX1 SxS cards..it also weighs a lot and I need to travel light. I've looked at a reader as a conduit to a lighter--more affordable MacBook that doesn't have an express card---but that just seems inelegant. There is also a Sony 250 GB Drive, correct? But unless you jog through in the camera...you can't view clips in the field independent of the camera....and it's around $1,000 I think? Thanks much for any help. Sharon

December 22nd, 2009, 10:35 PM	#18
Kent Beeson Major Player Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: West Texas Posts: 266	so are all these Transcend card issues with the EX1 or 3 or Ex1R or all? I got my EX1R last month and the sales guy said I could use the transcend cards so I bought 2 x 32GB using Hoodman adapters...I've only shot a couple of minutes on each card as a test, no problems yet, but I'd like to know if perhaps the transcend cards (32GB) WILL work reliably with the EX1R, and is it just the EX1 that might have issues with these cards?

December 23rd, 2009, 07:35 AM	#19
Craig Seeman Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Brooklyn, NY, USA Posts: 3,841	It may not be that ALL Transcend cards are problem. It's just that their manufacturing spec is loose enough that some number will not work well in the EX series. Test the cards by putting two in the camera (adaptor) and recording straight through crossing the cards. In other words either a nearly 2 hour (2x 16GB) or 4 hour (2x 32GB) record. If you have ANY media restore errors, simply don't use the cards. They are too risky. The other test is to do many short records, occasionally deleting clips (forces it to write over as well as use "fragmented" space), filling up the cards. Again you should have no media restore errors.