Amazon SDHC cards fail

Marcus Durham · December 29th, 2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Kukla

I'll run that test sometime next week. I ordered 4 of the class 10 sandisk cards.

If you are doing an overcranking test, make sure there is something moving in the viewfinder. The camera uses a VBR codec so leaving it pointing at a wall doesn't really stress the codec.

I leave the camera on a tripod pointing at a TV/monitor playing a DVD/file with fairly fast moving or fast cutting material on it.

Michael B. McGee · December 29th, 2009, 08:19 PM

well, looks like i won't need to wait for your results. i just received 2 Transcend 16GB "red" stripe cards that were supposed to be the approved "green" stripe ones. Amazon.com: Transcend 16 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]: Electronics

btw: "frustation-free packaging" is almost a misnomer.

SanDisk here i come....

Ed Kukla · December 31st, 2009, 07:53 AM

First I get falsely advertised cards. Amazon clearly showed green stripe cards but sent me red stripe cards that were inferior.

So I order 4 Sandisk cards and now I need express shipping. I selected ONE DAY delivery in the shipping options. This was on December 29. I'm getting tracking info that I will receive the cards on January 4th... By USPS. WTF? I saw the shipping rate go up as I selected the 1 day delivery.

My conclusion is that amazon has become very unreliable.

Buyer beware.

Andy Shipsides · December 31st, 2009, 09:32 AM

Ed

Transcend seems to have changed their cards from SLC to MLC. So the older cards worked, and the newer ones do not. We've been lucky enough until recently to have the older cards in stock. Those old ones had either red or green stripes and both worked, so we've just been selling cards with the older packaging. The new ones have "17 MB/s" printed on the front. The hope is the newer "HD Video" cards would still fit the bill, but the specs you found show that it is still MLC.... so we need to do some testing. Those ATP cards do look like a good deal for now.

Andy

Charles Newcomb · December 31st, 2009, 10:01 AM

I now have four, 16GB Hoodman cards and adapters to augment my SXS cards. Except for a mechanical issue with one of the adapters, the cards have performed flawlessly. Hoodman, by the way, made good on the defective adapter right away.

Jeff Harper · December 31st, 2009, 10:16 AM

SanDisk cards (and some other good cards, SanDisk of course are not the only good card out there) are practically a standard brand for professionals...you can't go wrong if you buy the right card with the right specs. There are other very good brands of course, but as for the less expensive ones I just can't see taking chances with the cheap stuff. This is just me. I prefer to save for the more expensive, and that is what I do.

You buy top quality, you get top quality, and then you can concentrate on doing the job. It's a petty thing to go cheap on this critical component. For those who buy the inexpensive and have good results, my hats off to you. In my case I don't have the time for the research and potential issues. What would I tell a customer? I went cheap on my card and screwed up?

Not to say you couldn't buy a bad SanDisk...it has undoubtedly happened to someone..but if you buy a grade or two above what you need you likely will not have problems and you can be assured of a long life for the product.

Ed Kukla · December 31st, 2009, 12:35 PM

OK, my bad, sort of...

The sandisk 30mbps cards arrived today. They were shipped USPS express service. The delivery date was listed as Jan 4th but they were delivered today, Dec 31st.

I'm running tests now. Will report soon...stay tuned!

Michael B. McGee · December 31st, 2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

.....You buy top quality, you get top quality, and then you can concentrate on doing the job. It's a petty thing to go cheap on this critical component. For those who buy the inexpensive and have good results, my hats off to you. In my case I don't have the time for the research and potential issues. What would I tell a customer? I went cheap on my card and screwed up?....

Couldn't of said it any better myself.

after having several Transcend cards fail on me in the last few weeks and from what i've read on this forum about other lesser priced cards, i finally purchased some Extreme III(s). lately, i've had the time to test these cheaper alternatives. unfortunately, i don't have the patience anymore.

Gints Klimanis · January 4th, 2010, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Harper

SanDisk cards (and some other good cards, SanDisk of course are not the only good card out there) are practically a standard brand for professionals...

What do you consider to be the good SDHCs?

Ben Chancey · February 17th, 2010, 07:33 AM

I am looking into the Sandisk class 10 cards for my EX3 and I would like to hear your test results.

Michael B. McGee · February 17th, 2010, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben Chancey

I am looking into the Sandisk class 10 cards for my EX3 and I would like to hear your test results.

i have two Extreme Class 10 cards. 1 in a MxR and the other in a Hoodman adapter. i haven't had the cards very long(2 weeks), but so far i haven't had any problems and i can sustain 48fps without any Media Errors on my EX1.

Ed Kukla · February 17th, 2010, 08:50 PM

The sandisk are doing fine. the red/green light at the card slot turns green much faster after stopping recording. Everythig is working fine.

December 29th, 2009, 08:19 PM	#17
Michael B. McGee Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Santa Monica, CA Posts: 318	AVOID Amazon.com's Transcend 16GB "Frustration-Free Packaging" cards. well, looks like i won't need to wait for your results. i just received 2 Transcend 16GB "red" stripe cards that were supposed to be the approved "green" stripe ones. Amazon.com: Transcend 16 GB Class 6 SDHC Flash Memory Card TS16GSDHC6E [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]: Electronics btw: "frustation-free packaging" is almost a misnomer. SanDisk here i come....

December 31st, 2009, 09:32 AM	#19
Andy Shipsides Sponsor: Abel CineTech Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York, NY Posts: 361	Ed Transcend seems to have changed their cards from SLC to MLC. So the older cards worked, and the newer ones do not. We've been lucky enough until recently to have the older cards in stock. Those old ones had either red or green stripes and both worked, so we've just been selling cards with the older packaging. The new ones have "17 MB/s" printed on the front. The hope is the newer "HD Video" cards would still fit the bill, but the specs you found show that it is still MLC.... so we need to do some testing. Those ATP cards do look like a good deal for now. Andy __________________ Andy Shipsides -Camera Technology Specialist AbelCineTech, New York - Visit our Blog - http://blog.abelcine.com

February 17th, 2010, 07:33 AM	#25
Ben Chancey Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 76	How did the tests come out on the sandisk cards? I am looking into the Sandisk class 10 cards for my EX3 and I would like to hear your test results. __________________ "Chew On This Saltwater Fishing Show" Fishing Television with Intensity

December 31st, 2009, 07:53 AM	#18
Ed Kukla Major Player Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: All over, USA Posts: 512	First I get falsely advertised cards. Amazon clearly showed green stripe cards but sent me red stripe cards that were inferior. So I order 4 Sandisk cards and now I need express shipping. I selected ONE DAY delivery in the shipping options. This was on December 29. I'm getting tracking info that I will receive the cards on January 4th... By USPS. WTF? I saw the shipping rate go up as I selected the 1 day delivery. My conclusion is that amazon has become very unreliable. Buyer beware.

December 31st, 2009, 10:01 AM	#20
Charles Newcomb Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salida, Colorado Posts: 561	I now have four, 16GB Hoodman cards and adapters to augment my SXS cards. Except for a mechanical issue with one of the adapters, the cards have performed flawlessly. Hoodman, by the way, made good on the defective adapter right away.

December 31st, 2009, 10:16 AM	#21
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	SanDisk cards (and some other good cards, SanDisk of course are not the only good card out there) are practically a standard brand for professionals...you can't go wrong if you buy the right card with the right specs. There are other very good brands of course, but as for the less expensive ones I just can't see taking chances with the cheap stuff. This is just me. I prefer to save for the more expensive, and that is what I do. You buy top quality, you get top quality, and then you can concentrate on doing the job. It's a petty thing to go cheap on this critical component. For those who buy the inexpensive and have good results, my hats off to you. In my case I don't have the time for the research and potential issues. What would I tell a customer? I went cheap on my card and screwed up? Not to say you couldn't buy a bad SanDisk...it has undoubtedly happened to someone..but if you buy a grade or two above what you need you likely will not have problems and you can be assured of a long life for the product.

December 31st, 2009, 12:35 PM	#22
Ed Kukla Major Player Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: All over, USA Posts: 512	OK, my bad, sort of... The sandisk 30mbps cards arrived today. They were shipped USPS express service. The delivery date was listed as Jan 4th but they were delivered today, Dec 31st. I'm running tests now. Will report soon...stay tuned!

February 17th, 2010, 08:50 PM	#27
Ed Kukla Major Player Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: All over, USA Posts: 512	The sandisk are doing fine. the red/green light at the card slot turns green much faster after stopping recording. Everythig is working fine.