Amazon SDHC cards fail
 

Last spring I bought 8 Transcend 16gb SDHC cards from Amazon. They all work great. They all have a red stripe.
I've read the comments that Transcend red stripe cards have changed and are not good enough, that you need green stripe Transcend cards.
The amazon website depicts the Transcend 16gb SDHC cards as having green stripes. I ordered 4.
The 4 cards came today. All 4 cards have RED stripe. All 4 failed multiple times. I formatted and re formatted and re re formatted them. All 4 cards quit recording after about 5 minutes with media error.
These were ordered directly from amazon, not a reseller.

This is the first I've heard of Transcend 16gb failing straight out of the box. At least you had warning, I suspect many people are sitting on potential timebombs.

You need ATP Pro Max cards or certain types of Sandisk.

I fear your story is going to become a reoccurring tale over the next few months as there is so much out of date information out there.

One problem is that e-films MXR maker is still listing Transcend 16GB and 32GB as tested and passed.

FAQ - MxR Expresscard Reader

What type of SDHC cards have you tested?
16GB
Pass:
Transcend
32GB
Pass:
Transcend

As does MXM but they do have a warning about 32GB Transcend

MxM Express Tips – memory cards

Transcend 16GB class 6
This is the slowest so far but still fast enough to be used with Sony EX1/EX3 cameras.

Transcend 32GB class 6
It has been tested to work with MxM and Hoodman adapters but we also have had reports from various users about inconsistency of manufacturing. Please do your own tests prior to commercial use to check for usability in your production.

_____
Both really need to do a new round of testing.

I think there are 2 different red stripe transcend 16gb sdhc cards out there. the old ones work but the new ones apparently do not. I do not know how to tell the difference. And apparently the new green stripe ones work too but I can't find any.

Where do I buy the ATP Pro Max cards in the US?

Unfortunately it seems not carried by DVInfo sponsors.

ATP 32GB 150x Class 6 ProMax SDHC Card ATP 32GB ProMAX SDHC Card Detail Page

ATP ProMax SDHC 2.0 Class 6 Secure Digital SD Cards, Synchrotech

MxM Express International Orders

A 3rd red stripe transcend?
 

16GB Transcend SDHC (High-Capacity) HD Video Card, Class 6 (SD) / TS16GSDHC6V

This is a new card from transcend. Folks at Abel Cine told me this card is faster. Transcend labels it for hi def video.

Take a look at the specs...is this really better?


Features:

Please check SDHC compatibility chart before you purchase

Class 6 specification

Original NAND Flash Chips

Supports Error Correcting Code (ECC) to detect and correct errors

Mechanical Write Protection Switch

Lifetime Warranty

Specification:
Size: 32mm x 24mm x 2.1mm (L x W x H)
Op. Voltage: 2.7V~3.6V
Op. Temperature: -25C (-13F) to 85C (185F)
Durability: 10,000 insertion/removal cycles
Weight: 2g
Transfer Speed (4GB): Approx. 19MB/sec Read; 7MB/sec Write*
Transfer Speed (8GB): Approx. 19MB/sec Read; 13MB/sec Write*
Transfer Speed (16GB): Approx. 19MB/sec Read; 8MB/sec Write*
*Note: Speed test based on Transcend internal testing
Chipset: MLC

this one would seem to top them all
 

High Speed SDHC Card - SanDisk Extreme® SDHC? Cards | SanDisk


Class 10 with 30mbps speed. Next best I can find is the ATP at 22mbps

Why wouldn't this be the best choice in sdhc??

Retail price is about $80

i started a thread a week or so ago. i had a "red" stripe Transcend 16GB, from Amazon.com, fail on me as well. i returned it for what appears to be a "green" stripe card that's listed on their site. hopefully the "green" stripe card shows up at my doorstep and not another "red" stripe. also, where can you find a Sandisk Extreme card for $80. i assume you're referring to the 16GB card.

SanDisk has a promotion on their Extreme cards: http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/sony-xdc...ml#post1464753

16GB $95 after rebate (as Michael notes).
SanDisk | 16GB Extreme III - 30MB/s Editi | SDSDX3-016G-A31

32GB $279 no rebate listed.
SanDisk | 32GB Extreme III - 30MB/s Editi | SDSDX3-032G-A31

well, if you buy 2 16GB cards =$90 each
buy 3= $85 each

that's pretty competitive with the price of the ATP ProMax cards.

Sorry if I was a little off in the price.

The real issue is the 30mbps. That is significantly faster than the atp or any other card. atp says about 22 and most are less than 20.

Is this really significantly better than any other card? (except sxs)

That's what I fell for. The add showed a green stripe card and I got the 4 failed red stripe cards. Amazon tried to get me to go to transcend for remedy. I refused that solution and they then offered a refund.

The thing is you need to be confident that the card is not just fast but reliable. Past a certain speed there is no benefit anyway as the limitation is the USB connection used by the cameras.

An ATP and MxM lockable are good to fill a card at 48fps which is plenty of headroom for normal shooting. I guess the only way to see if these Sandisks appear faster to the camera is to try the same overcranking test.

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

Wonderful!!! i'm still waiting for mine since i choose the FREE Super Saver Shipping. Ordered on the 21st, expected delivery is 1/4/10. had no idea shipping would take that long. live and learn i guess.

i'm patiently awaiting your results. i have a feeling i'm gonna need to purchase some of these SanDisk cards. hopefully, you have your results posted before the promo ends on 1/2/10.

Happy New Year!

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.

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....

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

What do you consider to be the good SDHCs?

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.

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.

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