7D on it's way! Recommend a memory card...

[90sShooter]

After upgrading from my Rebel XSi to the T1i for the video feature, I must say I was pretty dissapointed. The reviews on the T1i's low frame rate while shooting 1080p video were 100% spot on. Hand holding in this mode can make you dizzy from the choppyness. Then I held my friends 40D and fell in love with the full size body, game over. Luckily I was able to return the T1i and found a KILLER deal for Black Friday that I just could NOT pass up! With it's enhanced video features, 8 fps bursts, and 18mp sensor I think this body should be good for quite some time. Only problem now is that I have to get a new battery grip, new memory card, and new camera bag.

Anyway, I am searching for a memory card and it looks like Sandisk has some rebates going on right now. What is better 16GB at 25mb/s or 8GB at 45mb/s? I have read that you need a pretty fast card for the best video performance. I have a 8GB card and it takes me quite some time to fill it up. Although with the video capabilities I know it will fill up a lot quicker but the reality is that I will probably not be taking LOTS of video clips at a time and I tend to upload them to the computer and clear them from the card pretty regularly.

This is the one I am leaning towards...
http://www.adorama.com/IDSCF8GE4.html?searchinfo=sandisk+iv

 

[ssm05rsx]

I was going to buy the T1i, I work at a best buy, I guess I won't anymore. haha. But I'm a Canon guy so can not go to Nikon... lol

 

[Recty]

If it was me, I'd get the faster card over the large card.

I use my burst mode quite a bit for wildlife and I at first had a slower card which would only take about 10 pictures before starting to shoot slow, my newer card will do at least 25-30 it seems before slowing down. I've never really counted how many fast frames I can get, but it is at least twice as long with the faster card.

However, if you never plan on using burst mode, or very rarely plan on it, the big card would be nice.

 

[Recty]

I was going to buy the T1i, I work at a best buy, I guess I won't anymore. haha. But I'm a Canon guy so can not go to Nikon... lol

I wouldnt let the lower framerate for video at 1080p stop you from buying an SLR. And besides, the T1i can still do 780p video at a full 30 FPS, which should be plenty unless you plan on shooting a major movie

 

[BlueCorn]

Dunno. Other than an "oh that's cool" shot I haven't used the video mode.

My bigger concern is getting a UDMA reader for that fast card to make downloading easier.

 

[90sShooter]

True, the video feature was still NICE. But I am a perfectionist and it really wasn't up to par with what I wanted it for. Also note that the 7D does 720p at a cool 60fps :thumbsup: and has SOME manual controls, also has a external mic plug which in all honesty I will likely NEVER use, but the built in mic is not THE best sound quality. I will mostly be adding a sound track to any videos I shoot...

Thanks for the advice on the card. I think I will go with the faster card. It seems like you REALLY pay for the extra space. This one should get me by for now and some time down the road when I REALLY need it, the price should come down quite a bit... Thanks for the advice!

I just want to clear up that I think the T1i is a GREAT camera and for a started DSLR you cannot beat it for the price with the video capabilities. I just figured if I am going to upgrade, I want to UPGRADE! I am advancing enough in the hobby to where if I stuck with the T1i, I would want to upgrade again to something more advanced sooner than later. I figured I would just skip this step and save myself the time and money.

 

[90sShooter]

Dunno. Other than an "oh that's cool" shot I haven't used the video mode.

My bigger concern is getting a UDMA reader for that fast card to make downloading easier.

What is the transfer rate out of the camera? I can plug the 7D directly into my computer via USB just like my old rebel right? I am honestly not real concerned with how fast the pictures will load to the computer, the in-camera performance is more important I would say... Maybe not so much for bursts (although that is important as well) but for the video function. That is really what I am concerned about.

 

[BlueCorn]

I can plug the 7D directly into my computer via USB just like my old rebel right?

You can but it's really slow.

 

[wetWolger]

I don't think downloading from my 50D is too slow. It probably takes about 2 to 5min at most to download 1gig of RAW images off my camera using gphoto2 (linux utility)

As for the card, that is a good choice....But just to give you another card to look at, I currently have a 4gig lexar pro 233x card (here is the same card in the 8gig version):
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...NA233_8GB_Professional_233x_CompactFlash.html

I have been nothing but happy with the speed (I just wish I had bought bigger). I plan to buy the same card in the 300x 8gig version very shortly ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/553942-REG/Lexar_CF8GB_300_381_8GB_UDMA_300x_CompactFlash.html )

If you do some benchmark research I think you will find that the Lexar 300x does perform a bit faster than the Sandisk Extreme IV (at least that is how I remember it when I did the research). But that is just splitting hairs anyways, both cards should be nice and fast and work great in your camera.

I definitely would buy the faster card over the bigger card (even though I never actually end up filling the buffer, I still like to have a fast card for when/if it ever does happen). I don't do HD video, but I can take a bit over 150 RAW (15MP using 50D) photos on my 4gig, so I imagine a 8gig for the 7D would be quite nice.

 

[90sShooter]

Cool thanks for the advice! That last card looks like a good option too! Almost the same price but no mail in gift card to wait for! Can somebody elaborate on the difference between Lexar and Sandisk? I am not very familiar with Lexar. Thanks!

 

[wetWolger]

Lexar used to be one of the kings of the portable solid state industry. Since then their speeds have slipped, a few reports of failures, and other companies have gained market share. But in recent time, it seems that Lexar is trying to gain the status back. In the last year or two though, they have been changing into a more positive direction. Trying to compete with the faster cards, and trying to gain back the reputation they lost.

Based on my research before buying my card, I found no qualms with lexar in modern times (and please let me know if there is something I am missing, because like I said, I want to buy a new 8gig lexar card).

I did some quick google searching, and I only found one direct comparision between those lexar cards and the sandisk you showed:
http://www.cameratown.com/reviews/needforspeed/
It seems to show the sandisk as slightly faster....but what I found most interesting was how that review showed the 233x having faster write speed than the 300x. I did some more googling and that seems to be a consistent result people are having. The lexar pro 233x cards write faster than the lexar pro 300x, but read noticeably slower. Needless to say, I am glad you brought this to my attention, as I care more about write speeds than read (cheaper 233x FTW).

 

[90sShooter]

hmmm.... I care about both read and write speed as I will likely use the camera itself to play some videos via the memory card on my HDTV. I have heard that if the card cannot read fast enough it will create choppy video even if the video itself is clean. I think a little less write speed in exchange for the faster write speed may be worth it to me. And the price difference doesn't seem to be substantial. ($5 difference on Adorama..lol)

 

[boodlefish]

i am having success shooting 1080p@24fps on the sandisk extreme 3 its like 30mb/s and i don't yet have a card reader so I'm loading 60 to 90 min of hd footage via my usb, i know it is horribly inefficient compared to a firewire card reader but my video is smooth you saw my "a love note" and i assure you any choppy motion or jitters are a result of compresion setting/ long GOB/ or the viewers computer. it is smooth as silk on my GF's mac book pro, my mac pro and my dell at work...

i went for the 32gb and well i have shot all night (HD) and haven't even come close to putting a dent in the monster. at a commercial furniture shoot (RAW) i had well over 300 clicks and my remaining room indicator still said [999] so i would say 2 fast 8gb's or a 16gb would work. IMO