New 20d - Which Memory Card??

[markgriff]

I've finally made the digital jump and upgraded my SLR to a 20D and was wondering if anyone had any advice, preference or opinions on which make/size of memory card to go for?

Thanks,

[IanF]

I've just gone that route myself. I wouldn't bother with less than a 1 GB card. It seems about right for holding a days worth of photos. I've gone into a second one sometimes as burst mode really eats up the cards. The 256 cards are hardly worth using as they fill up so quick. 512 MB may do if you have several.

Brand wise I'm using Kingston 50x cards which always seem to get good reviews in the photorgaphic press.

[compa]

I wouldn't bother with less than a 1 GB card. The 256 cards are hardly worth using as they fill up so quick. 512 MB may do if you have several.

Brand wise I'm using Kingston 50x cards which always seem to get good reviews in the photorgaphic press.

I agree with IanF - I have a stock of several 1Gb cards and I've been buying 2Gb cards with an eye to the future. If you plan on shooting RAW they fill up very fast and 2Gb is a minimum!

For brand - I buy SanDisk Ultra II cards - they are likely overkill but they are unquestionably good quality.

[tirc83]

I've finally made the digital jump and upgraded my SLR to a 20D and was wondering if anyone had any advice, preference or opinions on which make/size of memory card to go for?

Thanks,

I've only ever filled my 1Gb card up twice - but it depends how selective you are. If you use the continuous drive then it can fill up preetty quickly. You should get a minmum of 108 raw shots from a card.

Regards
Gary

[jimtfoto]

Size and amount of cards will depend on how much you plan to shoot as previously noted. 1gb cards (at the very least) are essential if shooting in RAW. At some point you may want to consider a portable storage device also. I have both an older Flashtrax 30gb device and a newer Epson 40gb viewer. Figure I spent about $1,300 (Canadian) for 70gb worth of storage. Weigh that against the cost of 70 1gb cards or 35 2gb cards - @$150 for the 1gb and $300 for the 2gb cards - that would set us back $10,500.
The Epson is priced at about the same as two 2gb cards. Something to think about.

cheers,
jim

[markgriff]

Many thanks for your replies. Hopefully the camera will see some action soon!

[tirc83]

Many thanks for your replies. Hopefully the camera will see some action soon!

What lens did you get for it Mark?

Regards
Gary

[rezMole]

Integral iPro CompactFlash 2GB - £88 from Warehouse express. Decent quality at a great price.

[baillieswells]

I've finally made the digital jump and upgraded my SLR to a 20D and was wondering if anyone had any advice, preference or opinions on which make/size of memory card to go for?

Thanks,

I use 1GB in my Canon 350D which is a less sophisticated version of the 20D, also 8 megapixels. Anything less is so quickly used up, but I am scared to use anything larger even though the camera will take it, in case something goes wrong and the card gets corrupted, or gets lost. Better 4 x 1GB than 1 x4GB. 1GB at the Large Fine Quality setting will give you approximately 280 shots.

I use 1GB Lexar x80. I have not had any problems, and the cards come with their own recovery software

[markgriff]

What lens did you get for it Mark?

Regards
Gary

Gary,

I've already got a Sigma 100-300mm f4 lens & 1.4 convertor which I was using with my EOS 3. I'm going to see how this performs with the 20D first but I was thinking about a Canon 400mm f5.6 prime lens as the next possible purchase.

[markgriff]

Again, thanks for your replies. I've gone for an Integral iPro CompactFlash 1GB card to start with.

[postcardcv]

Again, thanks for your replies. I've gone for an Integral iPro CompactFlash 1GB card to start with.

You'll have no complaints with that one - I use both Integral and SanDisk Ultra, and have yet to notice any differences between them. Be warned though you may well find that you end up wanting more memory, I currently take a 2gb and 2x1gb out for a days birding.

[markgriff]

Be warned though you may well find that you end up wanting more memory, I currently take a 2gb and 2x1gb out for a days birding.

I have no doubts that you're probably right about that. I anticipate taking quite a few more photos than previously now I've converted to digital, and why.... because I can now!
No more conservative shooting because of developing costs!

[Jesse Gilsdorf]

Integral iPro CompactFlash 2GB - £88 from Warehouse express. Decent quality at a great price.


HOw does the tamaron 200-500 lens work? I want to move up to a bigger zoom, but canon's costs are a bit prohibitive. I was wondering if the tamaron was worth buying?

Jesse

[markgriff]

HOw does the tamaron 200-500 lens work? I want to move up to a bigger zoom, but canon's costs are a bit prohibitive. I was wondering if the tamaron was worth buying?

Jesse
Jesse,

Have a look at the link below, it gives a bit of a review on this lens.

http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/reviews/tamron_200_500.html

[IanF]

Some sample photos from with Gallery with this lens - Tamron 200-500mm (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=Tamron%20200-500&what=allfields&name=&when=&whenterm=) which give an idea of what can be achieved.

It looks a pretty good performer.

[birder]

I also use Sandik Ultra II 1gig cards (Canon EOS 1D Mark II N and Nikon D100). I only use Sandisk and have never had a problem with the Ultra II.

For portable storage, I use (and would recommend totally!) the Vosonic VP6210 device - can view RAW images on the (small) colour screen. This device takes about 9 different sorts of film cards - which makes it useful if, like me, you want to store the other family member's pictures when on holiday and they don't have a camera which uses CF cards. I have the 80Gb machine - I've never filled it yet!

One problem I have had, but only with Sandik Extreme III cards, though, is that I can't transfer RAW images from the Vosonic to the PC when shot with my Canon but this is not a problem when I use the Nikon camera. I;m not certain, yet of the cause, and Vosonic have kindly agreed to have a look at it - even paying the postage of sending the machine back to Taiwan. As I'm off to the Antarctic next month, though, I've asked them to wait till I get back.

Hope my contribution to this topic helps

Kevin

Some sample photos from with Gallery with this lens - Tamron 200-500mm (http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?mcats=all&si=Tamron%20200-500&what=allfields&name=&when=&whenterm=) which give an idea of what can be achieved.

It looks a pretty good performer.