Best card for Canon 7D please? (1 Viewer)

Penny Clarke

Well-known member

• May 18, 2010

• #1

Just bought the 7d and threw in my sandisk extreme III compact flash 2gb card that I use/d for 40d. I need to buy a/some new cards and would like some advice on which card is best please. Googling best card for 7d comes up with the sandisk 16gb extreme cf compact flash card 60mbs. Is there any reason why I can't use the 4gb or 8gb card or are these not big enough memory/speed for videos? Advice please?

Best Wishes Penny

 

C

Chris Galvin

Well-known member

• May 18, 2010

• #2

Penny Clarke said:

Just bought the 7d and threw in my sandisk extreme III compact flash 2gb card that I use/d for 40d. I need to buy a/some new cards and would like some advice on which card is best please. Googling best card for 7d comes up with the sandisk 16gb extreme cf compact flash card 60mbs. Is there any reason why I can't use the 4gb or 8gb card or are these not big enough memory/speed for videos? Advice please?

Best Wishes Penny

Click to expand...

Penny,

The type of card that you need is very dependant upon the way you operate the camera and your style of shooting. If you use either a 2gb or a 4gb card you will need several back up cards for a full day out in the field. Personally I use a Sandisk Extreme III 60mb/s 16gb card and I sometimes fill that on a day out if there are plenty of photo opportunities, as I did recently with some approachable Dotterel but I have 80gb of cards in my bag.

Get a big card is essentially the message

 

AndyMc

Well-known member

• May 18, 2010

• #3

Hi Penny,
I only shoot stills at the moment. I tend to keep my cards small out of habit - 4GB. Should anything go wrong with the card, I've then lost less images & they're cheaper to replace. Not happened to me yet, just advice I read years ago in a magazine & have kept the habit on.

With regard to Chris's comments, Frank's post in this thread may be of a little interest to you Penny: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=164451&highlight=facts+cards

 

HokkaidoStu

occasional moderator

Staff member

Supporter

• May 18, 2010

• #4

If you shoot RAW I'd say an 16GB card would be the minimum. 4GB gives you only 150 or so RAW shots.

I have a 16GB UDMA card (Transcend, a bit cheaper than SanDisk) and a couple of older slower 8GB spares I used with my old 400D.

If you are into BIFs and shoot in bursts you'll be amazed how many shots you can rack up in a short time. Other than when I've been using video I've filled the 16GB card on only 2 or 3 occasions and BIFs were the culprit.

If you don't use much video or don't shoot in bursts and use JPEG not RAW 4 or 8GB would be OK.

 

Steve G

RAINBIRDER

• May 18, 2010

• #5

I would echo what Chris & Stu say.

A fast write-speed card of 16gb+ will get the best out of your camera & despite your feelings now you will probably find yourself also shooting video -so cards fill up quickly!

 

Penny Clarke

Well-known member

• May 18, 2010

• #6

Thank you all for your advice.

Best Wishes Penny