Very basic SDHC test: I decided to test two cards I use all the time, and some Lexars I have just bought I was amazed by the difference in shots available, before the D7000s buffer...

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

I decided to test two cards I use all the time, and some Lexars I have just bought

I was amazed by the difference in shots available, before the D7000s buffer became full and slowed down.

Sandisk ultra class 10 (I) = 13

Transcend SDHC class 10 = 22

Lexar Pro SDHC class 10 (I) ( UHS-I Bus I/F ) = 38

Just used a simple online stopwatch

My Sandisks are now used for backups, the Transcends will be used for the Video cameras and I will get a dozen Lexars for photography.

One Jughead Loc: Greene County, OH

JR1 wrote:

I decided to test two cards I use all the time, an... (show quote)

I see that they are all class 10 cards, but what is the write speed on them?
That can make quite a difference. I have some with a 30mb/sec and one 45mb / sec.
That may be the reason for the difference you are getting on yours.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

One Jughead wrote:

I see that they are all class 10 cards, but what is the write speed on them?
That can make quite a difference. I have some with a 30mb/sec and one 45mb / sec.
That may be the reason for the difference you are getting on yours.

Good question, as I said the only test I did was to fire off as many as possible before the frame rate slowed.

Yes they are of differing write speeds the Lexar being the fastest, what interested me was THE big difference.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

JR1 wrote:

Good question, as I said the only test I did was to fire off as many as possible before the frame rate slowed.

Yes they are of differing write speeds the Lexar being the fastest, what interested me was THE big difference.

Sandisk Ultra 30MB/s Class 10 I

Transcend SDHC class 10

Lexar Professional SDHC 600x Class 10 I

photoninja1 Loc: Tampa Florida

Class refers to its use for video and has no relation to still photography. The write speed is the number you need to look at, and your test bears that out.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

photoninja1 wrote:

Class refers to its use for video and has no relation to still photography. The write speed is the number you need to look at, and your test bears that out.

Agreed, the Sandisk Ultra is 30MB/s and the Transcend is a terrible 10MB/s where as the Lexar is 90 MB/s (quoted)

I have always been happy with Sandisk, especially as the EOS 60D has a great buffer, but as stated this I NOT a full review, really an observance, not all Class 10 cards are equal, far from it.

There are users here who have stated they use Lexar Pros, now I needed to buy some I decided to see for myself, and will replace all my slow cards now.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Good show JR. Thanks. I have been using SanDisk Class 10 cards as you were. I have been wondering if I should buy UHS cards for my D600 when shooting sports and you have confirmed that they are worth the added cost. ;)

UtahBob Loc: Southern NJ

JR1 wrote:

I decided to test two cards I use all the time, an... (show quote)

Interesting results. I tried somewhat the same thing with the Sandisk and came up with the same result although "till the card slowed down is a bit subjective". I think you are in jpg fine?

Anyway, what I thought was even more interesting with the D7000 was if you held the shutter down after the slow down to zero and the shutter hits when the buffer clears (or should I say the card writing finishes?). What I found was that with the second card as backup it took perhaps 50% more time for the buffer to clear to the next shot then when there was only a single card. In addition, there was a different period of time between buffer clears from one shot to the other - enough to be definitely noticeable. Is this the card trying to figure out where to write to to keep the writing on solid state media consistent for long life? Some subjectiveness in this too. :)

I don't recall my D200 with CF cards having this variability with full buffer.

Good stuff,

Bob

altheman Loc: Christchurch, New Zealand

Personally I think you have been comparing apples with oranges! What would have been more relevant would have been comparing the 600x Sandisk with the Lexar 600x. I would interested to know what the price difference is between these cards is in your part of the world.

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

altheman wrote:

Personally I think you have been comparing apples with oranges! What would have been more relevant would have been comparing the 600x Sandisk with the Lexar 600x. I would interested to know what the price difference is between these cards is in your part of the world.

That is exactly why I clearly stated in more than one place a basic test of cards I HAVE and own, in case someone said this.

People see "class 10" and think there is little difference, I took 3 class 10s I had and was amazed by the difference.

Prices are easy to check on amazon £25 for the Lexar professionals

JR1 Loc: Tavistock, Devon, UK

The last one shows 6fps for 6 seconds, the second one (above) 4 seconds (2 less) and the first just 2 seconds of shooting so fast cards make one hell of a difference