Flash Memory Cards: Is there any difference between Flash Memory Card brands? I could get a Zectron 32GB for $48.99 or the Sandisk 8GB for $32.85. Why would the Sandisk be more than...

Nightski

Is there any difference between Flash Memory Card brands? I could get a Zectron 32GB for $48.99 or the Sandisk 8GB for $32.85. Why would the Sandisk be more than 1/2 the price of the Zectron, but only a 1/4 of the space?

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

I am only guessing really but it could be a couple or 3 reasons.
Sandisk actually does research, maybe Zectron just copies other companies research.
Sandisk one may be more stable.
Sandisk one may have faster write speeds. This could become relevant when shooting sequences.

Nightski

lighthouse wrote:

I am only guessing really but it could be a couple or 3 reasons.
Sandisk actually does research, maybe Zectron just copies other companies research.
Sandisk one may be more stable.
Sandisk one may have faster write speeds. This could become relevant when shooting sequences.

Thank-you, lighthouse :)

Wendy2 Loc: California

Nightski wrote:

Is there any difference between Flash Memory Card brands? I could get a Zectron 32GB for $48.99 or the Sandisk 8GB for $32.85. Why would the Sandisk be more than 1/2 the price of the Zectron, but only a 1/4 of the space?

Look at Adorama. You can get SanDisk 16 GB 60mb write speed for $49. Or 30mb write speed for less. Or an 8GB, 60mb write speed for $28.95 or an 8Gb, 30mb write speed for $23.95 B & H have the same prices as Adorama, I believe.

They have the 32 Gb Sandisk, 60mb write speed for $79.95

I trust Sandisk.

Nightski

Wendy2 wrote:

Look at Adorama. You can get SanDisk 16 GB 60mb write speed for $49. Or 30mb write speed for less. Or an 8GB, 60mb write speed for $28.95 or an 8Gb, 30mb write speed for $23.95 B & H have the same prices as Adorama, I believe.

They have the 32 Gb Sandisk, 60mb write speed for $79.95

I trust Sandisk.

Thanks Wendy...Good information to have. :)

Wilbur Johnboy Loc: Wilbur, Washington

Nightski wrote:

Is there any difference between Flash Memory Card brands? I could get a Zectron 32GB for $48.99 or the Sandisk 8GB for $32.85. Why would the Sandisk be more than 1/2 the price of the Zectron, but only a 1/4 of the space?

I have a Duracell 32 GB class 10 in my camera which works great, I have no idea what I paid for it which always makes me think that high price is forgotten much quicker than poor quality. I'm cheap though so it must have been too. Here's a search I just did on Amazon for class 10 SD cards.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_5_3?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sd%20card%20class%2010&sprefix=sd+%2Caps%2C341

steady27 Loc: Boston, MA

Sandisk is a product which performs very well. In all the user remarks I have seen this brand is the one of choice.
I looked at the 16GB for $49, but decided that the 32GB
for $79 was simply a better value.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Stick with the name brand cards and you won't be sorry. Off-brand cards have little or no dependable warranty and you never know exactly WHAT you will be getting when you buy them. Sandisk is the worlds largest manufacturer of memory, and has a Lifetime Warranty on their products.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

Nightski wrote:

Is there any difference between Flash Memory Card brands? I could get a Zectron 32GB for $48.99 or the Sandisk 8GB for $32.85. Why would the Sandisk be more than 1/2 the price of the Zectron, but only a 1/4 of the space?

IMHO first stick to name brand.
second Depending on your camera speed, stick to class 10 cards. Sandisk, Transcend are the two I generally use in 4,8, 16 or 32GB, you can go up to 128GB cards ( video use)
But for camera makes no sense.
Better to have 4-8 GB cards for convenience unless you shoot a LOT of raw ( 1 GB is 1000 Megabite)

Slower write speed are cheaper cards to produce. That said a class 10 card can write only as fast as your camera can.
Buying class 10 when your gear runs at class 4 is a waste of cash.

Nightski

Bruce with a Canon wrote:

IMHO first stick to name brand. br second Dependin... (show quote)

Bruce, I have looked all through my manual and on the internet, and I can't find anything that talks about 10 class or 4 class pertaining to my Rebel XTI. I'm guessing it is probably not a 10 class though.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

FAQ: What is the best Memory Card for my type of Photography?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-49334-1.html

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

FAQ: How Do I Discern a Counterfeit Memory Card?
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-49556-1.html

normsImages Loc: Alabama for now

Class rating do not pertain to Compact Flash cards (CF). These cards are rated by speed. You do how ever need to stick with a name brand like SanDisk. Do you want to risk loosing all your pics for just a few $$. If I remember right the XTI write speed is no more than 40mb/s (the slowest that SanDisk sells)

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

A lot of the cheaper memory cards fall into the category of "re-rated" rejects from major manufacturers.
When the actual memory is made, they test it at the desired capacity, if it fails it is re-tested at lower capacity until it passes. Then the level at which it passes is what the mfg rates it. Some of the rejects get sold off to the off-brand companies that label them at the highest rating, but the cards often fail if you try to fill them.

Much better off buying smaller cards of a major brand name like SanDisk than trusting the larger, but cheaper off-brand cards.
For SD cards my preferences are PNY and SanDisk, with SanDisk usually being a little more expensive, but also faster.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

With Sandisk, you are also paying for the name. For Zectron products to compete in the market, they have to have a lower price tag than the bigger name brands.