cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Just wondering, what does anybody know about the XQD cards that the D850 will use? I see on Amazon that Sony and Lexar seem to be the only folks who have any on the market. Lexar seems to have the only Reader available for the cards. I suspect that they are supposed to be an improvement over the older CF cards that have worked very well. Technology marches on, I know, but can anyone tell me more?

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

Lexar is now out of the memory business, so Sony is your only choice. XQD cards are much faster than CF cards and more robust than the small, and easy to lose/damage SD cards

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Thanx, Rick. Dayum! Another one bites the dust.

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

Nikon was part of the group to have XQD developed. Both D4S and D500 I have use XQD card. Initially, I was skeptical and considered the price kind of high (I could spend a few hundred for a card, and now it is much cheaper). Generally it is very fast and much easy to handle. The pins related to CF card can be damaged easily. The XQD is my favorite card now. Thanks!

Richard HZ Loc: Indiana, US

Nikon was part of the group to have XQD developed. Both D4S and D500 I have use XQD card. Initially, I was skeptical and considered the price kind of high (I could spend a few hundred for a card, and now it is much cheaper). Generally it is very fast and much easy to handle. The pins related to CF card can be damaged easily. The XQD is my favorite card now. The XQD card has evolved fast. The card reader for my D4S can not be used for faster XQD card that my D500 uses. Thanks!

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

Yes - the XQD card is better than the other formats, but it is still a major pain in the *ss for those of us who shoot with different camera bodies. I shoot with a D3s, a D810 and a D500 (all in my regular kit since I use different bodies depending on the gig ) so I need to own and carry a sufficient supply of CF cards, SD cards and XQD cars, not to mention different card readers. It is very expensive to have a redundant accessories for each of the cameras.

and while I am on a rant, don't get me started about carrying multiple different batteries and chargers for all of the bodies. In fact, I am buying a D850 and find that I will need yet another battery (I carry 3 per body, by the way) and another charger to handle the native 850 battery PLUS, since I need the 9 fps shutter, I need to get a different battery again just for the 850 grip.

Getting to the point where my accessories kit is almost as large and heavy and expensive as my bodies and lenses.

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

I recommend the Sonyn XQD/SDXC II card reader that I have used with the D500. $56 from B&H. B&H also sells an XQD only reader for $25.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

Thanks to all who responded. Just kinda hoping that by the time the D850 is actually available, there will be more manufacturers of the accessories (c'mon, Sandisk). BTW, Rick --- I feel your pain. Thanks again all.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Nikon has an article on their website. Here is a link, if you have not seen it. Explains the whole intent and progression.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/products-and-innovation/what-is-xqd-and-why-should-i-use-it.html

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

Not sure I agree with you. Sandisk has clearly decided that the market for these cards is underwhelming since the there are only a few Nikons and a few Sony video cams that actually use the card. Cynical me thinks that there was some sort of quid pro quo between Sony and Nikon about making the card the one for the D4/5 . Remember that Sony makes the sensors for all of Nikon bodies except the new 850. I always thought that Sony must have "bribed" Nikon to use the new format by making a deal on supplying the sensors.

I am old enough to remember the VHS vs. Betamax wars where Sony kept flogging its Betamax storage despite the fact that the rest of the world insisted that it preferred the VHS format. Similar to the QXR card, the Betamax format was actually the better of the 2, but the world simply did not buy into the format. Will be interesting to see whether the QXR goes the way of the the Betamax and becomes nothing more than a curiosity years from now.

Now that the 850 appears to be so universally desired, sandisk may reconsider producing the cards if it sees enough people climbing on the 850 bandwagon. Still, from a manufacturing point of view, there would have to be an awful lot of D850's sold to reach the point where it became economically feasible for Sandisk to ramp up production. Apparently, the total number of D4's, D5's and Sony video cams that currently use the XQD / the number of total digital devices needing flash memory is too small a percentage to impress Sandisk.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

The Beta story is very interesting, with many dimensions. Worth researching. Some sources actually credit Sony with developing VHS and then licensing it away when they discovered a better way. The big factor that finally killed Beta was that Sony retained control over what could be distributed on prerecorded Beta. They would not approve anything that included pornographic content. Cratered the volume compared to VHS. Many factors combine to determine who makes what and whether businesses survive.

Rick from NY Loc: Sarasota FL

I really didn't know the backstory to the Betamax that you just shared. You may also recall that Sony insisted on riding its proprietary memory stick (or whatever the hell that poorly received format was called) for years when it was apparent that few bought into the format. In any case, the end result is that the Betamax did not survive and I have this nagging fear that I am investing in a whole lot of QXR cards, readers etc and that someone will finally pull the plug on the entire format leaving me (and a couple of hundred thousand other photographers/videographers) with a hugely expensive supply of paperweights.

Price of technology I suppose.

cameraf4 Loc: Delaware

One more quick word; the Pro Nikons are, I would certainly think, just the tip of the iceberg. If QXD cards are so much faster, then as others ramp up Res in their cameras the need for them to, also, use the faster, more robust cards should show itself. Now that Rick has educated me about what these little hummers are, I just don't see them being a flash-in-the-pan.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

Love my XQD cards, wish every camera had them. Sony XQDs are great and I have yet to have one fail (and I've pumped though a LOT of images).

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

I have several XQD cards and I don't have any negative issues with them.