WJShaheen Loc: Gold Canyon, AZ

Yeah, what he said.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

This thread is about CF...

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I put my SD card into the PC slot for transfers. Never had any problems. Sometimes the card won't insert fully but I just carefully manipulate it until it does never force it. The angle it's inserted at is important, at least on my PC.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

As said above:

CF is Conpact Flash Cards. Different than SD cards.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

I have never had any issues with compact flash cards using a card reader. As others have said, using a card reader will be faster than using direct camera connectors. Consider getting a 1.4 converter for your 70/200 2.8. I believe you will still get better results with the 1DX with the converter than you would get with your 7DII, even if you push the ISO up a stop or so to get the same speed. Also, with the sensor on the 1DX, full frame, compared to the crop sensor on the 7DII, you will have much more flexibility cropping your images while maintaining image quality. Have fun with that camera, its a fine machine. Once you get used to it, I’m betting your 7DII will be relegated to the closet.

JimKing Loc: Salisbury, Maryland USA

All of my bent pin problems have been with cheap card readers, my Nikons have much longer card slides than many readers and align the cards perfectly and never bend a pin. So the only thing I have ever had to replace were inexpensive card readers, I've never hurt a card or a camera.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Regarding Compact Flash cards... I always remove them to download via a card reader (built into my desktop). Been doing that since 2004 without ever damaging a pin. At some events I fill a dozen or more memory cards. So I have certainly done hundreds and probably have done thousands of card swaps w/o any problem.

If wear or damage does occur, it's cheaper to have a memory card socket replaced than to replace the USB socket in a camera (used to download direct). The USB port in most cameras is part of the main board, which would be a lot more expensive part to purchase and require far more disassembly of the camera to replace. In fact, it might not even be possible to get the parts to repair an older camera, in which case you have to hope that someone has a donor camera with good parts, or yours may become an expensive paperweight. In contrast, the memory card slots are a sub-module that's fairly easily accessed for replacement on most cameras, if needed.

As to the issue of reach... well, aye,there's the rub with full frame, isn't it? Now you need a much bigger and more expensive lens too. The Sigma 120-300mm is probably your best (only?) bet if you have to have a zoom and have to have f/2.8. 7+ lbs & $3400 120-300mm vs 3 lb. & $2000 70-200.

Another possibility, with the FF camera you should be able to push ISO up higher than you did with your APS-C camera. And that in turn should offset your need for f/2.8.... and maybe make a 100-400mm possible. The Canon are f/4.5-5.6 (f/5 through 311mm), though, so you'll need to bump up ISO up more than a stop. The Canon 100-400 II costs around $2000... the original version with it's push/pull zoom is still available and sells for around $1200. There also are several Canon 70-300mm, including the current II and L... $500 to $1350 new for those, but they are f/4-5.6, too.

Then there are various primes: Canon 300mm f/4L lens, which is relatively affordable ($1350). The Canon 300mm f/2.8 IS II sells for around $6000 new. A used Canon 300mm f/2.8 IS or the earlier non-IS version might be an alternative, selling for approx. $3000. Be aware, though, that older models might not be possible to have repaired, if needed. Sigma also offers a 300mm f/2.8, too (new $3400, used around $2000). Of course, any of these primes are not going be as versatile as a zoom.

I don't know about you, but something your 7DII has that I use a lot "under the lights" is it's Anti-Flicker mode. I don't believe the original 1DX has Anti-Flicker, so depending upon the type of lighting and whether or not you used that feature on the 7DII it's possible you'll see a lot more images with exposure problems.

WJShaheen Loc: Gold Canyon, AZ

Re: "If wear or damage does occur, it's cheaper to have a memory card socket replaced than to replace the USB socket in a camera (used to download direct). The USB port in most cameras is part of the main board, which would be a lot more expensive part to purchase and require far more disassembly of the camera to replace. In fact, it might not even be possible to get the parts to repair an older camera, in which case you have to hope that someone has a donor camera with good parts, or yours may become an expensive paperweight. In contrast, the memory card slots are a sub-module that's fairly easily accessed for replacement on most cameras, if needed."

That's a great point. I have been concerned about inserting/removing the micro USB on the camera side but thought it would be easier/cheaper to repair.

I will look into using a card reader instead.

Thank you.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I found I have bent a rod in my card reader. I now use card readers with long tracks to the pins (SanDisk and Transcend make them). The deeper long track keeps the card from being out of line and bending the pins.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The less card sticks out, the better the card alignment. Same goes for SD cards. If you can get a reader that engulfs the entire card, it will align it perfectly as you seat it. (Such readers likely will have an eject button for CF cards and will be spring-loaded for SD cards.)

zzzynick Loc: Colorado

I bought PIXELFLASH [no bend pins] from Amazon. It is longer than the average reader.
Works great.
The 1Dx has a sd card no pins.
FF has no crop factor. 200 mm is 200 mm.
The cheapest solution is a converter.
I bought a 1.4 II and a 2x II, used for 325, for the pair.
It's that or a longer lens, I have a 300 L and it's a f/4.
Any 300 L and longer f/2.8 lenses are seriously expensive, thousands and thousands expensive.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I purchased a Seenda card reader I found on Amazon. Works incredibly well.

Bent pins? Sure, if one is careless enough one can bend pins. I've been working with and designing hot-swap electronics for decades. Carelessness bends pins.
--Bob

Daryl New Loc: Wellington,New Zealand

We use a card reader....to our "Documents",then,after editing,saved to an external hard drive.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

Although direct transfers off the card are faster, if you have time, it is much safer by USB cable - I hate to touch even the SD cards.

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

As for me, 10 years using CF, removing the card from the camera and using a reader, no bent pins. It largely depends on how you handle the card. If you are like Bobo the Baggage Handler when removing it from or inserting it into a device, you are asking for trouble. You just have to remember to never try to force the card because that is the main cause of bent p[ins.