CF or SD card in nikon D810: I recently updated camera bodies to the Nikon D810. Coming from the D7100 that uses 2 sd cards, i have a question for d810 users. Which card do you use as...

zenagain Loc: Pueblo CO

I recently updated camera bodies to the Nikon D810.
Coming from the D7100 that uses 2 sd cards, i have a question for d810 users.
Which card do you use as the primary? And which as the back up or overflow? And why?
I have watched a couple youtube videos, but they did not come close to answering my simple question.
I currently have the sd card as primary and the cf as backup.
Thank you.

par4fore Loc: Bay Shore N.Y.

I don't think it matters except for the following:
I would want my fastest card as primary.
I like to remove my cards and use a card reader for transfer instead of using a cable to the camera body and the CF card seems more robust for removal over and over.

John Howard Loc: SW Florida and Blue Ridge Mountains of NC.

par4fore wrote:

I don't think it matters except for the following:
I would want my fastest card as primary.
I like to remove my cards and use a card reader for transfer instead of using a cable to the camera body and the CF card seems more robust for removal over and over.

Agree with comments above with one caveat - Check the default settings. If you take video that camera may default to put the video on the CF card.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Not 100 % sure but I believe the CF card is faster. I have this for my primary. Get one with the highest read/write speeds you can afford.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

This site tests the write speeds for a wealth of cards, in both slots, for all the popular cameras. But, the data gets 'old' as they don't continue to update older cameras with new card types. Here's the link for the D810 that dates to Sept 2014: https://www.cameramemoryspeed.com/nikon-d810/fastest-sd-cf-card-speed-tests/

Camera can write at a body-specific maximum speed. Buying more expensive cards / faster cards does not make the camera faster beyond it's maximum speed. They just make your cards more expensive.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

par4fore wrote:

I don't think it matters except for the following:
I would want my fastest card as primary.
I like to remove my cards and use a card reader for transfer instead of using a cable to the camera body and the CF card seems more robust for removal over and over.

tcthome Loc: NJ

CHG_CANON wrote:

This site tests the write speeds for a wealth of c... (show quote)

Great info. Good to know you can get the same speeds out both card formats.

zenagain Loc: Pueblo CO

Thanks alot guys, appreciate the info.

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

I would use the CF card as the primary.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

tcthome wrote:

Great info. Good to know you can get the same speeds out both card formats.

You don’t. If you check the link Paul posted, you’ll see that in the OP’s camera, the CF card is substantially faster, and I would definitely use it for the primary. You’ll also note the huge speed differences between certain brands/models of CFs and SDs.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

zenagain wrote:

I recently updated camera bodies to the Nikon D810.
Coming from the D7100 that uses 2 sd cards, i have a question for d810 users.
Which card do you use as the primary? And which as the back up or overflow? And why?
I have watched a couple youtube videos, but they did not come close to answering my simple question.
I currently have the sd card as primary and the cf as backup.
Thank you.

I have a D810 and use the SD card as primary, but send video to the CF card. I have a number of reasons for this choice. Be aware that there is a lot of setup flexibility, and there are several things that may need to be changed if you don't use the default settings. Read the manual carefully and follow the instructions.

zenagain Loc: Pueblo CO

larryepage wrote:

I have a D810 and use the SD card as primary, but send video to the CF card. I have a number of reasons for this choice. Be aware that there is a lot of setup flexibility, and there are several things that may need to be changed if you don't use the default settings. Read the manual carefully and follow the instructions.

Thank you for the info.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

par4fore wrote:

I don't think it matters except for the following:
I would want my fastest card as primary.
I like to remove my cards and use a card reader for transfer instead of using a cable to the camera body and the CF card seems more robust for removal over and over.

Cameras: D800 & D810
I use the CF cards, the SD's are there for backup for me.I don't really care about the card speed, its a matter of ease of handling, My fingers due to many years of abuse just don't handle small objects very well anymore.
Sometimes I get the feeling many people want the "fast" card because they think they are better, they may be for certain types of photography but not for still photography. I like to shoot like I cook, Low and slow, Hell I even use a tripod for 99% of my work.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

zenagain wrote:

I recently updated camera bodies to the Nikon D810.
Coming from the D7100 that uses 2 sd cards, i have a question for d810 users.
Which card do you use as the primary? And which as the back up or overflow? And why?
I have watched a couple youtube videos, but they did not come close to answering my simple question.
I currently have the sd card as primary and the cf as backup.
Thank you.

Six of one and a half dozen of the other as long as you don't shoot video. I only used a CF card in mine.

Fotomacher Loc: Toronto

zenagain wrote:

I recently updated camera bodies to the Nikon D810.
Coming from the D7100 that uses 2 sd cards, i have a question for d810 users.
Which card do you use as the primary? And which as the back up or overflow? And why?
I have watched a couple youtube videos, but they did not come close to answering my simple question.
I currently have the sd card as primary and the cf as backup.
Thank you.

I have had a D810 for four years, coming from D700/D300s. I have used only CF cards in it. Not fan of SD cards at all. My cards are 32GB and 64GB and none are used for more than 2 days when travelling.