topic Re: Memory cards question in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

Memory cards question

PeteWill — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 21:05:29 GMT

Hi guys.

I am looking to upgrade my memory card for my Canon 600D. I have been contemplating getting a 200GB micro SD XC card that comes with an SD adapter. Will these be functionable in the camera and work OK.

Cheers in advance guys

Re: Memory cards question

kvbarkley — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 21:32:17 GMT

No. Do not use a microcard with an adapter. They have been found unreliable.

Re: Memory cards question

PeteWill — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 22:13:05 GMT

No worries. Thanks for the advice.

Re: Memory cards question

ebiggs1 — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 14:34:09 GMT

Super large SD cards are also a bad idea.

Re: Memory cards question

TCampbell — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 18:37:35 GMT

kvbarkley and Ernie are giving you good advice. Get an actual "SD" card ... not a "microSD" card with adapter. There have been loads of "how come my camera isn't working right" posts here and the end result was the adapter wasn't really working. Photographer gets the correct SD card (normal SD card size) and all is right again.

Also, a few smaller cards is better than one really big card. You'll find that even in a 32GB card size, it takes a LOT of shooting to fill that card (and I shoot RAW ... so the files are big). But just occasionally a card can fail. It's a better idea to have a few cards so you have a spare card and may not all of you photos are on the failed card.

Another reason I believe in spares is due to my sometimes forgetful memory. I insert the card into a card reader on the computer to unload it. Then I *forget* to put the card back in the camera. You don't want to be two hours from home, power up the camera and see "no card" displayed ... and not have a spare card in your camera bag.

Re: Memory cards question

PeteWill — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 18:50:17 GMT

All sound advice from everyone. Thank you all. Not having storage size issues, I was just thinking of getting a large GB size one for, well, basically the hell of it but will look at a few smaller sized SD ones now. They’re not too badly priced either to be fair.

Once again, thank you all.

Re: Memory cards question

Waddizzle — Sat, 10 Nov 2018 22:30:59 GMT

@PeteWill wrote:
All sound advice from everyone. Thank you all. Not having storage size issues, I was just thinking of getting a large GB size one for, well, basically the hell of it but will look at a few smaller sized SD ones now. They’re not too badly priced either to be fair.

Once again, thank you all.

Most large capacity SD cards probably would not work very well in the your camera, anyway.

Make sure that you only buy a “UHS-1”, not “UHS-II”. Most of the 128GB and larger cards are “UHS-II”, which is not completely compatible with your nearly all Canon DSLRs.

I like the Sandisk Extreme and Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-I 32/64 GB cards. I use the 32 GB in my Rebel T5 and EOS M5. I use 64 GB in more expensive cameras.

Re: Memory cards question

ebiggs1 — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 15:39:19 GMT

"...basically the hell of it but will look at a few smaller sized SD ones now."

I know some folks, mostly Moms, that think the camera is where you store all your pictures, too. They never delete anything! But then again it is that iphone mentality. They try to make the camera work like their cell phones do. Listening, yet, Canon?

Re: Memory cards question

PeteWill — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 17:34:41 GMT

You’ve presumed I store all my photos on there like a mom (your words) and that’s why I want a larger card!!!!
No, I wanted a larger card in case I got caught out on holidays as I always download them as soon as I come home.

Re: Memory cards question

ebiggs1 — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 17:47:41 GMT

No presumption on my part at all. Just an observation. There isn't any good reason to have a huge card unless you intend on storing a huge amount of photos on it. That's all nothing more. My suggestion of several smaller SD cards is to help protect you in the case a huge card failed. In reality SD card failures are pretty rare but in my case I can not take even that small chance.

Re: Memory cards question

amfoto1 — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 20:01:55 GMT

Yes, as others have already pointed out, it's much better to have multiple smaller cards, rather than one gigantic one. Don't "put all your eggs in one basket", so to speak. 16GB will hold upwards of 500 RAW files, or 32GB well over 1000. If you shoot JPEGs, you'll get even more shots per card. How much do you need?

A 32GB card is the largest I'll use in my cameras. I have 6 of those. I also have a dozen 16GB. All together, I could take more 10,000 images, if I really wanted to! (I do take 3000, 4000 or even 5000 in a day at some events. It's a lot of post-processing, though.)

Memory cards don't fail very often, so that's not a major worry... though it does occasionally happen. (Out of more than 100 cards I've used over the years... I've only ever had two fail and both of them did so immediately. One was unable to format right from new. The other worked once, then locked up and was inaccessible.)

Buy good cards... they aren't expensive. For example, Sandisk Extreme Pro 32GB SDHC UHS-I are currently selling for $35 for a two-pack, from reputable stores. There are also inexpensive memory card pouches that can attached to a camera strap or larger, more protective cases that hold 8 to 12 cards.

Also be sure to write your name and email or phone # on each card with a permanent marker. On another forum we had someone post who had found a memory card laying on the ground, took it home and saw that there were some 500 wedding photos on it! They posted a couple of the images and someone on the forum recognized the church. The person called the church and asked about weddings from the date the images were taken. Long story short, they found the photographer who had lost the card and she was EXTREMELY happy to get it back, since the wedding shots were irreplaceable! (She had used multiple cards, tho, so it wasn't a total loss if she'd never gotten the card back.)

Not everyone is so nice as to make all that effort to return a memory card. Or it may be that they wouldn't be able to identify you from the cards contents. So make it easy for them and write your name and contact info on your cards! You may never need it... but if you ever do, you'll be glad you did!

***********

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2) some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & ZENFOLIO