Digital SLR Gurus: Help with CF memory speeds.

[fizzy_drink]

Hiya,

I've just got myself an EOS 350D.

There are different types / speeds of CF memory.

The faster the memory.. the faster the write-speed.


But, the camera has a buffer... so does it matter ?

What's the maximum speed, that's worth going for (ie at which point does it not get any faster, for my camers in particular).

Ta,

Oms.

 

[wozzaa]

To be honest i dont think it makes THAT much of a difference in the way the camera writes to it.

More noticeable when transferring big files to and from it via your computer thats about it.

 

[fizzy_drink]

B@lls...

So I paid an extra 60% on a card, for nothing! DOH DOH DOH!

 

[LegoHead]

what price did you pay if you dont mind me asking?

 

[fizzy_drink]

Camera : £600 incl USM lens & Case

Memory : Edit: £30 incl delivery for a scandisk UltraII.

 

[wozzaa]

When using large sized pictures will write to it quicker but smaller lower res ones where your not using the camera to its full it prolly wont make any difference really.

 

[fizzy_drink]

I've been trying the 3fps burst mode...

Normally, it's a runs at a max of 9pics... but with this card in, it just runs runs runs runs and runs....!

Maybe it was a good idea after all!

 

[Rich]

I made sure I got fast car for with the camera the other month, but havent done any track stuff yet to test it yet.

Which Lens you gone for Omar?

 

[White16valver]

PM MaLicE for photography stuff, he's doing it as a uni course I think!

 

[Rich]

A fast card is also advisable if you going to shot RAW and JPEG at the same time Omar.

 

[fizzy_drink]

I've got the std 18-55 USM....

... and a Tamron 28-300 Aspherical XR LD lens - very long zooooooom.


On a digital, it's the equivalent to a 400 zoom!

 

[fizzy_drink]

A fast card is also advisable if you going to shot RAW and JPEG at the same time Omar.

Ooo... didn't realise I could do that.

I guess that's only available in the "creative" zones ?

 

[fizzy_drink]

PM MaLicE for photography stuff, he's doing it as a uni course I think!

Where is he nowadays?

 

[White16valver]

He's in some other place... LoL

He is around though - I'll ask him!

 

[Rich]

Ooo... didn't realise I could do that.

I guess that's only available in the "creative" zones ?

Yeah thats the puppy, wont allow it in the basic zone.

RAW and Photoshop CS2 is fantastic (Just upgraded here over Xmas). Even the Canon software with the Camera for processing the RAW files is good.

 

[Rich]

I've got the std 18-55 USM....

... and a Tamron 28-300 Aspherical XR LD lens - very long zooooooom.


On a digital, it's the equivalent to a 400 zoom!

That sounds a fantastic lens. Not cheap I bet.

 

[MaLicE]

im here, yeh faster the card the better if your doing burst shots, i went to the d1gp and took 2 cards a 1gb scan disc ultra 2 and a 2.2gb microdrive... i filled the scandisk fairly quick.... put the microdrive in and missed sooo many shots...

u did good buying a bigger card

if your gonna shoot raw u will need it, i norm shoot just the highest res jpg i can... if its a shoot or something i will do raw just for the extra stuff i can do with it in photoshop cs2...


omar i shall pm u with details of another place to find me

 

[fizzy_drink]

That sounds a fantastic lens. Not cheap I bet.

I got it over a year ago, for £250.

Prices haven't changed much... now there's a Di logo on the new ones, which means it's suitable for digital.

Whether there's an extra coating on the lenses, I don't know.




I have a quicky about my flashgun.

Apparantly it's not digital compatible - but how can there really be a difference?

 

[Rich]

Not to bad then, I struggled to find a good price for a lens with that kind of of focal length and ended up with a 70 - 300 to use alongside the 18 - 55.

Not sure on the flash question not got round to getting one yet, and didnt have one from my old stills SLR.

 

[iPap]

Yep, card speed is important. Before I moved up to 80x I used to hit the buffer all the time. I actually hit the buffer three times last week when I shot the arrivals at Elton and David's wedding but that was a one off incident.

In regard to your Tamron lens, all I would say is never mix and match your gear. I've been told this many time, eg, if you shoot Canon, staick with Canon lens. I've tested most Sigma lens available for Canon Digital bodies and have found them seriously poor in comparison to the Canon equivalents. Obviously price can be a big factor.
I actually have a 350d which I mess about with as it's so small. For anyone that needs a longer lens the EF 55-200mm 4.5-5.6 USM is very good value at around £100. The grip is useful too as you have the option to run it on two batteries and also the ease of shooting portraits.

With the flash question, what flash is it that you have? I would test it and see what you think of the results if it works. I have some 550EX flashes but the newer 580EX is so much better, the skin tones, the burst rate and power consumption. Yet again though it comes down to how much you want to spend and what sort of use you are going to put it to.

Anyway, congrats on buying the best entry level SLR money can buy and I hope you have as much fun with it as I do with my bag of goodies!

 

[fizzy_drink]

Thanks guys... you're all so helpful!! :approve:


Ipap: I'm using a Tamron because it's a hell of a lot cheaper than the Canon version!

I agree - the canons are sharper/quicker/quieter... but this one isn't too bad (better than the Sigma I had anyway!!).

As for the flash, it's the Jessops 400AF - reduced from £90 to £40, as they are no longer selling 35mm - it's all gone digital.


So I bought it for use with my 35mm last week... Just wondering if it's dangerous to try it in my new one.

It's got bounce/swivel/TTL/Zoom/Manual/AF assist .

 

[White16valver]

Doh! Of course, forgot about iPap... lol

 

[RB_172]

I got myself one of these (350D) the other day (well, it's kinda for work really).

Had nothing but trouble with it at first. Almost every shot I tried to take left me with 'Error 99' in the LCD display.

Seems it's some problem with the lens, possibly the contacts.

Out of interest, when on autofocus, is the end part of the lens (the focus ring) supposed to turn on its own? Mine doesn't appear to and I'm having a right hard time getting the camera to take ANY pictures at all when autofocus is enabled.

As a side note, I went for a 1GB Extreme III card. It's was only £20 or £30 more than the ultra II model, so I thought, 'what the hell' !

 

[iPap]

Firstly, the flash question, I'll get on to my boys thirst thing in the morning and see what they say.

Secondly, yes your lens is up the creek. Although it could be the body. I'd recommend just taking it back and asking for a new lens and body so you have no issues at all. You could try another lens and start problem solving but you paid good money just return it!

 

[Rich]

I got myself one of these (350D) the other day (well, it's kinda for work really).

Had nothing but trouble with it at first. Almost every shot I tried to take left me with 'Error 99' in the LCD display.

Is it a Canon lens?

Have you taken out the battery and tried again.

Have you got another lense you can try?

Does the mf/af switch work okay on the lense?

In autofocus the focusing part of the lense should be locked from hand movments and move to focus itself with the shutter half pressed.

 

[fizzy_drink]

Ipap - you're the man!! I'll look ouy for your post.


RB: Go back to the shop and get the whole kit changed if you can (28day exchange is your right AFAIK).

Or, go into a camera shop saying you want to buy/try a telephoto - see what happens when it's put on your body.

 

[RB_172]

Yes it's the std 18-55 Canon lense.

Done the battery thing (several times!).

The mf/af switch moves....and yes when in af, the ring doesn't turn (not freely anyway). When in mf, it moves ok. That's the only difference I see between having it on af or mf.

I was just expecting af to kinda move the ring via a motor or something. I guess the auto focusing is done internally or something? (forgive me, I'm an amature!).

Arrrggh Error 99 is sooo annoying! It makes the initial correct noises but misses the final 'click' before the picture is displayed on that digital screen.

 

[Rich]

In AF the focusing ring should be motorised, and feel locked if you try and turn it by hand.

 

[RB_172]

Bit more info about af....

Unless the pic in the view finder actually looks ok and infocus, when I half press the 'take picture' button, the green 'focus' light just flashes and flashes.
It's like it doesn't even try to autofocus.

I can switch to mf, twiddle the focus ring a bit and it looks to be focused just fine in the view finder.

Surely the AF can't be THAT bad?! Otherwise, what's the point in it???

I realise these aren't supposed to be point and shoot cameras but I did think they'd be a little more user friendly than mine is being at the moment.

 

[Rich]

Sounds like the lenses is knackered. The camera is point and shoot in full auto mode.

Take it back for sure.

 

[RB_172]

Cheers, I'll do that

 

[Spammy]

I've got the std 18-55 USM....

... and a Tamron 28-300 Aspherical XR LD lens - very long zooooooom.


On a digital, it's the equivalent to a 400 zoom!

450mm

 

[Spammy]

Yep, card speed is important. Before I moved up to 80x I used to hit the buffer all the time. I actually hit the buffer three times last week when I shot the arrivals at Elton and David's wedding but that was a one off incident.

In regard to your Tamron lens, all I would say is never mix and match your gear. I've been told this many time, eg, if you shoot Canon, staick with Canon lens. I've tested most Sigma lens available for Canon Digital bodies and have found them seriously poor in comparison to the Canon equivalents. Obviously price can be a big factor.
I actually have a 350d which I mess about with as it's so small. For anyone that needs a longer lens the EF 55-200mm 4.5-5.6 USM is very good value at around £100. The grip is useful too as you have the option to run it on two batteries and also the ease of shooting portraits.

With the flash question, what flash is it that you have? I would test it and see what you think of the results if it works. I have some 550EX flashes but the newer 580EX is so much better, the skin tones, the burst rate and power consumption. Yet again though it comes down to how much you want to spend and what sort of use you are going to put it to.

Anyway, congrats on buying the best entry level SLR money can buy and I hope you have as much fun with it as I do with my bag of goodies!

About using different brand lenses...

I used to think exactly the same but now have two sigma lenses, the 20mm F1.8 which is pretty good, handy but nothing special. The other non Nikon lens i have is a 100-300mm F4 Sigma, HSM etc. Which is superb! I would strongly suggest unless you have lots of ££ then go for the same brand as your camera or Sigma. Mind you I plan on getting the 90mm Tamron F2.8 Macro as it's widely known as an amazingly sharp lens.

 

[iPap]

I have a few Lens all of which are Canon but I'm in the professional end of the market. Personally after using the Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 and the 500mm f4I would never touch another Sigma again.
I have a Canon 300mm, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm as well as the usual 70-200mm and a few shorts. For me, other than the 70-200mm and the 16-35mm I would never used a zoom lens again, it's fixed lens all the way.

 

[fizzy_drink]

^^

Any news on the flash-gun comaptibility?

 

[iPap]

^^

Any news on the flash-gun comaptibility?

Om's I just got in from last night and have tried to call but it would seem there is no one about at this time of day on NYE...

I think there may be people there over the weekend but as soon as I know I will get back to you!

 

[fizzy_drink]

Cool... thanks!!

 

[iPap]

Omar, I'm told by serveral people that you rflash will work with the Canon. What you need to know is that if the flash has no manual overide then you will be over flashing everything due to the film-digital conversion rate.

I will call the guy that will deffo know 10000% today.

Sorry I've been late to reply, have been down at Rentech with Mikey-boy.

 

[chriscl]

Hi Omar -

Glad you're enjoying the 350 - I've had a 300D for ages and absolutely love it!

Just a couple of additions to those posted above; don't worry about your memory cards - always try and buy the fastest ones you can. Whilst the 350 has a larger buffer than my 300, the buffer (on both models) is faster than than the memory card interface - hence, the faster card you have, the faster your 'data' will be written from 'buffer' to the card. As has been noted above also, if/when you take the plunge to start shooting 'RAW', then a fast card is a definite plus.

Also on the subject of 'RAW' files, I too am a longtime PhotoShop user (CS2, at the moment) but I've been playing with Pixmantec RawShooter Essentials, which is an alternative application for handling 'RAW' files - and what's more, it's free! check it out here:

http://www.pixmantec.com/products/rawshooter_essentials.asp

Also - if you want a cheap, sharp, portrait lens, check out the Canon EF 50mm 1.8 - this can be had for around £75, and is an absolute *bargain*!

 

[Spammy]

I have a few Lens all of which are Canon but I'm in the professional end of the market. Personally after using the Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 and the 500mm f4I would never touch another Sigma again.
I have a Canon 300mm, 400mm, 500mm, 600mm as well as the usual 70-200mm and a few shorts. For me, other than the 70-200mm and the 16-35mm I would never used a zoom lens again, it's fixed lens all the way.

Fair doo's! I agree with liking primes, they're just a bit pricey for me