I don’t understand why Nikon would build a camera body that uses two different types of memory cards. Is there some advantage that I don’t see ? I just see it as a pain in the b---
I'd guess they look at it from a flexibility standpoint.
I'd agree that most pro users would rather see two identical slots. As far as the D4 goes, I'd guess they did it to no infuriate users who didn't want to buy into the new memory card format. I'm not sure it's the right decision.
i guess since they are so close with Sony - its partnership thing. Sony made them to have it in so can push they brand out there and at the same time have technology with it.
The new card has some advantages over the old CF card in terms of speed. There have been a lot of people wanting SD cards in their cameras, but at the same time there are a lot of people who resist change, particularly when it means they have to buy new stuff.
One disadvantage of the XQD card is that there are only one or two manufacturers at present. That's probably why the whole camera isn't XQD slots. I expect the number of manufacturers to grow, but it might take some time. Maybe by the time the D4S comes along you'll see a camera with all XQD slots.
actually the new card has substantial advantages over the older CF card. there comes a time where you gotta move forward. this gives you a few years to move into the newer form factor and still use the current one. i too was kinda irked but i have adapted (pricing is not stupid for sizes)and will move in to it. sandisk and lexar will conform as will others and run with it too. this is a move forward unlike Canons effort that just went sideways if not a little backward with CF/SD. with the 1DX at least they went dual CF. they're smart that way.
Actually this is a bold step for Nikon. XQD offers many advantages, but if Nikon would have abandoned the CF slot completely for the D4, many peopple would be griping about all of the wasted $ in CF cards. Now they can still use their CF cards and as they XQD cards be come available and affordable, D4 owners can upgrade. I expect we'll see the combo of CF+XQD slots in a few more high end bodies to help with the transition.
mfletch wrote:
Actually this is a bold step for Nikon. XQD offers many advantages, but if Nikon would have abandoned the CF slot completely for the D4, many peopple would be griping about all of the wasted $ in CF cards. Now they can still use their CF cards and as they XQD cards be come available and affordable, D4 owners can upgrade. I expect we'll see the combo of CF+XQD slots in a few more high end bodies to help with the transition.
i see it so that i cannot use them. i will no carry or maintain two sets of cards during wedding, adds complexity and is not needed. well it is needed, for video probably.
i am pretty conservative, and believe that only proven and readily available tech should be used for pro tools. sure you can still use "good old proven tech" but you lose reason #1 to even have pro body - dual card slots with same system.
since i shoot mostly raw and when necessary raw+jpgi dump the jpg into the 2nd card which in this situation is the XQD slot. that will hold more images then the raw card slot as is just because of the smaller size.
then the D3s is your camera to go with until you are satisfied that XQD works and both slots are the same. let me remind you that previous to the D3 only the 1D(x) series cameras had dual slots (CF/SD) and you read my comment on that above. from what i've seen over the past 30+ years the cutting edge went to the pro gear (to be proven overall) and lived or died there before going down the lines towards the consumer end.
right now you have every option in the world open to you.
it was a fairly easy choice for me.
I am really surprised they did not use two XQD card slots.
They are clearly superior.
Maybe they worried that Sony would be the only supplier and this way Sony has to compete with the new Lexar 150MBs CF card for one.
Many suppliers are taking more orders for the D4 from non previous Nikon owners including VideoGraphers than from Nikon still shooters.
In other words this camera has opened a new market segment that have to buy new memory cards anyway.
Then there are people like me that included all my old CF cards when I sold my D3.
actually according to lexar themselves its 150MB/s read speed. ya gotta watch that little damned asterisk at the end.
"Leverages UDMA 7 technology to provide industry-leading 1000x (150MB/s) minimum guaranteed sustained read transfer speed*"
now when you follow it down to the other end the story gets a little murky on the facts, and that is somewhat annoying.
"*Minimum 150MB/s read transfer, write speeds lower. Speeds based on TestMetrix certified tester. Actual sustained speed may vary depending on host device.
It's a transitional technology so they had to move one slot to the next technology, or the D4 would have been stuck for 4 years with old technology.
Having both XQD slots would have caused a massive amount of noise (you think it's bad now.)
I would have been fine with both slots being XQD, I just don’t like two different cards.
This might be a stupid question, but is there any way an adapter could be made to convert the CF slot to XQD.
Dennis H. wrote:
I would have been fine with both slots being XQD, I just don’t like two different cards.
This might be a stupid question, but is there any way an adapter could be made to convert the CF slot to XQD quote]
There are two kinds of CF slots and the D4 uses the narrow one.
If they cannot make it work with SD cards, I doubt there is a way for the XQD card to fit in an adapter
During the past week I've been fighting compatibility problems, and changing to a new memory card may create the same issues with photo/memory cards as I've had with computer software.
My 2 1/2 year computer would not open a group of files, created about 20 years ago, that I need for a project this spring. Fortunately, an old laptop that has just been sitting around had the software on it that would open the files. And Microsoft has software that will, I'm told, convert those old files so I can use current software. Their Works program fit my needs perfectly.
In my case, I happened to have an external 3.5" floppy drive that allowed me to read back-up files from several years ago. And a Windows 95 version of the software opened the files.
Do you foresee backward compatibility of camera slots and ard reading systems in the future that can read today's cards?
I'm in favor of progress, but also not in favor of losing images and files from the past.
GCasey wrote:
During the past week I've been fighting compatibility problems, and changing to a new memory card may create the same issues with photo/memory cards as I've had with computer software.
My 2 1/2 year computer would not open a group of files, created about 20 years ago, that I need for a project this spring. Fortunately, an old laptop that has just been sitting around had the software on it that would open the files. And Microsoft has software that will, I'm told, convert those old files so I can use current software. Their Works program fit my needs perfectly.
In my case, I happened to have an external 3.5" floppy drive that allowed me to read back-up files from several years ago. And a Windows 95 version of the software opened the files.
Do you foresee backward compatibility of camera slots and ard reading systems in the future that can read today's cards?
I'm in favor of progress, but also not in favor of losing images and files from the past....Show more →
what type of files from 20 years ago? you are lucky that your 3.5 media is still readable. and yes MS formats are updateable and i suggest you do so (keeping the original if you need) and putting said data on a more viable piece of media for present longevity. there are times where it is advantagous to move forward with the times.
if you are not into the MS office you can convert your older files to office formats and use Libre Office which will read and write in all office formats. oh and its free and more powerful then works. in use all you need to do is tell it to save as that particular office format instead of thier native format.
i too have done this for people.
as to card readability 10 years from now is fairly irrelevent. do you keep your images on the card? highly unlikely. CF has been around since about 1994 and SD only 1999. it is meant as intermediary media and proven to be the most robust type of media around. a great run and it has outlasted most others. but the wall is in sight now. it does have its limits and as data creation gets bigger speed and capacity must grow while trying to maintain a reasonable form factor. as went the 8" floppy to the 5" floppy to the 3.5" floppy to the CD-R/RW to the DVD-R/RW to the BluRay to the Flash drive it will only continue to evolve
Different markets expect different cards. Over the years the SD format has been expanding up the food chain as it is by far the most popular format. Low-end DSLR users want to save money by using the same cards in their P/S or bridge cameras. Pro users are less than thrilled with the tiny and flimsy SD form factor. The XQD FF actually makes a lot of sense and serial will allow long term speed improvements, though it will be a bit painful transition for those of us with thousands of dollars or euros in CF cards.
and that is one of the reasons i never made CF cards a "collectors club" item. updating is still a little twingy here and there though.
i have one 16GB XQD and reader on order which, i believe, is roughly 454 raw images and who knows how many fine jpgs minimally crushed and that will do as my secondary using my current batch of 16GB CF between D4 the D3 and the D700. already reduced to support all my needs.
I plan on using XQD for my primary media card and the CF as overflow.
I will start with a 16GB 125MBs and probably wait to add the next 32GB version that should be over 200MBs read/write.
