JimboCin
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 p.1 #16 · Microdrives and battery drain | |
DaveEP:
Thanks for the very nice post!
I agree with you on numerous items.
First, in reference to card speed. As shown on the Rob Galbraith site, the Microdrive is far from the fastest card out there. I would suggest everyone should look at the RG site, think about what their photographic application requirements are (is speed an important aspect for the type of shooting you do?), and consider card speed appropriately.
Second, if I had your experience where two CF Microdrives had failed on me, I would be pretty negative on the technology also – that is pretty understandable. I fortunately have not suffered any such failures to date (finding wood to knock on right now ;-) I know many others who share my opinion, and many others who share yours.
One thing I am interested in – Hitachi has made improvements in the robustness of their cards. Were your Microdrives relatively recent Hitachi’s, or older ones?
Third, you and I totally agree that it is a personal decision that each person needs to make, considering the various trade-offs of cost, quality, speed, reliability, etc.
Fourth, we both are in total agreement – if a photo is of vital importance to you, then solid state memory cards are better than hard-drive-based Microdrives (cost versus risk decision that each individual needs to make for their own situation).
For me, I have decided to put a foot into each camp. For my general photography, where I want the ability to be able to store a lot of photos and where top speed is not important I will be using the latest Hitachi Microdrives. I personally am not that concerned about Microdrive reliability from what I have read and based on my personal experience to date, but I understand that others may feel differently based on their personal experience or what they have read or heard. Where speed is of utmost importance to me I will be using SanDisk Extreme III cards (generally 2GB cards now). If utmost reliability is important to me (that shot that I would kill myself over if I lost) I will use the SanDisk Extreme III. If others feel something else is “best” for them that is fine with me.
I do feel that SanDisk are the best cards for use with the Canon, if reliability is the most important feature. Why do I feel this way? Various reasons. First, it appears that Canon is more closely aligned with SanDisk, Nikon with Canon. If you read the magazines, you will more often than not see Canon adds showing SanDisk, Nikon with Lexar. I just attended a Nikon seminar and they were heavily showing Lexar, with no note of SanDisk. It appears from what I have read that these paired companies share data more closely, and I have got to believe that offers an advantage to the respective paired companies.
Second, we all have heard about the issues that Lexar had with Canon recently: “Disappearance of images when using Lexar Compact Flash Cards”
Affected Products (CF card):
Lexar Professional 80x-speed Compact Flash cards
Problem:
Captured images on some Lexar CompactFlash cards can be lost when used with the Canon cameras listed above. Working together, Lexar and Canon have investigated the cause and confirmed that the problem occurs in extremely rare instances when the products above are used together.
Countermeasure:
Lexar will offer a free firmware update incorporating the correction of this problem by the end of May 2005 for Lexar Professional Series 80x CompactFlash card customers using the affected Canon cameras.
(reference: Canon web site: http://consumer.usa.canon.com/ir/controller?act=PgComSmModDisplayAct&keycode=2112&fcategoryid=215&modelid=10598
Lexar web site: http://www.lexar.com/support/cust_advisory.html)
Third, my reading of posts by others on FM and other sites would appear to indicate that others have had fewer problems with their Canon’s while using SanDisk’s than any other brand. Your reading of these “tea leaves” may be different than mine. And I do agree with you that this is all anecdotal data. Wouldn’t it be great if each card manufacturer posted their actual card return data – you know they have it (yea, I know – this is just not going to happen).
Forth, it appears from what I have read on various posts that at least some of the Lexar cards put a USB controller into their card (reference Lexar Customer Support page, http://www.lexar.com/support/troubleshooting.html#JumpShot%20Trouble%20Shooting%20for%20PC
I think the most interesting part of the link is:
“JumpShot Trouble Shooting for Macintosh:
Problem: When I install the supplied Jumpshot CD I insert the CompactFlash card and the LED does not light up. Why not?
Possible cause: The CompactFlash card being used is not a Lexar USB Enabled card.
Solution: Check the label on the CompactFlash card being used make sure the label reads “USB ENABLED” on the label. “
(This is listed under Macintosh, but has nothing to do with the computer operating system because its in the CF card).
Generally, the more electronics placed in a device the lower its absolute reliability will be. SanDisk never, as far as I know, have put the USB controller into the CF card. SanDisk always puts the USB controller into their card reader, where it is significantly less subject to environmental stresses, and where a failed USB controller cannot destroy photos.
If others have a different perspective that is fine, but I would be interested why they feel the way they do. I understand that my information and personal value equations may be different than others.
JimR
PS: Dave – I read your comments about “Go on, start flaming now…”
I hope you do not feel I am flaming you. I certainly have personally felt as I have been flamed on FM, and I think we all owe it to one another to treat one another with respect.
I also believe we all have the right and responsibility to “call one another on the carpet” if we do mistreat others. So if I have said anything here that makes you feel uncomfortable please let me know about it – thanks!
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