p.1 #1 · Tested: Delkin SD to CF adapter in EOS-5D
Hi all,
I have a couple of 8GB SDHC cards lying around that I wish I could use in my Canon 5D. Despite reading of mixed results with adapters in general, I decided to try a Delkin SD-to-CF adapter I saw at Adorama today ($25). It's also available at Amazon for the same price, and the reviews are predominantly positive at both sites. I did not have any fit issues in my 5D as some say they did with their Canon bodies - it looks like a perfectly standard Type II card to me.
READ: 1.2GB .mov file from Sandisk SDHC using Griffin reader
- SD native: 19.4MB/sec
- SD with CF adapter: 9.1MB/sec
Burst shoot (5) RAW + sJPG on 5D
- Lexar Pro CF: 9.7 sec
- Sandisk SDHC w/CF adapter: 19.8 sec
- Transcend SDHC w/CF adapter: 23.4 sec
- Sandisk Ultra II CF: 10.7 sec
Comments:
- Clearly, there's a pretty severe write speed penalty using the adapter - about 3x on a reader, 2x on the 5D if we assume all else being equal.
- The adapter seems to create a proportional overhead, rather than absolute bottleneck, to transfers, so faster SDHC cards will still be faster in the adapter. The Extreme III SDHC was about 33% faster than the Transcend either natively or in the adapter using the USB reader; in the 5D the difference was less marked (18%).
- The SDHC cards were slower in image playback as well, but the difference wasn't as vast as the burst test and I found the Extreme III SDHC to be about as responsive as the Ultra II CF (the Transcend was noticeably more sluggish).
- The Sandisk Ultra II CF held up surprisingly well to the much faster UDMA Lexar, being only about 10% slower in the burst test. On a 5D it would seem the Ultra II is more than adequate for all but the heaviest continuous shooters and speed freaks.
Conclusion: I can't speak for reliability yet, but based on speed tests alone, the Delkin adapter seems fine for casual, medium-duty shooting. That said, the Sandisk Ultra II was still significantly faster in the 5D than the higher-rated Extreme III SDHC via the adapter. I'm on the fence as to whether to keep it... it's plenty fast enough for me, and allows me to carry around a much smaller card reader, but now I'm wondering if I should just get more Ultra II CF cards which are even cheaper than the Extreme III SDHC's.
p.1 #2 · Tested: Delkin SD to CF adapter in EOS-5D
I was going to get one when I changed back to a XXD from a 450D. Decided to use the SD cards as general memory sticks & readyboost devices and just bought a couple of 8gig sandisk ultra 2's (40d doesn't benifit from much faster really).
These would be more useful if they weren't side loading as then you wouldn't have to remove them from the body to swap cards which could be a good thing if you have a dodgy CF cardslot/bad pins. Dont know if its possible with standard SD but micro SD would work
p.1 #3 · Tested: Delkin SD to CF adapter in EOS-5D
Nice writeup. I have a JOBO that I've played around with and also noticed the performance hit. I never did any benchmark testing to share though. I just keep it around for some extra smaller SD card useage on my old 1D.
One question to you though on something I think I noticed when using mine. Did you try accessing the images directly from the SDHC after using the convertor to create the images in camera? I found that the images were inaccessible directly through SDHC if they were written through the convertor. I find that kind of odd because it's still an underlying FAT32 file system and I would also think that the convertor controller is still going through the SDHC controller.
p.1 #4 · Tested: Delkin SD to CF adapter in EOS-5D
Lots, do you mean trying to open an image directly off the card while mounted on a computer? I didn't try, but I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work... everything operates normally on the card when mounted on my mac.
p.1 #6 · Tested: Delkin SD to CF adapter in EOS-5D
dorkus wrote:
Lots, do you mean trying to open an image directly off the card while mounted on a computer? I didn't try, but I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work... everything operates normally on the card when mounted on my mac.
Yes, I mean take some shots using the SDHC in the convertor. And then remove the SDHC and insert it directly into a reader without the convertor.
I seem to recall encountering an issue with that. It's been awhile though so I may give it another shot to see if I recall correctly.
p.1 #7 · Tested: Delkin SD to CF adapter in EOS-5D
Lots - i have no problem reading the SD card natively when written in the Delkin adapter on the 5D.
i just went to the park with my dog and end up shooting a bunch of action shots with other canines. it's definitely a bit sluggish compared to a normal CF card... but i think i'll start shooting just RAW without the sJPG, which should help matters a bit. i'll hang onto the adapter for casual shooting, and switch to a fast CF next time i need burst. i do like the convenience of the SD and it means i don't need to buy cards for a while.
