p.1 #1 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
I have always been the one to suggest using two smaller cards rather than one big one, but that was 8-9 years ago. Now that capacity and megapixels have increased a bit, "small cards" are larger.
Just wondering who shoots with say 128GB cards instead of 2 x 64GB cards, especially for wildlife. 700 images could fill up fast. The 128GB card is cheaper than 2 x64GB, but not by much.
p.1 #2 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
In "Landscape" configuration on my A7RIII I can get 1486 pictures (uncompressed RAW) on my 128GB Sony card in slot 1 and mirrored in slot 2. I have since gone to 32GB cards to add another level of protection when on vacation.
When taking senior pictures or for weddings I shoot in compressed RAW and can get over 700 pictures on a 32GB card. Having said that, even then I'll put a fresh card in whether the current card is full or not at key points in a work day.
For me then, I don't shoot video so 32GB or 64GB cards have plenty of space for my work.
p.1 #3 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
I think a lot of the "more smaller cards" logic was from the perspective of if your card goes bad you don't lose everything. With dual slots being so prevalent now you can have instant backup so I'd just toss in big enough cards that you don't need to worry about swapping them out. I feel like I'm more likely to physically lose a card than have 2 fail simultaneously.
The only downside I can think of is buffer clearing when both slots aren't UHS-II or something.
p.1 #6 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
Bigger, whenever bigger gets cheaper.
I just bought a 256gb UHS-II cause it was on sale for $55. I doubt if I've ever had more than 50GB on a card, even when traveling... I'm always keen to get the content off the card and on to my Mac/NAS/Cloud backup. So many points of failure beyond an in-camera card failure. Bought the 256GB cause I like the option to go big just in case...
As cards are cheap in the grand scheme of things, I usually upgrade to whatever the sweet spot is for pricing every couple of years.
I'm not sure if lots of read/write cycles really degrades reliability of flash memory, but I'll assume it does and seems like cheap insurance to get a new bigger card every 18-24 months or so.
p.1 #8 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
I often think of the phrase, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall.” So, I use a card with a storage capacity knowing D850 can fill a card rather quickly. And then, I move files off very soon after. 64 Gig or 128 Gig and I’m sure I have enough, without a worry or doubt.
Cards are not just about storage size, but also speed. Second card in slot really helps for speed and back up.
p.1 #9 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
64 is what I buy for my A7RII. I carefully think about each capture most of the time and rarely have days taking more than 100 - 150 photographs. 64 is overkill probably, but they’re so cheap.
p.1 #10 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
Go as large as you can afford. Flash memory performs better when less full. On top of that, you are much more likely to lose a card than memory errors. Human nature can't be ignored.
p.1 #12 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
formula4speed wrote:
I think a lot of the "more smaller cards" logic was from the perspective of if your card goes bad you don't lose everything. With dual slots being so prevalent now you can have instant backup so I'd just toss in big enough cards that you don't need to worry about swapping them out. I feel like I'm more likely to physically lose a card than have 2 fail simultaneously.
The only downside I can think of is buffer clearing when both slots aren't UHS-II or something.
Another downside, however remote the likelihood, is theft. In which case you've now lost everything. Using smaller cards (better still duplicated in the second slot) and storing those two cards in two different locations to your camera gear reduces the possibility of losing everything to virtually zero.
I wish I'd follow my own advice / theorising !
I generally use 64GB cards but I do occasionally take videos (more often on the DJI Pocket now I've added it to the arsenal though). I have a couple of older 32GB left over and one 128GB card that I bought for birds on the A9 (though I've found I never use 20 fps so the 128GB is virtually redundant).
p.1 #13 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
Dual cards protect from card error. Your eggs are still in one basket if the camera is stolen. Either because you put it down or the strap is sliced by a bag snatcher. I've had gear stolen at gigs from just next to me and a family friend whose camera strap was sliced and snatched. I've also had a card go bad on me costing me the volunteered refund of an entire wedding to protect goodwill for some 30 family groups lost. I don't use big cards. 16GB max in my A7r and it would be smaller if they were available in the type I buy.
p.1 #14 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
caplanner wrote:
In "Landscape" configuration on my A7RIII I can get 1486 pictures (uncompressed RAW) on my 128GB Sony card in slot 1 and mirrored in slot 2. I have since gone to 32GB cards to add another level of protection when on vacation.
Small cards fill up in critical moment and eventually get lost
I have gone to 128 and 256 gb cards. Using Sandisk they seem to be reliable - never had a problem with Sony. And even if the worst happens, I can go to jpg files on the other card.
p.1 #15 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
I'm still a firm believer in smaller cards. They're dirt cheap (32, 64GB) and it really doesn't take much time to swap a card. I had a SD card zapped about three years ago and fortunately it was only one out of five cards I used that day. I have a few 128GB cards and use those for multi day shoots.
p.1 #16 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
Big, 256 in each slot, BUT, download every day to 2 separate hard drives.
So if a card fails I have the backup card, if the camera faults it's no different than a smaller card, and if the camera is stolen I still have everything on HD but the files for the day, which would be the same as a small card.
p.1 #18 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
I still use 16 GB cards for my A7r cameras. For my A7rIII I have 32 GB cards and only 1 64 GB card for my A7rIII. But, I am concerned about card failure. Also, if I can, I change cards every day if possible. I carry 8 extra cards in a hard sided old Lowepro memory card holder in my camera bag.
p.1 #19 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
I use 256 gB slower (90 mB/sec write) cards so that when I convert them to DNG files for my ancient software (CS6/ACR) I can process the DNG files from the same card as the ARWs.
p.1 #20 · do you use larger or smaller capacity SD cards?
I use 32s and 16s like Rich, and for the same reason, I carry 9 of them. I just switched out three cards (3 cameras) after shooting a lot of once in a lifetime material.
