p.2 #2 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
pipspeak wrote:
that's the big problem with Sandisk... nice cards, too many fakes floating around. It's getting to the point that I just don't trust I'm actually getting a Sandisk. I just picked up a 4GB from Amazon and have no idea if it's fake or not. I might give Sandisk a call.
its not that big of a problem. just get them from reliable sources. that of course does not include ebay. if you bought direct from amazon and not a sub dealer you will have no problem with it being real. its the price thats too good to be true outfits that send it in to you.
p.2 #3 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
The only time I had corrupt files using the RiData Lightning series is if I deleted some files during the shoot....I do not delete anymore & have had no problems
p.2 #4 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
Well, just before sending the new Lightning 233x 8GB card back to Ridata, I used it one last time. After about 200 shots, my 1D Mk2n started displaying huge yellow question marks on the rear LCD. Never seen those before. After turning the camera off and back on, the question mark disappeared and the camera displayed the images fine.
However, after downloading the files to my laptop, about 50-60 images were missing (from the beginning of the shoot, long before the yellow question mark appeared). Thankfully, I was able to recover the files...
The card is at Ridata now, we'll see how the replacement card performs.
I never delete files in-camera, always do in-camera formatting.
p.2 #6 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
Any more reviews from people? After reading some reviews here and other sites I'm starting to lean away from Ridata. My 4GB Ridata card has been trusty but I'm reading far fewer horror stories about Transcend's 133 and 266X cards. Alternatively the Sandisk Extreme's are still fairly cheap after mail in rebates.
p.2 #7 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
I've been using Ridata card 2GB for awhile now.. on the 20D and now on the 40D. took at least over 4000 images onto it w/o any error or problems at all.
ya, you really have to be super careful where you buy Sandisk these days. i picked up two 1GB Ultra II from Amazon few years ago. I stopped using them since I picked up the 2GB. Recently sold it to someone on another Forum that need 1GB cards. he informed me that they were fake. I had no idea. he was cool w/ it since i give it to him at a very cheap price.
I did buy some newer sandisk card recently at Adorama and BH... i know those are real, because i had to send in for rebate.
p.2 #9 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
Well, here's my experience with Ritek handling my faulty 8GB 233x Lightning CF card:
They received my card on 5/30. They sent it back to me on 6/11.
Here's the email I received:
Dear xxxxxxxx,
We have shipped the replacement unit on your RMA request # 1946
Tracking number: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Click Here to UPS Tracking information
Carrier: UPS
Date shipped: 2008-06-11
The card that arrived wasn't new, it arrived in the same plastic container that I sent mine in. Per their email, I expected a "replacement unit", i.e. new card.
When I asked them to clarify, they said it was my actual card, further stating:
Dear Michael,
This CF card has been sent to oversea to do the repair and has been fully tested and update
the firmware.
Thank you,
Lynn
RMA Department
Well, I didn't know CF cards could be repaired, and sending the card to China and back for "repair" and firmware update doesn't really make much sense to me, nor does the timeframe of 11 days.
With all the reported troubles with this card, not to mention my own experience of losing files, the only way I would use this card is if by some accident I have no other card to use...
On the other hand, my old Ridata 4GB 150x card has worked flawlessly for a few years now...
p.2 #10 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
I have zero problem with all 6 of my 150x 2GB CF...but if you surf around the net you will see many reviews stating the green cards (supreme) are not as reliable as the older series.
@ johnlo: it used to be like 90% of the sandisk cards on ebay are fake, I don't know if anything changed, if I were ever going to buy Sandisk/Lexar cards, they will be from a reputable seller
p.2 #13 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
I own three CF cards from RiDATA (the older 150X cards) and they've worked flawlessly for over a year now and have been through countless formats. Since RiDATA's new 233X series aren't very expensive, I'm probably going to order 1 or 2 of them to test out for a while. If corruption occurs, well, so be it...at least I won't have invested a great deal by only buying a card or two. So far RiDATA has proven itself very reliable and fast during my career, and I'm planning on staying with them as long as nothing major happens.
p.2 #14 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
I own 20 Ridata cards, 13 gray label 4gb cards, 4 green label 4gb cards, 2 blue label 8gb cards and one blue label 16 gb card. I have never had a problem with any of them until I got the 16gb blue label (3 weeks ago). The card formatted normally in the camera and all appeared normal until the second picture I took with the card inserted. The write light in the camera would not go out after taking the shot and I finally had to shut the camera off and remove the card. Upon reinserting the card in the camera the camera said the card needed to be formatted. I tried to reformat the card but the camera then said that the card could not be formatted. I inserted the card into my reader and both my home computer and laptop would not even recognize that there was a card in the reader. The backup SD card that I use in my 1DsmkII had both shots that I had taken on it. The card is currently back at Ritek for replacement.
On my vista powered pc's using a USB omniflash UDMA reader I show about 5-6 mb/sec download speed when downloading the gray label cards. The green label cards will download at approximately 8-10 mb/sec and the blue label lightning cards show a download speed of approx 15 mb/sec. YMMV, but clearly the download speeds are considerably faster with the lightning cards. I don't notice a difference between the cards when I'm shooting, but I don't have a camera that can take advantage of the UDMA speeds. I just hope that the replacement card is reliable or I'm done with any more ridata purchases.
p.2 #15 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
I wonder if Ridata's quality has deteriorated over the past couple years. I ended up deciding against a newer Ridata (even though my 4gb 150X has been perfect for 2+ years) and went with Transcend instead.
p.2 #16 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
Well, my supposedly "repaired" Ridata 233x 8GB got corrupt the very first time I used it. Emailed Ritek USA about it over a week ago - no answer this time.
p.2 #17 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
Here's my Experience with RiData:
-Moved from 2GB Lexar cards to RiData 8GB 166x cards (silver), never had a problem.
-Then bought a bunch of the lightning (blue) series 16GB cards for use in my 5D. One of them was only an 8GB card that had the 16GB label (bought them through an authorized dealer so I got most of my money back on the faulty one), but was still usable at 8GB
-Started noticing some corrupt images right away, but less than 5% of shots, thought it was due to plugging and unplugging cards from various card readers while away from the office
-Started seeing an increase in corrupt images, even with formatting the cards every time. Lost a couple fairly important shots (I will try to extract the JPEGS somehow) so did some digging and found this forum along with some other good ones.
-Found info on RiData site that they recommend not to use the lightning series in pro SLR cameras
-Checked with Canon and found a newer firmware for the 5D that I hadn't loaded yet that said it supports 8GB and 16GB cards now. Just loaded that firmware.
So I'll have to see if the updated 5D firmware makes any difference in the corrupt images, but if not, the lightning series are to be auctioned off and I'll have to get the 266x series that RiData recommends for SLR cameras. I am not put off by RiData for this issue, as it does state on the cards that they are for "Home and Office use". I don't shoot a lot of burst, so it's simply just a card architecture\design issue according to them.
I've never liked SanDisk, and Lexar is just too expensive for me at the moment.
p.2 #18 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
runamuck wrote:
Or is it a batch number? The way those things are made, I very seriously doubt each one gets a unique serial number.
Interesting question. I got two Ridata 2 gig cards awhile back from a discounter often recommended here. They had the identical number printed on them. I asked about it and was referred to someone at Ridata who simply told me to register them twice!
Not sure what to think about that, though the Ridata guy didn't seem to think it was at all unusual. Cards still work, though given the increasing size of RAW files, they are now almost too small for most uses.
Jul 31, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Lars Johnsson Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.2 #19 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
I belive the numbers are some kind of batch number. I have 6-7 cards with the same numbers. And I have bought them from Mydigitaldiscount. I also have two other cards with the same numbers bought from another shop.
p.2 #20 · Reality check: RiDATA CF/SDHC cards on Canon
I posted my review in Amazon.com already. After speaking with the RMA department, eventually I did get new cards with the latest firemware.
RiDATA did post in their site, about known corruption problem with the 233x CF cards when shooting in continuous mode. It supposed to be fixed, with the latest firmware updates.
