VE6AB Technical

The Write Stuff

I recently upgraded several of the memory cards that I use on a daily bases in my DSLR, this camera using both combinations of Compact Flash and SD cards simultaneously with dual slots built in allowing for this.

Both CF and SD cards come in various storage sizes, starting from 32 GB going all the way to 256 GB. If you use a camera that consistently churns out high-resolution RAW image files or 4K videos, you will need the beefiest cards you can find.

This also means paying attention to the speed ratings of the cards. Write speeds affect the buffer speed of your camera. The slower the write speed, the faster the camera will run out of memory when shooting. When shooting fast action you don’t want to fall into this situation.

The read speed is also important because it allows the data on your card to be dumped onto your laptop based on the read speed of the card. The slower the speed, the longer the time it will take. This can become an issue if you are waiting impatiently for the images to load, but usually not a big-time issue.

If you are using a camera with dual card slots, match the memory cards to one another, as the buffer will only empty as fast as the slowest rated card, so make sure when purchasing memory cards, especially when your camera uses a combination of CF and SD cards to match them up as close as possible allowing your camera to perform as it is capable.
Not that many years ago I was using memory cards with a write speed of 90 MB/s. My latest cards are rated at 170 MB/s, making a world of difference in how my camera performs when the write speed is crucial to the performance of the camera.

Bottom line is.....forget about the 5 dollar memory cards found in the bargain bin at your favorite big-box store!

Oh, you're wondering about the camera batteries in the photo, seems like you cannot have to many of those, especially if your camera lens utilize image stabilization, as they tend to be power hogs, just saying!

Expand the photo for a closer look.....