Need help deciding between two SDHC memory cards...

[Fantaz]

I bought 2 SDHC sticks from a couple deals and they are sitting here unopened, so I need to decide which one I should return and which to use.

I'm wondering whether I should keep the Lexar 32GB Class 6 Platinum II (15MB/s read, 9MB/s write) for $32.99 or keep the Kingston 16GB Class 10 Ultimate X (20MB/s read, 15MB/s write) for $19.99? What do you think? To me space is less of an issue than speed, but both cards seem to have 100x written on them. The Kingston one seems to be cheaper and faster, but the Lexar may be worth more but I'm not sure I need all that space for my Sony NEX-5 camera.

Let me know maybe what you guys think.

[donkeyman]

Check online for speed tests of the different brands. 100x is not always 100x.

P.S. I am not a fan for Lexar. Had to return a few that were corrupting my photos in camera (Pentax). I use Sandisk Extremes now.

[Fantaz]

I think you're right about the Lexar, as the reviews on it say there are corruption issues:

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/lexar-media-lexar-32gb-platinum-ii-100x-sdhc-card-lsd32gbsbna060/10128113.aspx

Although some say the speed is higher than rated. If there is an even better deal I'll just get that one instead.

[kay188]

Return them both. Never buy memory from Futureshop. It's a rip off, and the brands aren't exactly the best ones, and they're not that fast either to be honest, in my opinion of course.
Kingston, Lexar, Sandisk, are all over priced, especially at major retail stores like FS/BB.

Go to NCIX and pick up a cheaper and even faster, more reliable memory there. Here's a few:

http://ncix.com/products/?sku=50870&vpn=ASDH16GCL10-R&manufacture=AData%20Technology
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=53175&vpn=PSF16GSDHC10&manufacture=Patriot&promoid=1055

I can vouch that AData is very decent memory. I have a Class 6 MicroSDHC, it reads/writes at 14/10. CLASS 6!!! And that's tested on some of the very fast memory card readers.

Memory speed is also dependent on your memory card reader. You need a good one that has a good chip set that will read very fast.

[donkeyman]

+1 Even though I say I use Sandisk, I will vouch for AData because that's what I have for Compact Flashes in my camera. My Sandisks were bought for dirt cheap $50/piece at 16GB Class 10.

[ak-47]

On the contrary, I have heard bad things about Adata including the photogs on this forum.

Sandisk is probably the best for reliability.

[mk5gti]

i use Sandisk, Transcend and Kingston, i had a Class 10 A-data SD card once, it fail. but i heard their class 6 is very good.

i usually go smaller size better brand when it comes to storage.

[NewsyL]

Kind of odd to read the comments on Lexar as Lexar Professional and Sandisk Extreme are the gold standard for digital photographers wary of losing a day of shooting due a faulty card. Panasonics' class 10 SDHC's are a solid product as well.

With this particular FS model I don't consider it to be anything special - its' just another "me too price driven commodity" card. I don't think I'd ever use anything like this in my main DSLR camera though for a recent family vacation I bought 3 of the 4GB version and used them in our P&S's (SD1000 and SD780). No problems with any of the still images and the card worked fine recording 780p HD video on our SD780.

One point is that I personally would be leery of using a class 6 100x card for recording 1080p HD video. I suspect most don't have the write speed to support DSLR HD video or long bursts of large RAW files. If anyone knows what the typical throughput is for 1080p video could you comment?

I used to point people to Rob Galbraith's database on memory cards but he has not updated in a long time. Here's a site that has an odd user interface but lots of info, if you can dig it out.

http://www.hjreggel.net/cardspeed/

.

[angrydingo]

A class 6 card should be fine for 1080p. I use an older class 4 Sandisk that predates class 6 and it works well. I would look at the minimum read and write speeds and use that as a base. Purchased some class 6 lexars and a class 10 patriot to test for a web series.

Reviews tend to favour Sandisk and lexar, at least their pro cards.

In the end though, I'd go with cards your device manufacturer approved. Some video cams are very picky (looking at you JVC).