What size storage card?

I'm trying to tie down my shopping list.

With a 24mp FX sensor, what size storage card do others use?

16gb

Scott Murray said:

16gb

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Thanks Scott

For longer trips, such as a 2 week vacation, is there a method (other than copying to a laptop), of card backup or archive to a portable storage device?

Gorf said:

Thanks Scott

For longer trips, such as a 2 week vacation, is there a method (other than copying to a laptop), of card backup or archive to a portable storage device?

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When I went to Africa for 3 months I backed up onto a 1TB HDD and my laptop, I also have a method that when I use a card it goes label down in a card box. When its fresh it is label up.

Besides a laptop/external HD, no painless methods really. For instance, you could use an Android phone that supports USB-host with at least 16-32 GBs free inside to copy into first, and then into a HD, but that's twice the pain to do.

I personally use 2x 32GB and I think 16s would have choked me a couple of times.

Thanks Scott

So I assume that you have a stack of 16gb cards.

Searching Google, I think this may be the sort of thing that I was thinking of: Error

SkvLTD said:

Besides a laptop/external HD, no painless methods really. For instance, you could use an Android phone that supports USB-host with at least 16-32 GBs free inside to copy into first, and then into a HD, but that's twice the pain to do.

I personally use 2x 32GB and I think 16s would have choked me a couple of times.

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Thanks Skv, do you use the second card for backup, jpg or overflow?

Overflow/safety net. My 2nd one is a cheaper card than main, so I don't see a point in backing up into that thing. I don't shoot jpegs because I just don't like how the camera processes them. I like way more punch than the standard look.

SkvLTD said:

Overflow/safety net. My 2nd one is a cheaper card than main, so I don't see a point in backing up into that thing. I don't shoot jpegs because I just don't like how the camera processes them. I like way more punch than the standard look.

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Thanks for your help.

Card-wise, I've been using Sony "95mb/s" 32gb that is/was $40 @ Adorama/BnH. You kind of lose some money per card if you get lower capacity, but still need a certain total across several cards. Plus keeping track of them...

Thanks, I'd probably stick with Sandisk as I've had good results with them.

I used Sandisk 32GB's in all my cameras (all 24MP+). 16GB is usually enough except in event situations. I shot 500+ pics a day at Bethlehem Musikfest and came the closest I've ever come to running out of card with a 32GB (I'm thinking I could have gotten just over 600). I've got on Extreme Pro (~92Mbs), a couple Extremes (45Mbs), and a couple Ultras (30Mbs), and to be honest I rarely find myself waiting on the slower ones. The Extreme Pro sits in my D7100 since it is the one I do the most continuous shooting with, and it has the buffer that fills almost immediately.

Thanks for the info, Jake.

8-16 GB is optimum size. More than 30MB/sec is of use only when you download the images using a fast card reader or doing HD video at 60p. I would rather use a number of 8GB 30/45 Mbs cards than one 32GB 95 Mbs card. More redundancy.

aroy said:

8-16 GB is optimum size. More than 30MB/sec is of use only when you download the images using a fast card reader or doing HD video at 60p. I would rather use a number of 8GB 30/45 Mbs cards than one 32GB 95 Mbs card. More redundancy.

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Thanks, but I'm not sure that 8gb is large enough for me. Although more cards is spreading the risk of a card failure, changing cards on a shoot is also introducing a risk. I'd also rather not be having to keep checking the storage during a shoot. Having more cards, would actually increase the risk of card failure, although that failure would be likely to affect a lower number of files - which is what I suspect that you meant.

I wondered if it's possible to use a USB cable to transfer images to the computer, instead of removing the cards & using a card reader?

Gorf said:

Thanks, but I'm not sure that 8gb is large enough for me. Although more cards is spreading the risk of a card failure, changing cards on a shoot is also introducing a risk. I'd also rather not be having to keep checking the storage during a shoot. Having more cards, would actually increase the risk of card failure, although that failure would be likely to affect a lower number of files - which is what I suspect that you meant.

I wondered if it's possible to use a USB cable to transfer images to the computer, instead of removing the cards & using a card reader?

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I use 32GB cards exclusively. I suggest you wait for a sale and stock up, I don't think I've paid much more than about $20 for a 32GB card. SanDisk is a good choice but there are a lot of good choices. Currently finding joy with Samsung cards.

Yes, you can use a cable to connect your camera to a USB port and transfer files that way. You should have gotten a cable with your camera, unless you bought used of course. I used to use a cable to transfer, but now I prefer to just pull the card instead of lugging the camera to my PC. Still, either works.

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I use 2 x 32GB cards in my D7100.

@Horoscope I totally forgot about those, use one in my SGS2 and never had any issues with it. Really as long as its not a 5$ card they're all from the same premium factory in China lol.

I also use 2 32's in my D7100.

Horoscope Fish said:

I use 32GB cards exclusively. I suggest you wait for a sale and stock up, I don't think I've paid much more than about $20 for a 32GB card. SanDisk is a good choice but there are a lot of good choices. Currently finding joy with Samsung cards.

Yes, you can use a cable to connect your camera to a USB port and transfer files that way. You should have gotten a cable with your camera, unless you bought used of course. I used to use a cable to transfer, but now I prefer to just pull the card instead of lugging the camera to my PC. Still, either works.

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Thanks, I don't have my camera yet, but I understand your point about lugging around the camera. Maybe I should buy a card reader.