SanDisk Extreme Pro UDMA 7 160 MB/s returns 'ERR' in D4 when used with Sony XQD Card

Waldi

New member
New SanDisk Extreme Pro Memory Card type CF 16 GB UMDA 7 160 MB/s when installed with Sony XQD card in Nikon D4 camera is not functional, shows 'ERR' message and and consequently renders D4 not operational. When this CF card is installed on its own, without XQD card, in D4 then it works OK. As using one only memory card in D4 is UNACCEPTABLE for professional work I am looking for advice. As per today, 31 Oct 2013 Nikon doesn't have the clue of what is the problem there with D4
 

Cowleystjames

Senior Member
Re: SanDisk Extreme Pro UMDA 7 160 MB/s returns 'ERR' in D4 when used with Sony XQD C

Have you tried formatting in camera each individual card? Also do other cards work okay? It wouldn't be the first time I've come across bent CF pins in readers so presumably in camera this could happen too.
 

Waldi

New member
Re: SanDisk Extreme Pro UMDA 7 160 MB/s returns 'ERR' in D4 when used with Sony XQD C

The cards were formatted individually in the camera. CF works perfect on its own, but when installed together with Sony XQD it returns 'err' message and D4 is non operational. D4 has latest firmwares installed too.
 

tgagle

New member
Re: SanDisk Extreme Pro UMDA 7 160 MB/s returns 'ERR' in D4 when used with Sony XQD C

I am having the exact same problem. If the SanDisk is the only card, I am able to format the card and it works. If it is installed with the Sont XQD card, ERR.
I will also note that I have a Lexar Professional 1000X 64GB UDMA 7 card. It works great with or without the Sony XQD card. I have tried 2 SanDisk cards.
 
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Re: SanDisk Extreme Pro UMDA 7 160 MB/s returns 'ERR' in D4 when used with Sony XQD C

Looks like the answer is to not use the SanDisk cards. @Waldi have you tried another brand? If not that should be your first step.

Or possibly try something other than the Sony card.
 

Scott Murray

Senior Member
How do you have the cards configured? One as main and one as overflow? Or one as back up. I ma thinking that if you are trying to mirror them then the issue may be the difference in write speeds.
 

muco

New member
I am having the same problem.
I suspect that the card sizes must be same.
I have 64GB sony sqd and 32GB sandisk extreme pro
individually they work fine but not together.
if anyone has cards of the same size please test them together and let us know about the results
thanks
 

tgagle

New member
I can put the SanDisk 32GB card in my D3 and it works just fine.
I can put a 8GB CF card in the D4 with the Sony XQD 64GB card and both work just fine.
I have the primary card on the D4 set to the CF card. Overflow to XQD. Reversing the configuration does not help. I still get ERR.
I only have 1 XQD 64GB card to test with.
 

muco

New member
tgagle,

you say that you have Lexar Professional 1000X 64GB UDMA 7 and it works fine with sony xqd which is also 64GB. This seems to be supporting my suspicion about the requirement that both cards must be the same size especially for large sizes ! There could be some memory addressing problem when the sizes are too large.
I have also written to Nikon and waiting an answer. I'll let the group know about their response !
 

Waldi

New member
I read Threads of other people and conclude the following:

- There is NO issue of two cards being of different size at all;
- There is NO issue of the cards configuration in the camera: 'overflow', 'back up' etc.
- There is NO issue of formatting cards in the camera at all.

The only issue is when CF SanDisk Extreme UDMA 7 (UDMA 6 Works FINE) 160 Mb/s is installed with Sony XQD card when the 'err' appears and D4 is useless, unless one uses one card at the time and then D4 works fine. But this is NOT for what D4 was designed.
Also CF UDMA 7 160 Mb/s works fine with SD card in D800 camera.

Therefore it is clear this is D4 interfacing between the two cards problem and NOT the card problem.
Nikon has not replied to my email as yet and at the end I will be returning their D4 back for repair.

No, I have not used another brand card because I spend lots of $$$ on cards and will not spend anymore just to test Nikon cameras.
 

Waldi

New member
The cards DON'T have to be of the same size at all because I am using different cards of different sizes and they work OK. However SanDisk CF UDMA 7 160 MB/s even of the same size as Sony XQD card returns 'ERR'.
This is Nikon problem and they don't reply to emails.
 

muco

New member
I bought my camera last week from B & H photo. They sent Sandisk Extreme Pro 32GB as a gift. I also bought Sony XQD 64 GB card and got the problem !!
In D4's booklet, in the approved memory cards list both of these cards are listed. They say these cards are tested and approved !? How come ???
I am also waiting a reply from Nikon too.
I am hoping that they correct the problem with a firmware update.
 

muco

New member
today nikon sent a respond !

they did not even read my detailed explanation and said that it may be the sony card etc and referred to their approved card list link.. but the two cards are already in their approved cards list !
they are
Sony XQD 64 GB and SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB

the respond was careless...
we have to nag them !
 

David996

New member
I am on my 2nd D4 in a week. The first had exactly the problem described by the author of this thread. And the 2nd one, which arrived today, with a brand new card developed the same problem within 5 minutes of formatting the cards. This is ridiculous.
 

DavidG

New member
The problem appears to involve only "160MB/s" UDMA 7 SanDisk cards. I have a 32GB Sony XQD (S) card in my D4, with a SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB CF card (UDMA 7, but marked as 90MB/s)... and it works fine. If you are having troubles with D4 (and the 160MB/s UDMA 7 CF card)... try one of the 90MB/s SanDisk Extreme Pros. This may allow you to get shooting again, while Nikon comes up with a software patch.
 

David996

New member
DavidG. That is an interesting "narrowing down" of the extent of the issue. Certainly the older Extreme (60mb/s) cards I took from my D700's worked OK in the D4.
Does anyone know the respective dates of release of the latest D4 firmware and the Sandisk Extreme Pro udma7 160mb/s?
If I could be confident that a firmware fix was both impending and would actually resolve the problem, I might feel a little more relaxed when the third D4 replacement arrives.
Trouble is that Nikon USA claim not to know of the problem, which is hard to believe. Not only have i returned 2 x D4's with this problem, but also research shows a number of other customers (including here) with the same fault.
 
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