D810 and CF cards

CharlesUK

New member
I am finding the D810 is exceptionally picky on the CF cards it will use. I've had a number of 32GB ones rejected with the error “This memory car can not be used. Card may be damaged. Insert another.” . This has included cards on Nikon's recommended list.


What experience are other having with the D810 and CF cards? The D800's, D700's, D300's etc don't have this problem.


All of those cards work fine in other cameras or on various computers. Doing memory card tests on the computer they are indicated as OK. I think this is a Nikon problem, not a card problem. Older smaller CF cards work fine, one 32GB Lexar works fine another didn't, so its not just that Nikon is supporting newer standards. Basically the camera software isn't up to scratch.


Out in the field when using a camera not being able to buy, borrow just about any CF card is going to be a real problem. Compatibility with a wide range is incredibly important.
 

CharlesUK

New member
The cards not working have been Lexar Professional (x2) but 3rd one is fine, MyMemory ((x2) and I think one Transend (?sp). A whole mix of older cards from 250mb to 16GB have worked.

But the point is really that the camera should accept at least most CF cards, not being so picky. Think of being out on an expensive shoot and needing an extra card - might well not find one which works. Think of compatibility with cards that work fine in other cameras (I have 3 other Nikon cameras taking CF cards and partner another 2 cameras), what if I go off and grab a wrong card.

CF cards are all made to standards and till this camera they have all worked as they should. OK, once I had 4 corrupted NEF files in a shoot of a few hundred.

Oh, forgot - yes have formatted card in computer (3x and did a scan of it) all came out fine, just not in the camera. Same problem.
 

jay_dean

Senior Member
Bit weird that. I use Sandisk Extreme Pro with the old D800 and now the D810, 100% of the time with no problems at all. The other day i had to do some eBay photographs and picked up the crappy no name SD card. It worked absolutely fine
 

J-see

Senior Member
I use Sandisk now and it works fine. Well, it plugs the hole without an error. It took me some to find one that worked.
 

CharlesUK

New member
Bit weird that. I use Sandisk Extreme Pro with the old D800 and now the D810, 100% of the time with no problems at all. The other day i had to do some eBay photographs and picked up the crappy no name SD card. It worked absolutely fine

What size were they? I wonder if it is particularly the 32GB cards. Like you all my smaller older ones work just fine.
 

J-see

Senior Member
What size were they? I wonder if it is particularly the 32GB cards. Like you all my smaller older ones work just fine.

I'm personally more annoyed they wasted one slot at a dead format but even so, I agree that it should not matter what card you insert. That some will perform slower than others would be acceptable but that the one works while the other doesn't is a no-no.
 

CharlesUK

New member
I'm personally more annoyed they wasted one slot at a dead format but even so, I agree that it should not matter what card you insert. That some will perform slower than others would be acceptable but that the one works while the other doesn't is a no-no.

As I travel / use other cameras that all take CF cards and some only CF it is sort of nice to have it. I am wondering and just ordered a SDHC to CF card adapter just to see what and where that might work.
 

J-see

Senior Member
As I travel / use other cameras that all take CF cards and some only CF it is sort of nice to have it. I am wondering and just ordered a SDHC to CF card adapter just to see what and where that might work.

In your case it is an advantage but I also use the D750 which has two SD cards and I'd have to buy a reader for the CF on my Mac which makes it a useless addition for me.
 

CharlesUK

New member
I am wondering if you bought cheap possibly fake Lexar CF cards, I know there have been some going around.

Always possible, whatever price is paid. But, they still worked in everything else, tested out fine on the computer. The issue should really be that the D810 is overly picky about cards.

If one needs cards when out on a shoot the choice can be limited, the camera needs to work with any card that check out and works on other equipment ideally.
 

CharlesUK

New member
Just thinking of a possible comparison. The limited number of CF cards accepted might be compared to a film camera which only worked with Tri-X, Kodachrome and FP4 films and non of the others.
 

CharlesUK

New member
I mentioned earlier that I was going to try an SD to CF adapter, this just arrived from China. Works fine in the CF slot with an 64GB SDXC card and even works with a micro SDHC in an adapter inserted into the CF adapter.

Maybe not the ideal way to go, but why my concern about this I just tried to buy a CF card locally (reasonable size city) and only found 1 CF card available, expensive no name 8GB.

In the past when travelling had kit stolen, realize that this could happen and simply not be able to get a working CF card for the D810.
 

wornish

Senior Member
Many card manufacturers make cards that don't meet the interface spec 100%. Its not only Nikon cameras that have issues with some cards whatever the type.
When you consider the sheer speed and large amount of data that is been transferred in the newer cameras I am not surprised that there are occasional problems.


You used to get the same thing when buying add on memory for your PC.
 

j-aman

New member
I too have a Nikon D810 with CF issues. I bought 4 Sandisk 32GB CF cards, put one in my camera at home and took a few test shots. We just returned from Kenya where my goal was some serious wildlife photography. Alas, as soon as I turned my camera on I had a card error. I couldn't figure it out since everything had worked fine at home, but once I removed the CF card, the camera thankfully worked fine. I had to rely solely on my SD. Fortunately, my safari guide was able to have his wife purchase some extra SD cards for me and had a runner meet us with them. Needless to say, this was a nuisance for all and an expense that shouldn't have been necessary. I will try the 64GB (as noted in another response) and try that.
 
Top