Alternative 16GB CF Cards?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

The 16GB Lexar cards are not fast enough. They're using the same controller and number of channels as their 8GB cards to bond twice as much memory. Too bad too, because when they were first announced I think many of us thought our 16GB solution was right around the corner.

 

[Kyle Mallory]

For what it's worth, I have been in early talks with the US distributor of the Pretec cards, and they keenly aware of the RED ONE and its potential market, particularly for their high-speed, high capacity cards. I hope to have some performance tests in the near future.

 

[Andrew Young]

So what about the 16GB Lexars? Do those allow for RC36 4k 16:9? Even that would be great, as I can find those cards for $189 - $200 online. (Although the 64GB option would be nice...)

I have a 16 GB Lexar UDMA 300x and it works up to 4K 16x9 RC 28 or 4K 2:1 RC36 - basically the same functionality of the Red 8GB but twice the capacity, and for $200. Mind you, I have not tested it extensively as I'm mostly using it in my still camera, but it does work with the above limitations.

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

Thanks for the info. Good to know that they will at least work with the same limitations as the 8GB cards.

 

[Elliot Leboe]

Concerning the Lexar 16gb UDMA, does this allow 2K overcrank in RC 28 or 36?

 

[Matt Uhry]

Except it was this very reason why they said they went CF and didnt do a Panasonic on us. Rejecting CF cards that arent stamped effectively makes them a proprietary media, in contrast to the original idea.

If we're now in a proprietary media situation I wish that Red would state it clearly.

When I reserved / purchased the camera it was promised that they would try to have the media be cheap commodity off the shelf.

I'm not tempted to buy a bunch of Lexar 16gb or Pretec 32gb and risk being locked out on a future build.

Would someone at Red please clarify ?

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com

 

[Finner]

If we're now in a proprietary media situation I wish that Red would state it clearly.

When I reserved / purchased the camera it was promised that they would try to have the media be cheap commodity off the shelf.

I'm not tempted to buy a bunch of Lexar 16gb or Pretec 32gb and risk being locked out on a future build.

Would someone at Red please clarify ?

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com

Great point Matt

Many of us expressed very loudly that we wanted non proprietary CF media and the camera was marketed that way when we all reserved and purchased. The overpriced CF game is a tough pill to swallow.

 

[Stefan Scherperel]

If we're now in a proprietary media situation I wish that Red would state it clearly.

When I reserved / purchased the camera it was promised that they would try to have the media be cheap commodity off the shelf.

I'm not tempted to buy a bunch of Lexar 16gb or Pretec 32gb and risk being locked out on a future build.

Would someone at Red please clarify ?

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com

I really don't see this happening in the future with Red, unless there are a bunch of users that start complaining that their 3rd party cards have been dropping frames or loosing footage. If this starts happening then Red would have every right to lock down the firmware to not allow outside cards. But as many from red have stated from the beginning, you can use the 3rd party cards at your own risk.
I'm interested in 3rd party 16GB cards because I've been on perpetual backorder with my 16 GB cards from red. This is driving me crazy becasue there litterally is no other solution at this time. I'm really hoping these blazingly fast 64GB cards work out, if nothig more than to give us another option for when Red is on back order.

 

[DAVID McNAMARA]

I have had to cancel my 16gig card order because of time constraints and order a REDRAM. It is listed on the schedule as shipping. Just curious if anyone knows why the RED RAM I just purchased is also know listed as backordered on my invoice.

 

[Ryan E. Walters]

For what it's worth, I have been in early talks with the US distributor of the Pretec cards, and they keenly aware of the RED ONE and its potential market, particularly for their high-speed, high capacity cards. I hope to have some performance tests in the near future.

Definitely keep us posted if it works with 4k 16:9 and RC36- that would be HUGE if it did...

 

[Carlo Pisani]

Any news on the Pretec cards? I've tested the 16Gb Lexar UMDA 300x cards, and in 4KHD RC28 they DON'T work as after twenty seconds or so into recording they start dropping frames. Is there anyone out there that is actually using the 16Gb Lexars?

 

[Andrew Young]

Any news on the Pretec cards? I've tested the 16Gb Lexar UMDA 300x cards, and in 4KHD RC28 they DON'T work as after twenty seconds or so into recording they start dropping frames. Is there anyone out there that is actually using the 16Gb Lexars?

Hi Carlo,

As I mentioned in my PM, I used my Lexar on a shoot a few weeks ago (4KHD RC28) with no issues, though most of the recording was done to my Red Drive. After reading your post I decided to test it with a longer take time. So I filled the entire card with 1 take @ 4K 16x9 RC28 and again @ 4K 2:1 RC36 and neither take had any dropped frames. I'm on the release build of 17. I dunno, maybe I'm just lucky. If so, it's a rare thing.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

This gets discussed like every day.... :beatdeadhorse:

It seems that not everyone is able to even use the Lexar 16GB cards for modes above 2K. And those who can are experiencing mixed results. IMO, I think it has to do with inconsistencies in the cards themselves. I have yet to find a non-RED 16GB card that doesn't restrict itself to 2K in my camera.

 

[Jarred Land]

I think this is Jeff's biggest pet peeve

Believe it or not, our cards are actually kinda special.. you can confirm this yourself by putting the RED 16gb cards into a UDMA DSLR ( Nikon D3, Canon 1DS M3, etc ) .. they dont work. That's what pisses me off, cause i gotta use the old RED/Lexar 8GB cards in my still cameras...

 

[Tom Lowe]

I don't think Pretec's claims of speed on x333 are legit. I have done some tests that show Extreme IV UDMA beating them on the 5D2.

When are the claimed x666 Pretec cards coming out?

 

[Jarred Land]

Pretec ones due in June last I heard..... I can't wait to get those in as they could just change the entire game

 

[Deanan]

I don't think Pretec's claims of speed on x333 are legit. I have done some tests that show Extreme IV UDMA beating them on the 5D2.

When are the claimed x666 Pretec cards coming out?

There's not a standard for the xXXX claims but most guys tend to use ide bus analyzers to test speeds. Unfortunately, they don't really test for real world use conditions through a filesystem, etc. so they can be way off. Some manufacturers only report read speeds too which don't mean anything for recording.

 

[Tom Lowe]

There's not a standard for the xXXX claims but most guys tend to use ide bus analyzers to test speeds. Unfortunately, they don't really test for real world use conditions through a filesystem, etc. so they can be way off. Some manufacturers only report read speeds too which don't mean anything for recording.

Yeah. I just set the 5D2 to RAW 21MP and hit continuous exposure at like 1/3s exposure, and the Pretec crapped out long before the Extreme IV UDMA. Guess it depends on the camera, I'm sure.

June, huh, Jarred? That should be nice! Hope they work out. Even if they are x500, that's huge.

 

[Shawn Nelson]

Pretec ones due in June last I heard..... I can't wait to get those in as they could just change the entire game

Come'on! I want all the formats Red One can handle in a 16gb CF for $199

 

[Dale Launer]

Would the AJA or Blackmagic RAID speed test software provide insightful results?

I've used Blackmagic's - and sure enough the RED CF is the fastest I've played with.