Dear Red chaps...please test these new CF cards!!!

[Anthony Gratl]

I buy Apple because the system is a complete solution - all the hardware is known to play nice together. That's only a $4000 computer.

For a $17000 camera, I would think you'd want to use the hardware blessed by the manufacturer. Just common sense.

Not saying you shouldn't be allowed to use any CF, just maybe you wouldn't want to.

not to be the fly in your statement, but do you buy apple ram or third party?

 

[M_Sanderson]

We tested the 24GB and 32GB Pretecs a while back and they were very slow on writes.

We're waiting to get the larger cards in. It can take many weeks to fully test the cards and even longer to get full compatibility and firmware changes rolled in.

How fast were these 24GB and 32GB cards? 300x plus? or does it need to be more once the capacity gets larger?

 

[PatrickW]

not to be the fly in your statement, but do you buy apple ram or third party?

Blessed by the manufacture, and blessed by the manufacturer, with a substantial price increase (that does not reflect the amount of work to test, certify, rebrand, or dip into the heavenly polls of God Water [aka Steve Job's sweat]).

 

[Stuart English]

Lexar CF 8GB recording and other CF cards

Lexar CF 8GB recording and other CF cards

I have been using 8gig Lexar-branded (non-RED-branded) cards on my RED all summer and they worked without a hitch.
I'll be mighty unhappy if those cards I bought won't work on Build 17

Those cards will continue to work just fine on Build 17.



With regard to other CF cards - the "speed" issue proves to be NOT as simple as just looking at the "X" value on the CF card sleeve.

CF manufacturer's are using a speed test that in practical application with the RED-ONE camera does not translate to reliable operation.

Some of you might feel that this is RED trying to protect our own branded CF media, but I'm just telling you the way it is.


So in Build 17, we categorize CF cards into three groups.

a) Cards that we know do not drop frames up to these maximums : 30 fps x RC 36 x 4K x 16:9

b) Cards that we know do not drop frames up to these maximums : 25 fps x RC 28 x 4K x 16:9

If a card fails to meet either criteria, the camera will report "media is not Speed Verified" and will restrict operation to these maximums : 60 fps x RC 28 x 2K x 16:9


Note: pre-Build 17 there was no 2K record to "slow" media option. Period.

 

[number6]

So Stuart, to take advantages of the above mentioned functions in Build 17, and assuming the individual did not plan to use the RED branded 16 GB card for full out performance, will the original CF module handle the 2K allowed recording media?

 

[Stuart English]

CF card recording

CF card recording

will the original CF module handle the 2K allowed recording media?

Yes, thats not a problem.

The reason for the upgraded CF module is to operate with the highest speed CF cards (i.e. RED 16GB CF)

 

[sander kamp]

Some of you might feel that this is RED trying to protect our own branded CF media, but I'm just telling you the way it is.

So Stuart, do you mean RED will not block other cards, even if they would work and would be cheaper than the RED ones?

 

[Jay A. Kelley]

That's what I am getting from Stuart's note.. Looks like I am COMPLETELY wrong....

COOL!

Jay

 

[M_Sanderson]

So the camera will tell you what limits you have and block you to use it above the limits, thus avoiding loss of precious frames.
If so, Nice!

 

[Stuart English]

CF cards

CF cards

So the camera will tell you what limits you have and block you to use it above the limits, thus avoiding loss of precious frames.

That is the purpose yes. We need everyone on set to have 100% confidence that the camera will record without dropped frames.

 

[Christopher Grant Harvey]

That is the purpose yes. We need everyone on set to have 100% confidence that the camera will record without dropped frames.

Fair enough.

If new cards come out that pass the speed/performance test then will those new cards be alllowed to record at higher quality frame rates?

 

[Deanan]

Fair enough.

If new cards come out that pass the speed/performance test then will those new cards be alllowed to record at higher quality frame rates?

Raw speed is only the first we do out of alot of other tests. No two CFs are built the same and while they may function fine in a still camera or a computer, realtime performance is a whole different ballgame.

The extents to which we have to test and qualify media takes a very long time. The speed part is only half the picture.

The Pretec was 46MB/s reads and about 18MB/s writes on the camera.
If a card doesn't pass the most basic tests, we don't pursue it any further.

 

[Peter Savage]

I remember reading a question about using slower CF cards for timelapse where the speed is much less critical. Does anyone know if it's possible to use slow cards if you are shooting say 1 fr every 5 sec? Or are fast cards a requirement?
Thanks

peter

 

[SandeepDey]

I need to go out and get a few of those Lexar 8GBs. Can someone please confirm I am getting the right thing, here.

Lexar 8 GB Professional 300x UDMA Compact Flash Memory Card
Mfr. Part: CF8GB300381

Thanks in advance.
-Sandeep