(CF) Size matters, but how much?

[jmoore01]

I've seen posts of ~$50 2GB CF's for sale, but rarely 4GB or 1GB. I'm sure it's not because they don't go on sale. My uneducated guess is that the consensus is that 2GB is the best balance between capacity and data loss paranoia.

Is this accurate?

What size CF do y'all (I'm not from Texas, but I can type like I am) use and why?

//signed//

Curious Jeff

[ndsimm]

that was my reason for going that route. I have plenty of 1 GB cards but for the cost, 2GB cards give me a good balance. I think even if I ad a 4GB card, I'd only fill it half way...something about not having all my eggs in one basket

[jmoore01]

Thanks for the prompt response.

I LOVE this forum. Very active with plenty of talented and knowledgeable professionals and advanced enthusiasts, all of whom are seemingly willing to assist those looking to improve their craft. Thank you to all. I love you guys and gals.

Group hug!

[babybluetx23]

I had a 4 gig card at one point but my Camera (Canon Digital Rebel 300D) Would not read it. Apparently according to Canon they can not read anything over 2 or 3 gigs. 4 Gig is just too large.
I have 2 - 2 gig cards, and three 1 gig cards. I rarely ever take over 2 gigs worth of photos, but I havent done a wedding yet and from everything I have read, dont walk into a wedding with less then 5 or 6 gigs.

[Jake]

You have to keep in mind that a 2gb card in a camera like a 300d will hold a lot more then say the D2x.
But that being said I like the 2gb best for my 20d, it hold a good amount of raw files without making me nervous about to many shots on 1 card.

[Joe_Lorenzini]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

You have to keep in mind that a 2gb card in a camera like a 300d will hold a lot more then say the D2x.
But that being said I like the 2gb best for my 20d, it hold a good amount of raw files without making me nervous about to many shots on 1 card.

Jake's right on.

For my D2X I won't use anything less than a 4GB card (I shoot RAW+JPG which = 22MB per shot). I get 179 images per 4GB card which TO ME is perfect. If I shot just JPG, I could get 1,400 images on a 4GB card.

It all depends but my general rule is 200 shots or less per CF card.

_/oe

[jazzdiver]

I think I'd like to have a 4GB CF card, yet I doubt there's any time soon that I'd truly need one. Shooting my Nikon D200 in RAW (Uncompressed NEF)+Basic mode, I get 105 images on average per 2GB CF card, which is about the same as 3 rolls of 36 exp. film (film, what's that???). That seems a nice, manageable size to me. I carry a pair of 2GB and a pair of 1GB cards with me at present; if I ever get a u/w housing for my D200, I think I'd like a 4GB card at that point so that I could do a day's worth of diving (3-4 dives) without opening the housing to change cards.

Daryl

[billbunton]

I've still got a couple 2GB cards left over from the Canon days, but on the D2x shooting raw (uncompressed only) a 4GB card ends up holding 202 images. That's about perfect for me (and what I got with 2GB cards on the 1Ds).

[johnastovall]

I found 2gig cards fine for the 20D but with the 5D it's about like a 1gig was in the 20D. I'm going to 4gig cards for the 5D. I don't see much use for 1gig any more.

[Holly]

The one time I shot with a 4 gig card was when they first came out and apparently there were still issues. The card was corrupted and everything on it lost. (assistant at a wedding, not the main shooter so no big deal there). I carry 13 gig with me to every wedding (2 each of the 2 gig cards and the rest 1 gig). I don't mind switching cards out , I was used to switching film every 36 exposures and with my experience, I'll never use a 4gig again. All of the cards stay on my belt from the point I get up that morning until I'm back home, so multiple 1 gig cards aren't a hassle to keep up with if you have a large enough card wallet.

[dreemes]

I have a couple 2g and a couple 1g. I've never not been able to dump a card to my Epson P2000 before filling up the rest. So I'd prefer not having too many photos to lose on one card. Also the cards are so small and could be easily lost. And the more memory the higher the price. If I lost a Lexar 80x 2g that would be a major ouch as it is. But if I had a 4g and lost it I'd prob be ready to take diving lessons off a tall building without a parachute or bungee cord.

[JohnRushing]

The only 4gig I have ever tried was a microdrive. Worked great. That is until I got home and started to transfer my photos to the computor and the drive died! Lost every photo except one from our caribean cruise. I have this special talent of being able to get the one lemon out of a whole group of what ever I'm buying and I'm sure thats what happened that time. Still I'm goon stick with CF cards from now on and nothing larger than a two gig. I've only filled a 1gig up once so a a couple of 2gigs is plenty for me. Guess it's true what they say, it's not the size of the boat but the motion of the ocean

[jeffkohn]

I prefer 4GB cards with the D2x. I have two of them, along with two 2GB cards that only get used on a long day of shooting. Back when shooting on the D70 with compressed NEF, I could get a good 300 shots on a 2GB card so I really don't feel like I"m putting all my eggs in one basket when fitting 200 uncompressed NEF's on a 4GB card.

[jmoore01]

So it seems most feel that CF size matters, but only as a function of image size and quantity, and somewhere between 200 and 300 images per card is the "happy zone." Yes?

[AjP]

for some reason I like 2Gb cards, not too small not too big.. if I will even have an issue with the card, not too many pics could be lost... I have 2x2gb and 2x1Gb and its prety much enough for anything