5Dlll CF/SD

[5dmk.iii]

CF cause 5D/ii users already have a stash of them...

SD cause it is cheaper and you can get them even at Gas stations if you are out hiking and need memory...

Can't complain too much about it.

[5dmk.iii]

Which CF and SD cards are best? What are best strategies?

1) Is it true that the 5DM3 needs UDMA-7 CF cards to work optimally?
2) Is it best to always have the SD card shadow the CF card as backup?
3) If so, do you record Raw to CF and Jpeg to SD--or Raw to both?
4) Or do you find it's better to reserve the SD card as "extra space"?
5) Is faster better no matter what--or is there a point where I'm wasting money?
6) Any other thoughts on best strategies for operating systems with dual CF and SD cards?

I'll use it for photo and video in a studio.

UDMA 6 is enough for Video.

If you are a hobbyist, does not matter, however if you are shooting once ain a lifetime event, I'd be mirroring the cards ...

[DJL329]

1) Is it true that the 5DM3 needs UDMA-7 CF cards to work optimally?

Canon's "Feature" list simply states that a "UDMA CF card" is required (fifth bullet-point down):

Outstanding shooting performance: up to 6.0 fps continuous shooting using a UDMA CF card.

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/slr_cameras/eos_5d_mark_iii#Features

This only means that you need an UDMA card IF you need 6 fps.   You can use other CF cards and if speed is not needed - like when shooting landscapes.  So UDMA isn't "required"

Yes, however the OP didn't ask for the minimum requirement for a CF card, he asked what would work optimally, which for the 5D Mark III is 6 FPS. 

[CanineCandidsByL]

No way to know whats optimal until people can test throughput with a few cards of different types.

My base plans are...
1.  to get the SDXC cards. San disk has 64GB 90Mb/sec cards which match my existing San disk CF cards. If there is a speed advantage I'll team the cards with data being written alternately (every other picture). Thus, no backup, but higher throughput and I can shoot twice as long.  Since I shoot in bursts, if a card dies I loose every other picture, but still retain some of every group.
2. If there is no speed advantage of option #1, I'll still get the same SDXC card and shoot with the data being mirrored to both at the same time...when I get enough cards
3. If there is no speed advantage of option #1, I'll use existing cards (smaller slower) and save JPG to SD and RAW to CF. I might do this at other times, such as when I need quick access to the files during or immeadently following the event and I don't have time to convert from RAW to JPG.

That's just my plan based on untested theories, but they will get refined as things become more certain.

[jcr918]

I currently have two 32Gig class 10 SD 20mbs memory cards that work great for my canon t3i.


My question is am I going to need a different type of memory card for the 5D mark III , If so any recommendations on something that's not crazy in price that's 32Gigs or higher,   

Also how will this dual card slot work ? will I be able to control where I want my raw images to go to and jpg files ?

[briansquibb]

The 5DIII takes 1 CF card and 1 SD card, therefore you can use your existing SD cards in single card mode or get a CF card for dual card mode.

If you want more info go to the Canon site and download the manual for the 1D4 which has the same arrangement

[jcr918]

What about the speeds ? will the SD cards I have be good enough ?

[briansquibb]

What about the speeds ? will the SD cards I have be good enough ?

If you are going to  do a lot of continuous shooting then perhaps not, if you are going to do 3 or 4 continuous and the stop then yes

I am not able to help with video use

[Old Shooter]

What about the speeds ? will the SD cards I have be good enough ?

From poking around on the Canon USA site, and pouring over the specs, it appears to me that the CF card is sort of the primary.  All of the burst data references a CF UDMA card...

The best performance is obtained from a UDMA 7 card; but that is going to cost you some money...

The only SanDisk UDMA 7 is their 128GB priced at $800... Lexar makes smaller UDMA 7 cards, here is a 32GB for $274...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/841566-REG/Lexar_LCF32GCTBNA1000_32GB_CompactFlash_Memory_Card.html

You didn't mention whether you were strictly a stills shooter or a video person...

Hope this helps!

[wickidwombat]

I have about a dozen of these
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/330394641784?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
they are reasonable price and have never had a problem with any

usually write raw to the CF and jpg to the SD

[jcr918]

I am mainly a shooter very rare will I do video

[CanineCandidsByL]

In responsing to a different memory card issue, I responded thinking that you could use a mode similar to the 1 series, where picture writes are alternated (pic 1 to card 1, pic 2 to card 2, pic 3 to card 1, etc). On cameras that support it, you can empty the camera cache faster.

Does anyone actualy know if this is possible on the 5dm3?

It will certainly help when Canon publishes the user manual.

[kennykodak]

I have about a dozen of these
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/330394641784?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
they are reasonable price and have never had a problem with any

usually write raw to the CF and jpg to the SD

+1

[scottb]

So for someone who is not invested in any CF or SD cards, which route would it be better to go if I'm not concerned about doing too many burst shots but will be doing video?

It seems like the SDXC cards are as fast as CF cards and the SD cards are a newer technology.

[Warninglabel]

I'm going to try the eye-fi card with the I pad and see how well it works together. I read some where you can do raw on the CP and jpeg on the SD card at the same time, which would be cool