CF card matrix

Dan Keaton · December 31st, 2009, 06:42 AM

Dear Lance,

The Maximum Bit-Rate that we list for the CompactFlash cards, is the highest bit-rate that we recommend, based on our testing, that can be used with the specific cards.

But, as you have noted, we limit our Long-GOP modes to a maximum of 180 Mbps, and our I-Frame Only modes to 280 Mpbs.

But, of course, to use these maximum bit-rates, one has to use a CompactFlash card that has the write performance to match.

Long-GOP is generally considered to be about 2 to 2.5 times as efficcient as I-Frame Only, so both 180 Mbps Long GOP and 280 Mbps I-Frame Only provide very high quality images.

In fact, our 100 Mbps Long-GOP is what we typically recommend for almost everyone.

Exceptions: For big-budget films, 140/180 Long-GOP and 280 Mbps I-Frame Only can offer slight quality advantages in certain rare situations. Think of it as insurance for the scene that has an excessive amount of detail, or an extreme amount of movement.

For almost all productions, 100 Mbps Long-GOP provides a level of quality that meets their needs.

Dan Keaton · December 31st, 2009, 06:45 AM

Dear Friends,

Please note that we have fully qualified the Delkin 64 GB CompactFlash card.

Paul Inglis · December 31st, 2009, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

Dear Friends,

Please note that we have fully qualified the Delkin 64 GB CompactFlash card.

That's great news! Same bitrates as the Extreme Pro?

Paul Inglis · December 31st, 2009, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

Long-GOP is generally considered to be about 2 to 2.5 times as efficcient as I-Frame Only, so both 180 Mbps Long GOP and 280 Mbps I-Frame Only provide very high quality images.

In fact, our 100 Mbps Long-GOP is what we typically recommend for almost everyone.

I agree! 100Mbps is the sweet spot!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Keaton

Exceptions: For big-budget films, 140/180 Long-GOP and 280 Mbps I-Frame Only can offer slight quality advantages in certain rare situations. Think of it as insurance for the scene that has an excessive amount of detail, or an extreme amount of movement.

Birds (the feathered variety) is where I'm using high bitrates at the moment to try and get the best detail possible, much like I can with my stills. The results are awesome! Superb feather detail including seeing the immense detail in the eyes too!

Dan Keaton · December 31st, 2009, 08:03 AM

Dear Paul,

The SanDisk Extreme Pro is a much faster card, and it can be used up to 280 Mbps with the nanoFlash.

The PhotoFast 533x 64 GB card, and the Delkin 64 GB card are currently limited to 220 Mbps. We may be able to obtain 280 Mbps out of these cards in the future, but we are not promising this at this time.

It is certainly nice to be able to record, at 50 Mbps, for 5.3 hours continuously with two 64 GB cards. Or 2.6 hours at 100 Mbps.

Lance Librandi · December 31st, 2009, 09:11 AM

Happy New Year to you and all the NanoFlash contributors. Thanks for that information Dan I have found that 50 Mbps recording on NanoFlash for long duration work looks far better than DVcam tape. I now make a quick copy of the CF cards and then edit directly from the CF cards which saves a lot of time. I am now using one 64GB card and one 16GB card gives me 196 min eliminating the need for card swapping.

Micheal McAlexander · January 20th, 2010, 07:31 PM

Hey Dan,

Any news on options for 64GB/280Mbps cards other than the pricey SanDisks?

Cheers,

Micheal

Dan Keaton · January 20th, 2010, 09:01 PM

Dear Michael,

We will be attempting to get more speed out of the PhotoFast and Delkin 64 GB cards. Thus, those with those cards, if we are successful, will get to use 280 Mbps.

Also, we are currently investigating another 64 GB card that, according to the spec's, will provide 280 Mbps performance.

Micheal McAlexander · January 20th, 2010, 10:26 PM

awesome... I'm planning a feature this summer using the Nano and I really want to shoot at 280 to have the highest quality in case I want to do a film-out for distro... it would make the production workflow better if I could have two sets of cards (one set in the Nano while shooting and one set being offloaded by a DIT)

Micheal

December 31st, 2009, 06:42 AM	#16
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Lance, The Maximum Bit-Rate that we list for the CompactFlash cards, is the highest bit-rate that we recommend, based on our testing, that can be used with the specific cards. But, as you have noted, we limit our Long-GOP modes to a maximum of 180 Mbps, and our I-Frame Only modes to 280 Mpbs. But, of course, to use these maximum bit-rates, one has to use a CompactFlash card that has the write performance to match. Long-GOP is generally considered to be about 2 to 2.5 times as efficcient as I-Frame Only, so both 180 Mbps Long GOP and 280 Mbps I-Frame Only provide very high quality images. In fact, our 100 Mbps Long-GOP is what we typically recommend for almost everyone. Exceptions: For big-budget films, 140/180 Long-GOP and 280 Mbps I-Frame Only can offer slight quality advantages in certain rare situations. Think of it as insurance for the scene that has an excessive amount of detail, or an extreme amount of movement. For almost all productions, 100 Mbps Long-GOP provides a level of quality that meets their needs. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

December 31st, 2009, 06:45 AM	#17
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Friends, Please note that we have fully qualified the Delkin 64 GB CompactFlash card. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

December 31st, 2009, 08:03 AM	#20
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Paul, The SanDisk Extreme Pro is a much faster card, and it can be used up to 280 Mbps with the nanoFlash. The PhotoFast 533x 64 GB card, and the Delkin 64 GB card are currently limited to 220 Mbps. We may be able to obtain 280 Mbps out of these cards in the future, but we are not promising this at this time. It is certainly nice to be able to record, at 50 Mbps, for 5.3 hours continuously with two 64 GB cards. Or 2.6 hours at 100 Mbps. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

January 20th, 2010, 09:01 PM	#23
Dan Keaton Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Augusta Georgia Posts: 5,421	Dear Michael, We will be attempting to get more speed out of the PhotoFast and Delkin 64 GB cards. Thus, those with those cards, if we are successful, will get to use 280 Mbps. Also, we are currently investigating another 64 GB card that, according to the spec's, will provide 280 Mbps performance. __________________ Dan Keaton Augusta Georgia

December 31st, 2009, 09:11 AM	#21
Lance Librandi Major Player Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: South Australia Posts: 374	Happy New Year to you and all the NanoFlash contributors. Thanks for that information Dan I have found that 50 Mbps recording on NanoFlash for long duration work looks far better than DVcam tape. I now make a quick copy of the CF cards and then edit directly from the CF cards which saves a lot of time. I am now using one 64GB card and one 16GB card gives me 196 min eliminating the need for card swapping.

January 20th, 2010, 07:31 PM	#22
Micheal McAlexander Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Frostburg, MD Posts: 47	Hey Dan, Any news on options for 64GB/280Mbps cards other than the pricey SanDisks? Cheers, Micheal

January 20th, 2010, 10:26 PM	#24
Micheal McAlexander Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Frostburg, MD Posts: 47	awesome... I'm planning a feature this summer using the Nano and I really want to shoot at 280 to have the highest quality in case I want to do a film-out for distro... it would make the production workflow better if I could have two sets of cards (one set in the Nano while shooting and one set being offloaded by a DIT) Micheal