SDHC Class 10 vs. Class 6 at DVinfo.net

Daniel Marr · June 11th, 2010, 09:52 PM

Hi Everyone,

I was wondering what are the real-world advantages to using the Class 10 SDHC Cards over the Class 6 ones? Does the Class 10 22MB/sec really make much of a difference compared to the Class 6 20MB/sec?

Panasonic's Class 10 SDHC cards -- Engadget

Are there any other benefits besides speed?

Bob Richardson · June 12th, 2010, 08:21 AM

There are no benefits during recording in the camera -- the camera is already writing in real-time whether the media is Class-6 or Class-10.

However, there may be an advantage in copying your footage onto a laptop or computer when you're done shooting.

I use Class 6 cards, and with a good reader (reader speed varies widely out there!), a full 16GB card (about 56 minutes of material) copies in less than 15 minutes.

In theory, with a proper reader and proper USB bus speed, a Class-10 card could do this significantly faster, perhaps in 9 or 10 minutes, but I haven't tested it. So if you do long shoots where you wind up with 64GB or 128GB of material at the end of the day, or shoots with tremendous time pressure to edit a final piece on a laptop, it's worth your while to at least compare real-world results... but if you just do an hour here or an hour there, Class-10 cards aren't really needed.

Send me a new Class-10 card and I'll let you know how well it works! :-)

Addendum: The Class ratings refer to -minimum- write speed, not read speed. It is entirely possible that a good card labelled "Class 6" is already performing as well as "Class 10" cards when it comes to read speed, and nearly as well as a "Class 10".

Paul Cascio · June 12th, 2010, 10:57 AM

Bob, great and detailed response. Thanks for the info. BTW, whatever happened to Class 8, did it get skipped?

Daniel Marr · June 13th, 2010, 05:56 AM

Thanks Bob for such a great response! :)

John Stakes · July 2nd, 2010, 02:56 PM

Just what I was looking for. The Class 10 cards have come down a great deal in price, only a few bucks difference in some instances. But for what I will be using them for, it just isn't needed. Picked up 2 'class 6' 16GB today.

JS

John Stakes · July 2nd, 2010, 03:16 PM

Hmmm...on second thought maybe I should've got 10. lol

June 11th, 2010, 09:52 PM	#1
Daniel Marr New Boot Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 11	SDHC Class 10 vs. Class 6 Hi Everyone, I was wondering what are the real-world advantages to using the Class 10 SDHC Cards over the Class 6 ones? Does the Class 10 22MB/sec really make much of a difference compared to the Class 6 20MB/sec? Panasonic's Class 10 SDHC cards -- Engadget Are there any other benefits besides speed?

June 12th, 2010, 10:57 AM	#3
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	Bob, great and detailed response. Thanks for the info. BTW, whatever happened to Class 8, did it get skipped? __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

June 12th, 2010, 08:21 AM	#2
Bob Richardson Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 178	There are no benefits during recording in the camera -- the camera is already writing in real-time whether the media is Class-6 or Class-10. However, there may be an advantage in copying your footage onto a laptop or computer when you're done shooting. I use Class 6 cards, and with a good reader (reader speed varies widely out there!), a full 16GB card (about 56 minutes of material) copies in less than 15 minutes. In theory, with a proper reader and proper USB bus speed, a Class-10 card could do this significantly faster, perhaps in 9 or 10 minutes, but I haven't tested it. So if you do long shoots where you wind up with 64GB or 128GB of material at the end of the day, or shoots with tremendous time pressure to edit a final piece on a laptop, it's worth your while to at least compare real-world results... but if you just do an hour here or an hour there, Class-10 cards aren't really needed. Send me a new Class-10 card and I'll let you know how well it works! :-) Addendum: The Class ratings refer to -minimum- write speed, not read speed. It is entirely possible that a good card labelled "Class 6" is already performing as well as "Class 10" cards when it comes to read speed, and nearly as well as a "Class 10".

June 13th, 2010, 05:56 AM	#4
Daniel Marr New Boot Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 11	Thanks Bob for such a great response! :)

July 2nd, 2010, 02:56 PM	#5
John Stakes Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 558	Just what I was looking for. The Class 10 cards have come down a great deal in price, only a few bucks difference in some instances. But for what I will be using them for, it just isn't needed. Picked up 2 'class 6' 16GB today. JS

July 2nd, 2010, 03:16 PM	#6
John Stakes Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 558	Hmmm...on second thought maybe I should've got 10. lol