That's a good idea, actually. Thanks for the thought, John.

That's because I'm an idiot, Ronn. It's along story, but it's totally my fault. I've never been accused of being the sharpest knife in the drawer.

Bummer Jay. I was gonna buy 'em but after your note I ordered 2 from Micro Center. Oh well.

In addition to MicroCenter, I found another vendor that shows the Kensington Card Readers in stock.

Garrett's Smart Electronics Store in Seattle, Washington


Smart Electronics Product

I would call them first though.

John

Were you shooting in SP or HQ mode?

Both. Tried the same cards today and 2 of them did fine but 2 did not. They seemed to have more trouble with 720p than 1080i. I could record continuously for 28 minutes (full card) with no problem. Just the start stop thing. Bottom line: Not reliable.

SanDisk Video HD tested at 48 fps filled card twice no errors. I ordered two of these cards one card was bad sending it back had a formatting issue after two attempts the card finally formatted. Errors when cam is powered on and off.

The Lexar SSD cards are only good for SP mode.

OK, received my Kensington today from Amazon, apparently they are still available.

And, I still have my IOC adapters - which also work, but... IOCs are tricky - you need to fiddle with them until the cam recognizes the adapter.

So... I'm just using Kensington on-camera; and IOC to offload to the laptop.

In other words... I take the SDHC adapter with card out of camera; remove the card; insert the card into IOC; put IOCxS combo into laptop. Then, I put a blank card into Kensington and insert it back into camera. Now cam is ready to shoot again, while IOCxS is offloading!

Since I got my IOC for about $10, I think this is a good workflow.

B&H says it is accepting orders for Kensington now.

Anyone try this one yet?
Newegg.com - Koutech IO-RC1800 18-in-1 Fit ExpressCard 34 slot Multi-Format ExpressCard Reader - Card Readers

It looks like the Cable Express Adapter.

The IOC works with the Sony PRO Duo the Cam sees the card right away. You also have to use the SD to Duo adapter

The Lexars failed in SP mode as well.

My Lexars also failed so I trashed them.

According to the reviews this card has some issues. One reviewer even used the highly technical term "wonky" to describe the card's interfacing problems.

I would hate to insert an $18 "wonky" card into my $8,300 camera and have it damaged.

I'm thoroughly satisfied with the Kensington/Transcend combination.

Hi

Just about to buy an EX3, a bit nervous, but I'm going to order one tomorrow. I've speed read the whole 52 pages of this post in relation to Sony S&S card alternatives and it appears the Kensington 7 in 1 card reader is the go, together with the Sandisk 16Gb extreme iii cards to achieve HQ - 35 mb/sec result, +/- under - over cranking ability.

I can't help but notice that there is an absence of reviews / tests on the Sandisk 8gb exetreme iv cards.

Has anyone had any experience with this Extreme iv card?

Any insights / results would be welcome.

Cheers

Michael

I have the 8gb and 16gb Sandisk cards + Transcend 8gb and 16gb all work fine - have not contemplated slo mo shots.

Probably because there "currently" is NO Sandisk Extreme IV SDHC card available. Sandisk currently only offers this in Compact Flash, not SDHC.


BTW,
If you're looking for the currently best price working combo, buy the:

Kensington 7-in-1 Expresscard reader
SanDisk 16GB Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC cards

Received my Kensington readers via Amazon today. Now I'm just awaiting my SanDisk 16GB Video HD Cards!

Spoke to Jeff at Garrett's Smart Electronics. They are Out of Stock and don't know if any more will be coming in.

Buy.com got them in for less than one day and they sold out. Amazon is still delivering them to customers in dribs and drabs. Not sure when and where they are getting them from. Some Micro Center stores have them still.

Lowest price for Sandisk Ultra II 16GB cards from a reliable vendor (BuyDig - Beach Camera - Worldwide) $57.99 with free shipping from New Jersey. Received two today.

OOps! - Price just went up to $59.99 shipped.

Sandisk 16 GB Ultra II Secure Digital { SDHC } Memory Card 15MB/S ( SDSDRH-016G-A11 ) | BuyDig.com, The Internet's Digital Superstore

John

This Transcend 16Gb SDHC card is almost two times cheaper than Sandisk, and appears to be working fine.

Class 6.

Wow, I paid almost $80 each for my 16gb Transcend SD cards 3 months ago! Looks like it is now almost as cheap an archival storage medium as XDCAM disks without the need for the Sony disk writer! Unbelievable.

Dan

Just to say I think the SDHC combo is pretty amazing as I was reading my Sony EX1 handbook which states:

"An SxS memory card on which an error occurred may become usable again through repeated formatting"

and...

"In some cases, only parts of clips cannot be restored. Playback of the restored clips becomes possible again"

Not sure what this means exactly, but obviously SxS is fallible too.



Paul

I found what I think is the lowest current price on the Transcend 16 GB cards figuring in tax and shipping combined.

Newegg is selling them right now for $31.99

Newegg.com - Transcend 16GB Secure Digital High-Capacity (SDHC) Flash Card Model TS16GSDHC6 - Flash Memory

Note that it says that the shipping is $6.99 for 3 business day shipping. If you add two to the shopping cart there is an option for "Egg Saver" shipping at $3.99 shipping for both. If you add more than two the price for shipping goes up to $14.99. Tax only in NJ and Calif.
So assuming you order two Transcend TS16GSDHC6 cards the final cost shipped is $67.97 ($33.99 each).

John

John thanks for the lead on the Kensington 7-in-1 their was a Micro Center 5 minutes from were i work and they just happen to have 2 and i bought them.

John,

Thanks, I just picked up a pair also.

Will the Sony Duo cards fit directy into the Kensington adapter, or do you need to use the "memory stick" sleeve for the Duo, and insert the sleeve into the Kensington?

You have to use the sleeve.

They do fit directly into the i-dot-connect reader, with no sleeve.

Hei Sami,

Just ordered two Kensington 7-in-1 Card Reader ExpressCard total of 51.80e from verkkokauppa.com,
They have also both the SanDisk 16GB SDHC VideoHD 240min muistik for 77.90e and Transcend 16GB Class 6 SDHC-muistikortti for 44.90e on shelf in Ruoholahti,
possible in Tampere too. The Transcend bundled with a USB reader

Ole hyvä,

Atti

Amazon.co.uk: Kensington 7-in-1 Media Reader for ExpressCard slot - Card reader - 7 in 1 ( Memory Stick, MS PRO, MMC, SD, xD ) - ExpressCard: Kensington: Electronics & Photo

Amazon.co.uk: Kensington 7-in-1 Media Reader for ExpressCard slot: KENSINGTON: Electronics & Photo

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SANDISK-ULTR...5454133&sr=8-7

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcend-16...5454286&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcend-16...d_i=B0015AOK1O
John

These links will only work for UK purchasers as amazon segments the EU into it's various sites - I believe.

As it happens, earlier today I ordered the Kensington 7-in-1 expresscard reader and the Sandisk 16GB Ultra II SDHC card much discussed on here (from amazon uk as per links above). Total price (including shipping) was about £55.

As has been written before but I'll reiterate it again!!!!!, THANKS to everyone who has investigated and shared their experiences with this low cost option. Once I'd learnt that I will be able to close the door on my EX3 and shoot in all but the most data rate hungry slowmo frame rates with this set-up it became a "must have" supplement for the 3 x 8GB Sony & SanDisk SxS cards that I already have. For sure I'll use this 16GB stick on non-critical stuff to begin with until I trust it but the shared information from so many of you suggests it's a well spent few quid.

I owe you all a beer sometime (well maybe not, nearly 800 posts on this thread!....it would be cheaper for me to buy lots of Sony 32GB SxS!)

Amazon.co.uk: Help*>*Dispatch & Delivery*>*Delivery Rates*>*International Delivery Rates*>*Western Europe Delivery Rates

John

Thanks for the clarification John :-)

Just curious. Why is this thread not a sticky? it has more replies and pages than any of
current threads in the sticky threads. Say that 10 times, but seriously as important as
this is should'nt it of made it by now?

How I learnt not to pay exorbitant prices and love the SDHC
 

Sony EX1/EX3 cams use special SxS cards which are very fast to allow HD video recording at regular and overcranked speeds.

If you don't need full range of overcranking SxS cards provide (and you rarely will), there's a way to pay about 10 times less for the same hour of quality HD video recording, by using an adapter with certain SDHC cards instead of SxS.

Your camera's software, and your hardware have to be compatible however.

How to:

1. Make sure your EX1's firmware is upgraded to v1.11 (You can send it to Sony for the upgrade if you have older version, and pay $100 fee. Some people DIY that at home though using the leaked firmware files and a sledgehammer. OK, not a sledgehammer - a tiny philips screwdriver to uncover the special USB port will do.)

2. Get Kensington adapter.

3. Get Transcend 16Gb Class 6 or Sandisk 16Gb Ultra II card. (Sandisk also makes other cards compatible with the camera/adapter, but they do not improve performance appreciatively and have worse price/performance ratio than above listed cards.)

4. Stick the Transcend or Sandisk card into Kensington adapter. Treat the combo like you would an SxS card (it even looks similar) - insert it into EX1 as one piece, and eject it the same way. Here you have it - a substitute for SxS card at 10x lower price.

Prices: Currently SxS can be had for under $800, while Transcend combo will cost you under $80, and Sandisk combo under $100. Of course you can also use these cards in your compatible DSLR camera, such as Nikon D80/D90, as well.

Again, you cannot do overcranking at full range with Kensington-based combos. 24p usually maxes out at 40fps overcrank for reliable recording; but all other shooting modes will work fine.

And, adapter/card combos do not fit inside the EX1's compartment entirely, so the door won't close. Not too good in dusty environment - but a small piece of lo-tek gaffers tape will help.

It may be a good idea to get as many Kensington adapters as many cards you have, so to keep the cards in the adapters at all times and simply insert a new blank combo in your camera as needed, if you have to record for longer than 56 minutes that 16Gb cards allow, without having to offload/delete the cards on location.

It also may be useful to use Shotput software that allows offloading to multiple locations for instant backup, plus data verification to ensure all your precious video was copied intact.

Here, now make it a sticky :)

Alex, that's very well done, but you have ignored the minor differences between the EX1 and EX3. A newcomer with an EX3 will probably have a couple of questions. I would suggest the following minor additions:

How to:

1. Make sure your EX1's firmware is upgraded to v1.11 (You can send it to Sony for the upgrade if you have older version, and pay $100 fee. Some people DIY that at home though using the leaked firmware files and a sledgehammer. OK, not a sledgehammer - a tiny philips screwdriver to uncover the special USB port will do.)

The EX 3 does not require a firmware upgrade.

2. Get Kensington adapter.

3. Get Transcend 16Gb Class 6 or Sandisk 16Gb Ultra II card. (Sandisk also makes other cards compatible with the camera/adapter, but they do not improve performance appreciatively and have worse price/performance ratio than above listed cards.)

4. Stick the Transcend or Sandisk card into Kensington adapter. Treat the combo like you would an SxS card (it even looks similar) - insert it into EX1 or EX3 as one piece, and eject it the same way. Here you have it - a substitute for SxS card at 10x lower price.

Prices: Currently SxS can be had for under $800, while the Transcend combo will cost you under $80, and Sandisk combo under $100. Of course you can also use these cards in your compatible DSLR camera, such as Nikon D80/D90, as well.

Again, you cannot do overcranking at full range with Kensington-based combos. 24p usually maxes out at 40fps overcrank for reliable recording; but all other shooting modes will work fine.

And, adapter/card combos do not fit inside the EX1's compartment entirely, so the door won't close. Not too good in dusty environment - but a small piece of lo-tek gaffers tape will help.

EX3 owners will be able to close the slot cover door without any trouble.

I'm not quite sure I agree with that, if I understand it correctly. Over time, with many clients, one could easily accumulate an awful lot of cards. Are you saying one should have an adapter for every card he's ever filled?

I think he means at least enough adapters for your average shoot which is why I suggested that you keep the two extra adapters you were looking to sell.

John

I have bought 8 adapters as I am terrified of losing an SD card when on location. I think for the price of the Kensington + Transcend/Sandisk cards the we now have great freedom for shooting at sensible prices. SxS of course for slo mo's etc.

Edit. Should have made clear will be running two EX1s

4 adapters seems a good deal.
anyway you can't put more than two in the camera, get one ready for the next swap and get one for PC transfer or spare.
i f you go two cam, this will push to eight adapters.
If you count on the already existing SxS card delivered with cam (1 or 2) , you can lower this number.