It will only work with firmware 1.11 for the EX1. It has only been around for a month or so. I would check firmware on the cam you're buying to make sure it does not have older firmware.

I am still trying to make up my mind on what cards to buy.
These are my candidates:

16 GB Transcend SDHC
16 GB Sandisk Ultra II SDHC
16 GB Sandisk Extreme III SDHC

They are all extremely cheap compared to SxS-memory and I can definately afford all of them. However - if there is no practical difference in performance in the EX1 from these three cards I don't want to spend more than twice as much on Extreme III-cards without reason. I'd rather gett twice as many. :-)

The fact that Steven is recommending the Ultra II card is reassuring but I don't want to be cheap IF it might lead to a media failure in the future that I could have avoided by buying the Extreme III card.

So - I guess my question is, Steven (and others): which are the overcrank record fps on these cards? I cannot recall a comparison between the 16 GB ultra II and the 16 GB extreme III in this thread. I am trying to figure out if the speed difference between the ultras and extremes is having any effect at all in the camera.

Transcend 16gb does not seem to work reliably.

I have had success with SanDisk Extreme III 16gb in all modes, including overcranking up to 24/40fps.

I have not tested 16gb Ultra II but reports here are positive.

I await 32gb Ultra II. No idea when it will be released and SanDisk has not yet replied to my query as a journalist.

Yes, I was referring to the same Panasonic SDHC 8GB card I was talking about in the other thread regarding this. (you guys are spanning a lot of threads on this subject)

I thought this Panasonic might work being labeled compatible with AVCHD cameras. But that codec is only around 3mb/s (if i read wikipedia correctly) While the card claims 20mb/s...

With this combo, I did have one somewhat scary moment. When I tried formatting the Panasonic in the Kensington, it would consistently hang at 79%. So I switched and formatted in the AFT adaptor. It worked, but when I went back to using the Kensington.. all I got was a black lcd with "STBY" -- nothing but pulling the power would remove this error. Once it was 'working' (Pana & Kensington) errors in 720P HQ mode as well as any flavor of S&Q.

This wasn't at all an inexpensive SDHC card. Not at $72 for 8gb.

To answer other questions I've received, I'm not entirely convinced that this is a safe route. Fun for play, but I wouldn't do it on a paying gig. I've had a few issues with SD cards in the past, and they just doesn't give me a totally warm and fuzzy feeling. Maybe after you fellas have a few error free months, I'll get back in; but for now I'm an interested spectator.

On a side note, I even tried another route... a PCexpress to USB adapter and a FireWire 800 adapter. Thinking was, attach a portable hard drive, with power, and have a 500Gb solution. The el cheapo USB adapter just didn't work, while the Belkin FW800 gave me an improper media error. I would think, there is an option that would make this work as well. Maybe attaching a larger drive to the PHU-60k connect cable, if they are available as a replacement part?

Ned, what did you find unreliable about the Transcend 16GB? I really haven't had a problem other than one strange error when I switched from slomo to normal speed and I'm not sure if that was related to the card or not. It was easily recoverable and none of the recordings on the Transcend card was affected.

I've once had a 'media' problems with a SxS card when offloading to a Mac then popping it back into the Sony. Reformatting it seemed to correct it.

On the Transcend 16GB, other than it can't go as slomo as the Extreme, seems ok so far...

I think if you have mission critical shoots, and if you're a professional that can't afford to have anything go wrong ever, and you can afford it however many SxS cards you need for a shoot, the SxS is obviously the way to go.

However, it's fun to explore alternatives, and it's interesting to hear prospective buyers deciding on purchasing a EX1 or EX3 because of the possibility of cheaper 'off the shelf' media alternatives. I bet Sony sells a lot more EX1s and EX3s, if only because of that alternative. We are quickly entering an age where tape is obsolete. In five years SDHC or something like it may be so cheap that replaces tape or optical as an archival media.

I recall reading either here or on another board that the Transcend 16gb was not performing reliably in HQ mode. Now, it is entirely possible that I misread the post since so much information has been flying around that I'm about on overload.

Then you may want to stick with the SxS cards.
You have to use the cards suggested unless you're up for checking data rates with the software I reccomended along with the overcrank test.

As far as SDHC cards, I've been using these for years thowing them in and out of cameras and have never had one issue. In fact, the new Nikon D90 uses the new Extreme III 30MB/s SDHC which Nikon worked with SanDisk on this SDHC card to make sure it would offer the high data rate needed for the D90.

Again, when used with the Kensington 7-in-1, the two recommended cards - the 4GB Ultra II 15MB/s and new 16GB Extreme III 30MB/s version offers 8.3MB/s sustained data rate which is a decent amount over the EX HQ MAX data rate of 5MB/s. The normal HQ data rate of the EX is 35mbps or 4.375MB/s.

Myself and others who are using the listed SDHC cards and Kensington have not had any errors.
In the last 11 days of testing, I've logged almost more time testing this combo than I've had since I bought the camera! LOL

I've been running this thing crazy even spanning with two Kensington Adaptors.

I've been happy using two AFT adapters without errors for a while now, with the door closed - which is cool. I'm using Transcend 8gb cards and a Patriot 16gb - both fail at relatively low S&Q around 36 - but then I'm not fussed as these cards are cheap, and both class 6. The Patriot shows seq: 18.57 and 11.53 512: 18.48 and 2.85 4K: 4.28 and 0.024. with crystaldiskmark.

I've run full cards, hard starts and stops, slot switching - no errors.

Paul

so, the Ultra IIs work as well as the new Ultra IIIs? I want to pick up a couple of these
for this weekends gig. i would love to have to not dump cards during the day.

What are these? Please post a link, thanks...

First of all to all: THANK YOU FOR YOUR INVESTIGATION

I just want to be shure: With the Kensington 7-1 I in an EX 3 I will be able close the door?

Markus

It's the AFT PRO Express 7 in 1 card reader item number 65100704 - as mentioned earlier in this thread, it's maybe not as fast as the Kensington, and apparently will not work with the Sandisk Extreme III cards - but for me, shooting normal HQ or even SP, it's perfectly OK running with cheap media, and I use my SXS cards for overcranking - and a closed door on the EX1 in the sand and dust here, is a must.

I've not tested the Kensington, as a screw up in delivery meant mine went to another planet and then sent back to the suppliers - I'm expecting them soon, so I can test their relative speeds thru' the express slot on my laptop.

Paul

Yes. You can close the door of the EX-3 with the Kensington adapter

Thanks Ned, at the end of the week I will get my stuff.

I have the AFT. It was one of the first cards I tested.

It failed running HQ modes. It's was intermittent using the Patriot SDHC
Also, the 16GB Patriot SDHC I tested, I noticed that the data write speeds
fluctuated.

At that time I had ordered the new SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s version SDHC. This SDHC card in the AFT gets a unrecognized media error. It does not work at all.

At that time, I also had the Kensington which worked great with the new Extreme III SDHC.
So, I gave up on the AFT expresscard adaptor. I bought the Ultra II SDHC after I had gave up on the AFT and never tried it with the AFT.

Well, after reading Paul's post, I decided to take back out my AFT and try it with the SanDisk Ultra II 4GB SDHC.

Oddly, it worked fine for a while (20 minutes of mixed testing) and even overcranked for a while up to 40FPS.
BUT, as time progressed, it started to crash and have restore media errors. It got to a point it was even failing running HQ modes.

At one time it would not even restore or format the Ultra II SDHC. I had to format it with my PC.

This is odd. If Paul is having success after long testing, I'd be interested how well the SanDisk Ultra II will perform in his AFT cards. The SanDisk Ultra II is capable of sustaining 40FPS overcrank, so I'm wondering if the Ultra II will offer 40FPS overcrank with Paul's after long testing.

Is it possible my AFT card has a problem? If so, it's acting like it perform well when initially used. Maybe a thermal issue? - I don't know. But, I wish I had another to try.

Maybe, I'll order another AFT.

I tossed in my Kensington & Ultra II and fired up overcrank at 40FPS. This works well with no issues. Quick start and stops, long runs ... I can't get it to fail.

Paul, I'd like to hear more from you on testing the AFT. If you can get your hands on the SanDisk Ultra II 15MB/s, I'd be interested if you can sustain 40FPS overcrank. Also try quick start and stops. Test this overcrank at 40FPS for over an hour. I'd be real interested if yours works.. If so, my AFT card is defective. I'm hoping this is the case.

Steven, can you confirm that your tests with the extreme III cards showed a failure with the AFT card, as I have on order, 2 16gb extreme III 's as well as the long lost Kensingtons.

I managed to get a media restore error today with the Patriot running at 36 overcrank - out in the sun for 2 hours doing timelapse tests as well - maybe a heat issue??

No failures yet on normal HQ either with the Transcend 8gb or the Patriot.

I'm stuck waiting for the mail, it's so hard to buy anything here!

Paul

The new SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s SDHC cards do not work in the AFT PROExpress-7.

Maybe you missed it in my initial tests I posted. I know it's getting hard to follow.

It may be that the Patriot can only overcrank to 33FPS or so?

As I mentioned in my last post, if you can get your hands on the SanDisk Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC.
The Kensington will run 40FPS without any issues.

Try to get your hands on an Ultra II SDHC.

With the testing ongoing, it is in fact confusing to keep up with what to do if one wants to jump into this route right now of using cheaper cards with adapters before the testing is complete.

It is too early for a Sticky.

However, it would be extremely helpful to everyone if the original poster (Brian Rhodes) would update the initial post to reflect a summary of the latest findings as we go along.

I realize that is perhaps an imposition on Brian, but I don't think it too bold to say that all of us would really really appreciate it if Brian would do that for us.

Thanks,

John

The negative report was the incident I mentioned, probably from me. The very first card I used was Transcend 8GB card, which I 'bricked' while trying to format it in the Sony. I haven't had that problem with the 16GB version. I don't think anybody else has reported problems with the 16GB version other that it's slower than the Extreme III.

I read about someone who had problems with the Transend 16 GB card. Apparently long recordings could become corrupt without the camera giving warnings on problems with the recording.

YES you will be able to close the door on the EX3.

I really want to find an adapter that works as well as the Kensington but allows for the door to be closed on the EX1.
Has anyone tried this Synchrotech adapter?

ExpressCard 34 to Multiple Memory Card Adapter, Synchrotech

Hi Ola, that adapter has the same dimensions at the Kensington.

My AFT Adapter findings
 

Here is what I've experienced with the AFT adapter:

With the Sandisk Extreme III I got errors, I can't remember exactly which ones but basically so often that I decided it was too unreliable.

On a lark I tried it with the Transcend 16GB a few days ago. And to my amazement, it seemed to work. However, with more testing I decided it was too unreliable even with the Transcend 16GB. I found the problems to be intermittent, but enough for me to not want to chance using the AFT. Sometimes I could not format it in the EX1, it would hang at 0% other times it worked ok. Sometimes I could record clips with no problem, other times, I would get a media error message. It would be awesome if it worked, being the one reader I know about that allows the EX1 door to close, but using it is too flakey for me. That is why I'm surprised with Paul Newman's reports that it works well for him with the Transcend 8 GB cards.

Yes, i realise that but according to the page I linked to it has (quote) "Push-In Push-Out Connector For Easy Removal".
That suggests that the SD card would fit deeper inside the card allowing the door to close.

I cannot recall reading about anybody testing this adapter yet, or am I wrong?

All Expresscards have the same external dimensions. This allows them to sit flush when inserted into a Expresscard reader. The picture looks a lot like the casing of the AFT adapter, which does allow the door to close but I've found is flakey. There could be different firmware / chips in the card that might make it work better than the AFT. If you do order it, please let us know the results.

how many adapters are you guys buying to use? 1 of 2? a pair of 16gb
is the cats meow.

I ordered 2, I plan on using them together. I'll keep a SxS card handy though. Since this topic is directly related, I am still learning Vegas... how to you under and over crank through software? I heard you get better results that way anyhow.

Since the Extreme III does not work at all in the AFT expresscard adaptor, maybe you forgot how it failed.

Until I hear from someone regarding using the SanDisk Ultra II SDHC in the AFT, I would not trust the AFT adaptor.

My AFT works good for about 20 minutes before it fails. It seems like it may be a thermal problem, but without buying another or hearing from someone who has the AFT and Ultra II, I'll never know.

I can say that I've been testing the Kensington with the SanDisk Ultra II 4GB SDHC and the SanDisk 16GB Extreme III 30MB/s version SDHC for about two weeks with NO errors!

i wish these tests were conclusive before i bought 8 of the Lexar SSD cards. oh well, at least I can close the door, and still have 6hrs worth capture time, even if it is at 1080i60
(since my other camera is a Z1)

Steven,
You mention Ultra II 4GB in your previous, post, however I believe you mentioned the Ultra II 16GB in other posts. Are you have error free results in the Ultra II 16GB?

Since I'm using both the 16GB extreme III and 4GB Ultra II, I may typo the 16 on the wrong card... ? Hope not..

I mentioned it was the 4GB a while back.

http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/943222-post169.html

Well, if so. I'd say there's a very good chance that the 16GB Ultra II will work equal to the 4GB Ultra II in the Kensington. They both claim the same spec. I will know soon.

In fact, someone just posted at the other forum that the 16GB Ultra II is working fine with the Kensington reader.

I am new to the expresscard media so please excuse me if this is a totally different beast. I saw this Lexar 16GB express card for $77 at newegg. Could this work in the EX1? Has anyone tried it? It is 1/10 the cost of the Sony and Sandisk express cards.

Lexar EX16GB-431 16GB ExpressCard External Solid state disk (SSD)

Kensington 7 in 1 Media Reader for ExpressCard Slot" model number 33407EU
W/ Transend 8gb SDHC model ts8gsdhc6 SDHC cards & Scandisk SDHC 16GB Extreme III cards. WORKING WITH EX1 firmware 1.11 & EX3 SP AND HQ MODES. (Best so far)
Transend 8GB & 16GB 24P slomo 38FPS max, Scandisk SDHC 16GB Extreme III 24P slomo
40FPS max.

Lexar 8GB SSD Express Card
WORKING WITH EX1 firmware 1.11 AND EX3 SP MODE ONLY

Kensington 8GB SDHC CARD WORKING WITH EX1 firmware 1.11 & EX3 SP AND HQ MODES

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lexar 16Gb SSD Express Card This card is slower than the 8gb
WORKS WITH EX1 firmware 1.11 AND EX3 SP MODE ONLY error message no lost of data

SIGG 11/1 EXPRESS READER 11in1 ExpressCard Reader
WILL NOT WORK WITH THE EX1 firmware 1.11

Transend 8gb 16gb 32GB SSD Express card
WILL NOT WORK WITH THE EX1 firmware 1.11 or EX3

EXPRESS CARD TO COMPACT FLASH ADAPTER
WILL NOT WORK WITH THE EX1 firmware 1.11 EX3?


SONY MSACEX1 MEMORY STICK(R) DUO EXPRESSCARD(TM) ADAPTER
WILL NOT WORK WITH THE EX1 firmware 1.11 EX3?

SIGG 11/1 EXPRESS READER 11in1 Express Card Reader
WILL NOT WORK WITH THE EX1 firmware 1.11

AFT EXPRESS READER does work in the EX1 with some SDHC memory other than the new Sandisk Extreme III 30MB/s.. The problem is, it has occasional memory errors


PROExpress 7 in 1 reader w/ Panasonic 8GB SDHC,
Media Error around:20 min (restored, clips were all fine)

CFExpressPro+ PCIe ExpressCard to CompactFlash Memory Card Adapter 2.5Gbps
TESTED WITH Sony 306x 46mb/s CF CARD , TRANSEND 32GB CF CARD X133, Scandisk 4GB EXTREME 4
UNKNOWN MEDIA WILL NOT WORK.
Maplin SD Express reader does not work

I Ordered two 32GB Ultra II Sandisk cards after testing I will put this data in an Excel Spread sheet format PDF

Thanks Brian

Let us know how the SanDisk 32GB Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC card works with the Kensington.
If it can overcrank repeatably at 40FPS this will be great news.

When will you receive the 32GB Ultra II SDHC cards?

As Brian indicates:
Lexar 16Gb SSD Express Card This card is slower than the 8gb
WORKS WITH EX1 firmware 1.11 AND EX3 SP MODE ONLY error message no lost of data

If this works, why not use it instead of an adapter that does not allow the door to close? Does this allow the door to close? I would think it is a standard size and would.

Re-reading Brian's info, does the following mean the Lexar only works in SP mode with both the EX1 and EX3? Or does the SP limitation only apply to the EX3?

Yes I have the Lexar 8GB card and the size is identical to those Sony ones meaning the door can be fully close

I have ordered the SanDisk 32GB Ultra II 15MB/s SDHC card and it's due out this week in the UK. (The website says last week September so I hope there's no delays)

I have already got a Kensington so will post my results as soon as the Sandisk arrives.

LEXAR 8GB SSD speed test with Crystaldiskmark:

33.53 - 8.46
33.41 - 1.68
6.53 - 0.016

This card errors even in HQ mode - only reliable in SP mode - not recommended !

Paul