I need some advice. My mark II is on route and I don't have my memory yet. I just got word from B and H that the 1 GB SD card is available for about $280. I'm assuming I'll need to get at least one SD card and this is the largest capacity I can find.

Would you recommend I go with that if I'm going to have different size CF cards for the other slot or should I just plan on getting a bunch of 1GB CF cards to match the SD or should I not worry about it and get the 1 GB SD and get a bunch of 2GB or a few 4 GB CF cards or save some dough and get a 512 MB SD? Are you happy with the set-up you went with? Since I've already made the investment to get into a Mark II, I want to make the right move here to leverage this investment.

Bottom line: What memory configuration would you recommend for the Mark II?

Dana,

If you are planning on shooting RAW which I'm assuming you are I would say you should either go with the 2GIG cards. This weekend David was filling up 4 2 gig cards at each wedding. I on the other hand was shooting RAW on the Mark II with just a bunch of 512s. That was basically like shooting with film and having to change out cards ever 40 shots. Not fun. Basically it breaks down like this. If you plan on shooting RAW + Small JPEG you'll get about 40 images on a 512, 80-100 on a 1 GIG, 160-200 on a 2 gig etc. I believe those were the numbers we were getting this last weekend.

~chris

That's good input Chris. Thanks.

Yea...it's a beast and a memory hog! I was actually filling up 4 2gig cards as well as 1 4gig card so that's a total of 12 gigs and then Chris was bringing in another 6-8 gigs from the 512 cards.

I like the 2 gig cards because I was getting 200+ shots per card and that seemed to split the day up pretty well and I wasn't worried about losing a whole section (pre - ceremony - reception) if one of the cards went bad.

I wouldn't downgrade to a 1gig cf card just so you can mirror onto a SD card...get your CF cards for the long run and hopefully SD will get a 2gigger out quick so we can have instant backups. I wonder if mirroring affects write speed?

ciao,
DJ

I'm actually leaning toward getting two 4 GB cards and one 1 GB SD card and a portable DVD burner. That way I can shoot all the pre-shots and be working on the ceremony while my assistant backs up my first 4 GB card on DVD (4.7GB) and computer before reformating for the reception.

What do you think?

I think it'd be more valuable to spend the extra $500 and have your assistant shooting during the ceremony and then backup later...also...another option instead of having to burn DVD's (lots of extra pieces and you'll need AC power) is to get a portable HD (an iPod or similar device) and drop the files on there for backup.

just my 2 cents...

Wouldn't it be more like dropping an extra $1000 dollars to make sure I didn't have to format during an event? This is assuming a 12 gig maximum for my own personal shooting (4 gigs x 3 portions of the wedding day). I'd still have my 1 GB microdrive and my two 512 cards for my assistant to use on the 10D. I do like the idea of not having to back up to dvd on site and I especially like the idea of getting a new ipod for at least one back up.

What do you think?

OK ... so I know have a 4 GB 80x card, five 2 GB 80X cards, a 1 GB SD card (Mark II second slot), two 512 MB 40X cards and a sweet 1 GB IBM Microdrive. It's feeling a bit rediculous having 16 gigs worth of space for a single day event. Even if I shoot RAW + JPG that's over 1800 pictures. I'm thinking of returning 4 GB's worth (either the 4GB card or two of my 2 GB cards).

Question 1: If I do sell back, which should I dump ... the 4 GB or the two 2 GBs and why?

Pro's to keeping the 4 GB are that I can capture the whole wedding ceremony without changing cards. Con's to keeping the 4 GB are the extra $100 and the idea of trusting 4 GB of information to one piece of media.

Question 2: If I should keep it all, what is a good rationale so I can sleep better at night?

One thought about option is my assistant/second shooter can use all that memory up but I'm not sure if that's a good enough reason. We still have to edit 1800 images down to 1000-1200.

Wisdom from any of you sages??

I have six 2gig cards a 4 gig and (left over from my 10d days) two 512's and a microdrive that I've been taking along. We maxed them all out last weekend.

Question 1: If you do sell back I'd sell back the 4 and keep all your cards the same. I'm probably going to trade mine for 2 gig cards.

Question 2: Exactly!

.... I'm not sure I understand what you mean by the "we still have to edit down 1800 to 1200 - are you saying that instead you'll just shoot 1200-1500?

I'm working my way up to having 14 gigs for myself and 8 gigs for my assistant.

I just want you all to know that the amount of memory you guys are talking about is absolutly disgusting. My "wonderful" (read sarcasm) Windows 98 Machine didn't even have as much hard drive space as you guys bring to weddings. You should be ashamed of yourselves

~chris




(ok.....secretly I'm very jealous of both of you and as soon as I can afford to go out and buy ONE 1 gig compact flash I'll do it. Until that day comes, I'm living off my handful of 512s.)

I just swapped out my 4 gig for two 2giggers today leaving me at a grand total of 8 80x 2 giggers and some change...

Good call on ditching the 4GB card. Probably too risky and smarter to stay consistent. I'll probably be doing the same, leaving me with 5 x 2GB cards + a couple 512s, a 1GB SD and my trusty ol' microdrive ... which is still for sale Chris! The price is dropping.

I might buy another 2GB card or two when I trade in my 4 GB card but we'll see.