Good card for 5060?

[Ishie]

Finally getting my new 5060 shipped to me. Subaquatic was a bit backed up so they just now confirmed to DEPP that my camera is indeed, a paperweight, so I'm getting the new one shipped to me.

Right now, I'm shooting with Olympus' XD 256 MB card. Works pretty well. I've been shooting either HQ or SHQ, but I'd eventually like to try shooting in RAW so I can adjust settings later, and since I average about 75 pictures per dive, that means more memory!!!

I've been researching compact flash cards a bit but there seem to be compatability and reliability issues that occur. I'm looking for a 512 card (prefer a 1GB but a little pricey and I want to go under a hundred dollars for a good product).

For this particular camera, what you recommend in the way of a Compact Flash card that has a fairly good recycle time?

Also, I know the 5060 can handle both memory cards, but can it handle both memory cards at the same time (get 50% more pictures by using both a 512 MB CF and the 256 XD I already have)?

Thanks guys!

 

[diveborg]

You can easily get a 1 gig card for under $100. Right now, costco has the SanDisk UltraII 1 gig card for $89. If you intend to shoot RAW, then you will want a fast card as those RAW files are huge and take some time to write.

A bigger card is also better because that might mean that you will have to open the housing less often to change cards. You'll fill a 512meg card pretty quickly shooting RAW.

The 5050 can handle both CF and xD cards at the same time. The is a button on the back to switch between the 2.

www.dealram.com is a good place to compare prices for all types of memory, including CF cards.

Personally, I have a 1gig Lexar 4x card, a 1 gig SanDisk Ultra II 1 gig card, a PQI 256meg card, and a AVL 128 meg card. I've not had trouble with any of them. I don't use the smaller cards much anymore. The 1 gig cards are the minimum size I'd consider now.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Running a 1gig SanDisk as well, I can't comment on write times as that was the first card I ordered and haven't really used any other CF cards in the camera.

Running an Oly 512mb XD in reserve I'm hoping not to have to change out cards too often regardless of format or dives.

At the moment, I'm shooting SHQ at 100+ shots a dive, 2-3 dives a day, for a full weekend(2 days) without having to change, erase, or dump cards. I have been changing the battery out for good measure at the end of each day.

 

[bcsean]

I'm running a 1gig SanDisk Extreme. Was told that at low temperatures it'll react much quicker. Most cards will slow down considerably.

 

[justleesa]

I also have a 256 xd and a 512 ridata and have no problem switching between the two.

 

[scubaaaronh]

Sams club has a 1 gig for 79.00 i used it in bonaire and filled it twice and had to go and download pics. I cant remember the write read speed but is was quicker than my 4x read write speed card and almost as fast as my xd card for taking pics in shq mode. The are making 2-4 gig but they are to expensive right now i found as i was going to buy a 2 gig and found i could buy 2 one gig cards from sams for a lot less

 

[Ishie]

Thanks guys! Really appreciate it!

 

[Wolverine]

just bot the 1gig Sandisk UltraII. Did a parallel run with this card and a 512mb card from Taiwan. No competition. UltraII was much faster.