Which SD card to use for hi-speed burst shooting with K-30?

GixxerMKD · 02-12-2014, 02:05 AM

Hi guys,

yesterday a friend of mine mentioned something about the continuous shooting and the speed of his sd card which made me think. It came up that my Transcend sd card write speed is 25mb/s, and his Kingston (ultra or something) is 90mb/s. What is the maximum K-30 can achieve? Probably i should i count the fps and the sd card write performances in order to get the proper nu,bers.... Anyway, let me know what do you use for continuous shooting, i'm looking to get new sd card and i want to get the right one this time.

thanks

hopsing · 02-12-2014, 02:16 AM

Hello,
I use SanDisc Extreme cards Class 10 (8GB 30Mb/s and 16GB 45Mb/s) vor photo and video. They are fast enough.

Adam · 02-12-2014, 02:36 AM

Originally posted by hopsing

Hello,
I use SanDisc Extreme cards Class 10 (8GB 30Mb/s and 16GB 45Mb/s) vor photo and video. They are fast enough.

Yup, around around 30Mb/s write speed is fast enough for the K-30.

GixxerMKD · 02-12-2014, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the info guys, i'll go with this one: SanDisk 32GB Extreme SD Card (SDHC) 45MB/s - Class 10 24.49 - Free Delivery

vivakk · 02-21-2014, 12:36 AM

Hello! I've found a suitable great UHS-1 sd card for K30.It is Toshiba1 Exceria Type 1 or 2.
and It's quite cheap than Sandisk the same class.
Exceria tpye1:R 95m/s ,w 90m/s.Exceria type 2:R 95m/s，W 60m/s.
My test is above:

**missile** · 02-21-2014, 09:26 AM

Hi Gixxer - I have that card in my K-30. With image capture set to RAW+ and jpeg set to 16mg and ***, I get 4 frames before I can detect the buffer slowing me down. When image capture is set to jpeg, and jpeg set to 5mg and *, I get 8 frames. Hope this helps.

ziscwg · 02-21-2014, 02:17 PM

Originally posted by missile

Hi Gixxer - I have that card in my K-30. With image capture set to RAW+ and jpeg set to 16mg and ***, I get 4 frames before I can detect the buffer slowing me down. When image capture is set to jpeg, and jpeg set to 5mg and *, I get 8 frames. Hope this

helps.

Interesting
I have that card too. Shooting RAW+ like you I get 6-7 shooting at 6 fps. With just jpg, I have yet to fill the buffer. I'm shooting 1/250 or so with single focus

ScooterMaxi Jim · 02-21-2014, 05:50 PM

As Adam has indicated previously in his own testing, going past the more basic UHS-1 cards is beyond the capability of the K-30 buffer. Here are the test results I gathered from a variety of cards:

15 second tests on each, RAW+full JPEG.

Kingston Class 6 8 gb - 7 shot burst, 14 additional - 7 seconds to clear buffer - 14.5 mb/sec.

Panasonic Class 10 4 gb - 7 shot burst, 17 additional - 6.5 seconds to clear buffer - 17.5 mb/sec.

Transcend Class 10 16 gb - 7 shot burst, 18 additional - 7 seconds to clear buffer - 17.5 mb/sec.

SanDisc Extreme UHS-1 16 gb (45mb/read-write) 7 shot burst, 21 additional - under 6 seconds to clear buffer - 20.5 mb/sec.

It isn't a huge difference, but it is very consistent if you are shooting with a full buffer. A solid three more frames over the course of 15 seconds, and quicker clearing every time.

Read the fine print when you are buying your cards. Some are rated 90 mb/sec READ ONLY, and sold as Class 10 UHS-1 cards are guaranteed to write only 10mb/sec.

mikemike · 02-21-2014, 11:21 PM

You will be throttled by the rest of the camera's I/O system before you will be by most new SD cards. I use the 45 mb/s version from Sandisk just to have more than enough speed and because it helps with faster reads.

ScooterMaxi Jim · 02-22-2014, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by mikemike

You will be throttled by the rest of the camera's I/O system before you will be by most new SD cards. I use the 45 mb/s version from Sandisk just to have more than enough speed and because it helps with faster reads.

I think we are in agreement. As my test clearly shows, the 45 mb/s (read and write) Sandisk we share does outperform high quality Class 10 cards by a fairly good margin on the K-30/50/500, but going beyond that likely is just pouring Premium into a Chevy.

Aux · 02-23-2014, 01:39 AM

Buying a faster card always makes sense, imho. If your current camera can't use all the speed, then your computer can. And your next camera will. I personally hate waiting for copying process from card to pc to finish.

ScooterMaxi Jim · 02-24-2014, 12:27 PM

Originally posted by Aux

Buying a faster card always makes sense, imho. If your current camera can't use all the speed, then your computer can. And your next camera will. I personally hate waiting for copying process from card to pc to finish.

It depends how much shooting you do. SD cards don't have a defined life, but much as shutters have actuation estimates SD cards become liable to malfunction after so many 10,000s of images. My policy is to bring in at least one new card with each body (roughly every 2-3 years), and keep the old ones as spares or for additional capacity - cycling into use on occasion to ensure it is working properly. Some folks say you should have only one card that never reaches capacity, but I believe in always carrying at least two cards, and a third if its a major shoot. I think the smaller cards (my largest are 16 gig) tend to be slightly quicker and a bit more reliable way to go.

02-12-2014, 02:05 AM	#1
GixxerMKD Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Usa Posts: 51	Which SD card to use for hi-speed burst shooting with K-30? Hi guys, yesterday a friend of mine mentioned something about the continuous shooting and the speed of his sd card which made me think. It came up that my Transcend sd card write speed is 25mb/s, and his Kingston (ultra or something) is 90mb/s. What is the maximum K-30 can achieve? Probably i should i count the fps and the sd card write performances in order to get the proper nu,bers.... Anyway, let me know what do you use for continuous shooting, i'm looking to get new sd card and i want to get the right one this time. thanks

02-12-2014, 02:36 AM	#3
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,597	Originally posted by hopsing Hello, I use SanDisc Extreme cards Class 10 (8GB 30Mb/s and 16GB 45Mb/s) vor photo and video. They are fast enough. Yup, around around 30Mb/s write speed is fast enough for the K-30. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

02-21-2014, 12:36 AM	#5
vivakk New Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 2	Hello! I've found a suitable great UHS-1 sd card for K30.It is Toshiba1 Exceria Type 1 or 2. and It's quite cheap than Sandisk the same class. Exceria tpye1:R 95m/s ,w 90m/s.Exceria type 2:R 95m/s，W 60m/s. My test is above: Attached Images

02-21-2014, 09:26 AM	#6
missile Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 54	Actual result with Sandisk Extreme 32 class 10 Hi Gixxer - I have that card in my K-30. With image capture set to RAW+ and jpeg set to 16mg and **, I get 4 frames before I can detect the buffer slowing me down. When image capture is set to jpeg, and jpeg set to 5mg and , I get 8 frames. Hope this helps.

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02-12-2014, 02:16 AM	#2
hopsing Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 49	Hello, I use SanDisc Extreme cards Class 10 (8GB 30Mb/s and 16GB 45Mb/s) vor photo and video. They are fast enough.

02-12-2014, 12:59 PM	#4
GixxerMKD Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Usa Posts: 51 Original Poster	Thanks for the info guys, i'll go with this one: SanDisk 32GB Extreme SD Card (SDHC) 45MB/s - Class 10 24.49 - Free Delivery

02-21-2014, 02:17 PM	#7
ziscwg Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 110	Originally posted by missile Hi Gixxer - I have that card in my K-30. With image capture set to RAW+ and jpeg set to 16mg and **, I get 4 frames before I can detect the buffer slowing me down. When image capture is set to jpeg, and jpeg set to 5mg and , I get 8 frames. Hope this helps. Interesting I have that card too. Shooting RAW+ like you I get 6-7 shooting at 6 fps. With just jpg, I have yet to fill the buffer. I'm shooting 1/250 or so with single focus

02-21-2014, 05:50 PM	#8
ScooterMaxi Jim Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,520	As Adam has indicated previously in his own testing, going past the more basic UHS-1 cards is beyond the capability of the K-30 buffer. Here are the test results I gathered from a variety of cards: 15 second tests on each, RAW+full JPEG. Kingston Class 6 8 gb - 7 shot burst, 14 additional - 7 seconds to clear buffer - 14.5 mb/sec. Panasonic Class 10 4 gb - 7 shot burst, 17 additional - 6.5 seconds to clear buffer - 17.5 mb/sec. Transcend Class 10 16 gb - 7 shot burst, 18 additional - 7 seconds to clear buffer - 17.5 mb/sec. SanDisc Extreme UHS-1 16 gb (45mb/read-write) 7 shot burst, 21 additional - under 6 seconds to clear buffer - 20.5 mb/sec. It isn't a huge difference, but it is very consistent if you are shooting with a full buffer. A solid three more frames over the course of 15 seconds, and quicker clearing every time. Read the fine print when you are buying your cards. Some are rated 90 mb/sec READ ONLY, and sold as Class 10 UHS-1 cards are guaranteed to write only 10mb/sec.

02-21-2014, 11:21 PM	#9
mikemike Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Orleans Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,053	You will be throttled by the rest of the camera's I/O system before you will be by most new SD cards. I use the 45 mb/s version from Sandisk just to have more than enough speed and because it helps with faster reads.

02-22-2014, 11:12 AM	#10
ScooterMaxi Jim Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,520	Originally posted by mikemike You will be throttled by the rest of the camera's I/O system before you will be by most new SD cards. I use the 45 mb/s version from Sandisk just to have more than enough speed and because it helps with faster reads. I think we are in agreement. As my test clearly shows, the 45 mb/s (read and write) Sandisk we share does outperform high quality Class 10 cards by a fairly good margin on the K-30/50/500, but going beyond that likely is just pouring Premium into a Chevy.

02-23-2014, 01:39 AM	#11
Aux Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Riga, Latvia Posts: 35	Buying a faster card always makes sense, imho. If your current camera can't use all the speed, then your computer can. And your next camera will. I personally hate waiting for copying process from card to pc to finish.

02-24-2014, 12:27 PM	#12
ScooterMaxi Jim Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,520	Originally posted by Aux Buying a faster card always makes sense, imho. If your current camera can't use all the speed, then your computer can. And your next camera will. I personally hate waiting for copying process from card to pc to finish. It depends how much shooting you do. SD cards don't have a defined life, but much as shutters have actuation estimates SD cards become liable to malfunction after so many 10,000s of images. My policy is to bring in at least one new card with each body (roughly every 2-3 years), and keep the old ones as spares or for additional capacity - cycling into use on occasion to ensure it is working properly. Some folks say you should have only one card that never reaches capacity, but I believe in always carrying at least two cards, and a third if its a major shoot. I think the smaller cards (my largest are 16 gig) tend to be slightly quicker and a bit more reliable way to go.