Very Unscientific comparison between Sandisk Extreme Pro SD and Sandisk Ultra MicroSD

SirTomster · 11-29-2018, 08:49 PM - **3 Likes**

So with the Sandisk Ultra MicroSD cards on sale for $19.99 on Amazon this last weekend, I could not resist and purchased 2 for my cameras.

My hope was that their write speeds were fast enough on the K-1 and the K-1 Mark II to match my single 128gb Extreme Pro. Since that chip is overkill with the K-1 write speeds only up to 30MB/s. Why buy cards rated at 3 times the speed the camera can write.

Well the cards arrived and I did a very (very) unscientific test.

I setup both cameras with the same setting and to Manual Focus. 1/5 second ISO 100 low aperture. Also set to Continuous shooting: High

A K-1 and a K-1 Mark II

I then pressed the shutter button down and held it for 15 to 20 seconds to take a bunch of images and then release them at the same time.

I wanted to see how fast the cameras would write to each card.

I did say unscientific!

Well after multiple tests, the Ultra took slightly longer to save all the images. Around 3 seconds each time.

I then swapped the memory cards and tested them in the other camera in case there was something special w/ the Mark II.

There was not, the camera with the Ultra MicroSD's were slightly slower.

To be honest, not slow enough for me to not use the cards though.

Personally, 95% of my photography will not need to worry about the write speeds since I do Landscape and Astro.

So the Ultra is slower and for some that might be important. But it is not slow enough for me to worry about.

And a video to show my so very unscientific test.

You Tube

Not a Number · 11-29-2018, 09:46 PM

FYI the FAQs that have been removed on the Ricoh/Pentax support pages warned against using MicroSD cards. No reason given.

stevebrot · 11-29-2018, 09:58 PM

Originally posted by Not a Number

FYI the FAQs that have been removed on the Ricoh/Pentax support pages warned against using MicroSD cards. No reason given.

That is my memory as well.

Conventional wisdom has been that even with an appropriate adapter, MicroSD cards are not intended for regular use in devices supporting regular SD cards. I suspect capacitance concerns due to the extra set of contacts inside the adapter.

Steve

Dartmoor Dave · 11-30-2018, 02:08 AM

I'm thankful that we photography types are rational people who understand that the only difference a memory card can make is in write speed and reliability. When I've got my classical vinyl dealing hat on I talk quite often with some serious hi-fi nuts, and those guys would be arguing that your choice of card can make an actual difference in the photos. They'd be saying that you really need to connect your camera to your computer with a $500 usb cable for better colours and contrast. Heck, they'd be saying that even the mains cable that you use on your battery charger can make a visible difference in your photos.

So I'd just like to say thank you, everyone, for being photographers instead of audiophiles.

(Full disclosure: yes, I'm a bit of a hi-fi addict myself. But I've never drunk the Kool Aid that makes you think that digital storage methods can sound different.)

Last edited by Dartmoor Dave; 11-30-2018 at 02:54 AM.

**BigMackCam** · 11-30-2018, 04:05 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

I'm thankful that we photography types are rational people who understand that the only difference a memory card can make is in write speed and reliability. When I've got my classical vinyl dealing hat on I talk quite often with some serious hi-fi nuts, and those guys would be arguing that your choice of card can make an actual difference in the photos. They'd be saying that you really need to connect your camera to your computer with a $500 usb cable for better colours and contrast. Heck, they'd be saying that even the mains cable that you use on your battery charger can make a visible difference in your photos.

So I'd just like to say thank you, everyone, for being photographers instead of audiophiles.

(Full disclosure: yes, I'm a bit of a hi-fi addict myself. But I've never drunk the Kool Aid that makes you think that digital storage methods can sound different.)

So you don't fancy one of these, Dave?

Crystal Cable's Crystal USB Absolute Dream

**ThorSanchez** · 11-30-2018, 05:22 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

I'm thankful that we photography types are rational people who understand that the only difference a memory card can make is in write speed and reliability. When I've got my classical vinyl dealing hat on I talk quite often with some serious hi-fi nuts, and those guys would be arguing that your choice of card can make an actual difference in the photos. They'd be saying that you really need to connect your camera to your computer with a $500 usb cable for better colours and contrast. Heck, they'd be saying that even the mains cable that you use on your battery charger can make a visible difference in your photos.

So I'd just like to say thank you, everyone, for being photographers instead of audiophiles.

(Full disclosure: yes, I'm a bit of a hi-fi addict myself. But I've never drunk the Kool Aid that makes you think that digital storage methods can sound different.)

I replaced all the dials on my K-3ii with genetically engineered teak wood that's been dried in ancient Egyptian kilns and laquered with the extracts from rare Uzbek honeybees, all engineered to absorb stray light that might enter the viewfinder and make my photos less sharp. The set was only $4500.

Are you saying that was a bad investment?

**gaweidert** · 11-30-2018, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by Not a Number

FYI the FAQs that have been removed on the Ricoh/Pentax support pages warned against using MicroSD cards. No reason given.

I do know that only certain mini sd cards are suitable for dash cams. Something about them not holding up to a lot of writes and deletions.

**eccs19** · 11-30-2018, 06:53 AM

Only time I've had to worry about write speed is if I'm shooting RAW to both card slots. If I'm only shooting RAW to one, I have no issues with speed for my style of shooting, but writing to both cards, I do notice it occasionally.

SirTomster · 11-30-2018, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by Not a Number

FYI the FAQs that have been removed on the Ricoh/Pentax support pages warned against using MicroSD cards. No reason given.

I kept looking for information to indicate it was not recommended and never found any. So I figure I would buy these.

They will be in slot 2 on my cameras and normal SD cards in slot 1. So I will be curious if I even do run into issues with these.

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11-29-2018, 09:46 PM	#2
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	FYI the FAQs that have been removed on the Ricoh/Pentax support pages warned against using MicroSD cards. No reason given.

11-29-2018, 09:58 PM	#3
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Not a Number FYI the FAQs that have been removed on the Ricoh/Pentax support pages warned against using MicroSD cards. No reason given. That is my memory as well. Conventional wisdom has been that even with an appropriate adapter, MicroSD cards are not intended for regular use in devices supporting regular SD cards. I suspect capacitance concerns due to the extra set of contacts inside the adapter. Steve

11-30-2018, 02:08 AM	#4
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,882	I'm thankful that we photography types are rational people who understand that the only difference a memory card can make is in write speed and reliability. When I've got my classical vinyl dealing hat on I talk quite often with some serious hi-fi nuts, and those guys would be arguing that your choice of card can make an actual difference in the photos. They'd be saying that you really need to connect your camera to your computer with a $500 usb cable for better colours and contrast. Heck, they'd be saying that even the mains cable that you use on your battery charger can make a visible difference in your photos. So I'd just like to say thank you, everyone, for being photographers instead of audiophiles. (Full disclosure: yes, I'm a bit of a hi-fi addict myself. But I've never drunk the Kool Aid that makes you think that digital storage methods can sound different.) Last edited by Dartmoor Dave; 11-30-2018 at 02:54 AM.

11-30-2018, 04:05 AM - 1 Like	#5
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave I'm thankful that we photography types are rational people who understand that the only difference a memory card can make is in write speed and reliability. When I've got my classical vinyl dealing hat on I talk quite often with some serious hi-fi nuts, and those guys would be arguing that your choice of card can make an actual difference in the photos. They'd be saying that you really need to connect your camera to your computer with a $500 usb cable for better colours and contrast. Heck, they'd be saying that even the mains cable that you use on your battery charger can make a visible difference in your photos. So I'd just like to say thank you, everyone, for being photographers instead of audiophiles. (Full disclosure: yes, I'm a bit of a hi-fi addict myself. But I've never drunk the Kool Aid that makes you think that digital storage methods can sound different.) So you don't fancy one of these, Dave? Crystal Cable's Crystal USB Absolute Dream

11-30-2018, 05:22 AM - 2 Likes	#6
ThorSanchez Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,806	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave I'm thankful that we photography types are rational people who understand that the only difference a memory card can make is in write speed and reliability. When I've got my classical vinyl dealing hat on I talk quite often with some serious hi-fi nuts, and those guys would be arguing that your choice of card can make an actual difference in the photos. They'd be saying that you really need to connect your camera to your computer with a $500 usb cable for better colours and contrast. Heck, they'd be saying that even the mains cable that you use on your battery charger can make a visible difference in your photos. So I'd just like to say thank you, everyone, for being photographers instead of audiophiles. (Full disclosure: yes, I'm a bit of a hi-fi addict myself. But I've never drunk the Kool Aid that makes you think that digital storage methods can sound different.) I replaced all the dials on my K-3ii with genetically engineered teak wood that's been dried in ancient Egyptian kilns and laquered with the extracts from rare Uzbek honeybees, all engineered to absorb stray light that might enter the viewfinder and make my photos less sharp. The set was only $4500. Are you saying that was a bad investment?

11-30-2018, 06:44 AM	#7
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,325	Originally posted by Not a Number FYI the FAQs that have been removed on the Ricoh/Pentax support pages warned against using MicroSD cards. No reason given. I do know that only certain mini sd cards are suitable for dash cams. Something about them not holding up to a lot of writes and deletions.

11-30-2018, 06:53 AM	#8
eccs19 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Lisle, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,510	Only time I've had to worry about write speed is if I'm shooting RAW to both card slots. If I'm only shooting RAW to one, I have no issues with speed for my style of shooting, but writing to both cards, I do notice it occasionally.

11-30-2018, 11:45 AM	#9
SirTomster Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 416 Original Poster	Originally posted by Not a Number FYI the FAQs that have been removed on the Ricoh/Pentax support pages warned against using MicroSD cards. No reason given. I kept looking for information to indicate it was not recommended and never found any. So I figure I would buy these. They will be in slot 2 on my cameras and normal SD cards in slot 1. So I will be curious if I even do run into issues with these.