Best memory card for Pentax DSLR

lesmore49 · 02-12-2009, 09:56 PM

I've got a K10D...I try different memory cards to see if any are better. Any recommendations ..or do you think there is no difference ?

Venturi · 02-12-2009, 10:01 PM

Well, I haven't tried every one out there but I've run Sandisk, Kingston, Transend and PNY cards on both the K10D and K20D and for me the Sandisk Extreme III SDHC is the undisputed champ.

**Scottnorwo** · 02-12-2009, 10:02 PM

So far has not made a difference to me. Spent good part of first year learning k10 shooting JPEGs and using generic SD cards. Moving on to DNG now and using Sandisk Extreme HDSC card. Works well for me, I have had no problems. Good luck.

jak442 · 02-12-2009, 10:06 PM

There's always a difference.... And I always use Sandisk. I've heard of and seen a lot of people having issues with other cards, but never with a Sandisk.

By all accounts the Ultra II is pleanty fast for a K10 or K200 and they're really inexpensive right now.

**WRB** · 02-12-2009, 11:37 PM

I buy them on sale and have Sandisk II - 2gb 4ea Sandisk Extreme III 2 gb 4ea 4gb 4 ea, 8gb 2 ea - I have used them all without failure. I tried a lesser priced brand once and had trouble with them fitting properly. That was it for me. I only will use Sandisk.

Ari · 02-12-2009, 11:39 PM

I've had really good luck with pny. It seems (to me, at least) a great balance between price and performance. Just stay away from really off-brand names. There definitely is a difference (especially when they don't work, and you're on vacation, and you can't find a replacement........happened to me

) I had 2 PQI cards fail on my k10. Here is a good deal on the cards I've been using in both k10, k20 and a few canon point and shoots:
http://www.amazon.com/PNY-P-SDHC16G4-FS-Secure-Digital-High-Capacity/dp/B001...4507508&sr=8-3
I might be picking one of these up! Best Buy had 8gb's for $24.99 a few months ago.

Andi Lo · 02-13-2009, 12:21 AM

I've never heard any issues with sandisk, to echo the previous poster =) I'm using an Ultra II on my K100d. Been a year and no issues so far. Hope this continues...

axl · 02-13-2009, 01:31 AM

Originally posted by Venturi

Well, I haven't tried every one out there but I've run Sandisk, Kingston, Transend and PNY cards on both the K10D and K20D and for me the Sandisk Extreme III SDHC is the undisputed champ.

if you are slightly out of budget or go for Sandisk Ultra II. For K10D it works just fine...

Jasvox · 02-13-2009, 01:41 AM

In my experience with SD cards over the past several years, I have found they are all pretty much the same. Some have a faster speed when uploading to the computer, but all in all, the same cheap 2 gig Kingston and Dane cards I bought 4 years ago is just as reliable as the more expensive 4 gig Extreme 3 I received for Christmas this year. Of the 6-7 cards I own, none is any more or less desirable than the other, in my opinion. One or another doesn't produce a better image, only obvious difference is the capacity (most of mine are 2 gig anyway) and the slight speed difference when uploading, but that is marginal.

My philosophy still, to this day is...cheap option works fine as long as from a reputable dealer where you can exhcange if you buy a dud, which has never happened to me, knock on wood.

Jason

ftpaddict · 02-13-2009, 01:43 AM

Originally posted by jak442

There's always a difference.... And I always use Sandisk. I've heard of and seen a lot of people having issues with other cards, but never with a Sandisk.

Oh I've heard plenty of people having problems with SanDisk SD cards; and I'm sure they were the cards weren't fake. You might just be lucky.

Nowhere Matt · 02-13-2009, 07:18 AM

Yeah at the risk of sounding like some other jackass, if you have to ask "what is the best SD card for your digital camera?" then the answer should be "It makes little difference."
Find a store in your area or one you trust online and wait for sale and get two so you can judge for yourself within your standards, your expectations and price budget. Eight to ten bucks for a 2GB card is an average sale price so if you are familiar with the brand name, go ahead and get two and you will be satisfied. The tiny things last a very long time.
If this advice just seems rude to you, by all means read some of the other posts one more time and then just think about what I have typed here.

wlachan · 02-13-2009, 07:23 AM

I have no problem with ATP, Sandisk, Transcend & Panasonic. The truth is every brand have their share of card failure, even the popular Sandisk & Lexar (just search Amazon user reviews). I just wish all SD cards have more rigid plastic shells, but Panasonic stands out built quality wise.

Vormulac · 02-13-2009, 08:13 AM

Don't use a non-branded one, I've had those fail (not in my cameras, thank goodness) and even if they don't fail they can be so slow as to be virtually useless. I use SanDisk Extreme III cards and they are superb.

Reportage · 02-13-2009, 08:56 AM

here are my cards. they see mixed use between my hd video camera and the K20D..Even the Toshiba which is classified Class 2 is pretty good and reliable. In K20D burst mode, the Ultra 2 wins the Transcend by a few seconds.

cozzie22 · 02-13-2009, 09:13 AM

I tent to use Lexar Professional 133x SD Cards. Always reliable and very fast, great for bracketing, HDR or continuos shooting

02-12-2009, 09:56 PM	#1
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Best memory card for Pentax DSLR I've got a K10D...I try different memory cards to see if any are better. Any recommendations ..or do you think there is no difference ?

02-12-2009, 11:37 PM	#5
WRB Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Oregon Photos: Gallery Posts: 117	IMHO the best card would be Sandisk I buy them on sale and have Sandisk II - 2gb 4ea Sandisk Extreme III 2 gb 4ea 4gb 4 ea, 8gb 2 ea - I have used them all without failure. I tried a lesser priced brand once and had trouble with them fitting properly. That was it for me. I only will use Sandisk.

02-12-2009, 11:39 PM	#6
Ari Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Freehold, NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 856	I've had really good luck with pny. It seems (to me, at least) a great balance between price and performance. Just stay away from really off-brand names. There definitely is a difference (especially when they don't work, and you're on vacation, and you can't find a replacement........happened to me ) I had 2 PQI cards fail on my k10. Here is a good deal on the cards I've been using in both k10, k20 and a few canon point and shoots: http://www.amazon.com/PNY-P-SDHC16G4-FS-Secure-Digital-High-Capacity/dp/B001...4507508&sr=8-3 I might be picking one of these up! Best Buy had 8gb's for $24.99 a few months ago. Last edited by Ari; 02-12-2009 at 11:47 PM.

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02-12-2009, 10:01 PM	#2
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	Well, I haven't tried every one out there but I've run Sandisk, Kingston, Transend and PNY cards on both the K10D and K20D and for me the Sandisk Extreme III SDHC is the undisputed champ.

02-12-2009, 10:02 PM	#3
Scottnorwo Millionth Poster! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Stafford, New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,086	So far has not made a difference to me. Spent good part of first year learning k10 shooting JPEGs and using generic SD cards. Moving on to DNG now and using Sandisk Extreme HDSC card. Works well for me, I have had no problems. Good luck.

02-12-2009, 10:06 PM	#4
jak442 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 54	There's always a difference.... And I always use Sandisk. I've heard of and seen a lot of people having issues with other cards, but never with a Sandisk. By all accounts the Ultra II is pleanty fast for a K10 or K200 and they're really inexpensive right now.

02-13-2009, 12:21 AM	#7
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	I've never heard any issues with sandisk, to echo the previous poster =) I'm using an Ultra II on my K100d. Been a year and no issues so far. Hope this continues...

02-13-2009, 01:31 AM	#8
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by Venturi Well, I haven't tried every one out there but I've run Sandisk, Kingston, Transend and PNY cards on both the K10D and K20D and for me the Sandisk Extreme III SDHC is the undisputed champ. if you are slightly out of budget or go for Sandisk Ultra II. For K10D it works just fine...

02-13-2009, 01:41 AM	#9
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	In my experience with SD cards over the past several years, I have found they are all pretty much the same. Some have a faster speed when uploading to the computer, but all in all, the same cheap 2 gig Kingston and Dane cards I bought 4 years ago is just as reliable as the more expensive 4 gig Extreme 3 I received for Christmas this year. Of the 6-7 cards I own, none is any more or less desirable than the other, in my opinion. One or another doesn't produce a better image, only obvious difference is the capacity (most of mine are 2 gig anyway) and the slight speed difference when uploading, but that is marginal. My philosophy still, to this day is...cheap option works fine as long as from a reputable dealer where you can exhcange if you buy a dud, which has never happened to me, knock on wood. Jason

02-13-2009, 01:43 AM	#10
ftpaddict Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Yurp Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,666	Originally posted by jak442 There's always a difference.... And I always use Sandisk. I've heard of and seen a lot of people having issues with other cards, but never with a Sandisk. Oh I've heard plenty of people having problems with SanDisk SD cards; and I'm sure they were the cards weren't fake. You might just be lucky.

02-13-2009, 07:18 AM	#11
Nowhere Matt Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Nowhere Land Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,362	Yeah at the risk of sounding like some other jackass, if you have to ask "what is the best SD card for your digital camera?" then the answer should be "It makes little difference." Find a store in your area or one you trust online and wait for sale and get two so you can judge for yourself within your standards, your expectations and price budget. Eight to ten bucks for a 2GB card is an average sale price so if you are familiar with the brand name, go ahead and get two and you will be satisfied. The tiny things last a very long time. If this advice just seems rude to you, by all means read some of the other posts one more time and then just think about what I have typed here.

02-13-2009, 07:23 AM	#12
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	I have no problem with ATP, Sandisk, Transcend & Panasonic. The truth is every brand have their share of card failure, even the popular Sandisk & Lexar (just search Amazon user reviews). I just wish all SD cards have more rigid plastic shells, but Panasonic stands out built quality wise.

02-13-2009, 08:13 AM	#13
Vormulac Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London Posts: 219	Don't use a non-branded one, I've had those fail (not in my cameras, thank goodness) and even if they don't fail they can be so slow as to be virtually useless. I use SanDisk Extreme III cards and they are superb.

02-13-2009, 08:56 AM	#14
Reportage Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 739	here are my cards. they see mixed use between my hd video camera and the K20D..Even the Toshiba which is classified Class 2 is pretty good and reliable. In K20D burst mode, the Ultra 2 wins the Transcend by a few seconds.

02-13-2009, 09:13 AM	#15
cozzie22 Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Dundee, Scotland Posts: 30	I tent to use Lexar Professional 133x SD Cards. Always reliable and very fast, great for bracketing, HDR or continuos shooting