K-1 SD Card write time: gets worse with time?

**HippyHippo** · 01-06-2019, 02:28 AM

Hi all,
I might be going mad, but I’m sure the K-1 is taking longer to clear the buffer after a burst of images than it used to. Has anyone else seen performance erode with time?
I’m using the same 32GB Sandisk UHS-1 SDHC ‘Extreme’ cards, writing RAW to each (so I have a backup for card failure). Card throughput should exceed the K-1 internal bus capabilities, I’d have thought. Most jpg custom features are turned off, as I know this slows things down.
The cards are closer to being full than normal though - I can only get another 88 images on them according to the body.
Before I reformat the cards and see if that improves things I thought I’d ask if anyone has experienced similar?

beholder3 · 01-06-2019, 02:56 AM - **3 Likes**

Memory cards age with wear and then they also are not completely reliable.

The fuller they get the slower they are.

Start off with completely wiping the card using the official format tool: SD Memory Card Formatter - SD Association and then check again writing to the empty card.

joergens.mi · 01-06-2019, 02:56 AM - **1 Like**

In my experience, the cards get slower over the time. I didn't see so much of the effect, because I'm using 128 GB cards - therefore it lasts longer before it happens. I think that is a problem of the wear leveling of data.

Not a Number · 01-06-2019, 03:21 AM - **1 Like**

As suggested above, try SDFormatter. Use the Overwrite Format option. This will format the card as much as possible to factory specs. Be sure to copy all your data off the card first.

sqrrl · 01-06-2019, 03:23 AM - **1 Like**

Perhaps a red herring, but cards can slow down if you delete shots in camera and then keep shooting - it has to do with how the files are written and the file allocation tables. I tend to copy my cards and then format them as a matter of routine.
The in camera format should be fine.

**HippyHippo** · 01-06-2019, 03:25 AM

Interesting - the cards are indeed a few years old now and currently more full than normal. So that all figures.
Will reformat and test, then replace if necessary.
Thanks for the replies.

**ramseybuckeye** · 01-06-2019, 04:44 AM - **2 Likes**

Reformatting the cards should take care of that.

photolady95 · 01-06-2019, 05:54 AM

Originally posted by HippyHippo

I’m using the same 32GB Sandisk UHS-1 SDHC ‘Extreme’ cards

You said you use these cards, but what's the write speed of them?

And to the others who have given you advice, could that have anything to do with the slow down of a card?

I don't have that problem yet, I use 128GB cards also.

**HippyHippo** · 01-06-2019, 06:02 AM

Originally posted by photolady95

You said you use these cards, but what's the write speed of them?

90MB/s. I read some time back that the K-1 data bus has a max throughout of around 30MB/s (see attached), so should be ample.

I also found this, which is interesting. It asserts that the two slots are different hardware so there can be issues when formatting in one slot then using in a different slot. I’ve never cared which went in which slot, so might be a factor.

https://alikgriffin.com/best-memory-cards-pentax-k-1/

photolady95 · 01-06-2019, 06:08 AM

Unfortunately, I don't have a K-1

but I have other Pentax cameras, a K-50 and a K-30, and a K-x but all my cards are 90MB/s. I was just asking about speed if it could be part of the case for your slowness for my benefit too. So, in the overall problem you're having, it doesn't matter what speed of the card, the slowness can happen even on 90MB/s cards. Good to know. Thanks.

pschlute · 01-06-2019, 06:39 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by HippyHippo

I also found this, which is interesting. It asserts that the two slots are different hardware so there can be issues when formatting in one slot then using in a different slot. I’ve never cared which went in which slot, so might be a factor

I swap cards all the time. Never had an issue.

**HippyHippo** · 01-06-2019, 07:11 AM - **1 Like**

Ok thanks everyone. Completely reformatting the cards has restored performance again.

**UncleVanya** · 01-06-2019, 07:33 AM - **1 Like**

Fat32 file system is the culprit. There are better file systems available but fat32 is a widely used standard that makes it very portable but this is one downside.

joergens.mi · 01-06-2019, 08:20 AM - **1 Like**

Maybe another reason, why I don't have the problem, is, after copying the pictures to the computer, I put back the card to the camera and format the card there. I don't delete pictures on the card, and the reformatting gives the card the chance of wear leveling the file system.

pschlute · 01-06-2019, 11:43 AM

Originally posted by HippyHippo

Ok thanks everyone. Completely reformatting the cards has restored performance again.

Did you format in camera or with software ?

01-06-2019, 02:28 AM	#1
HippyHippo Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Derby Posts: 98	K-1 SD Card write time: gets worse with time? Hi all, I might be going mad, but I’m sure the K-1 is taking longer to clear the buffer after a burst of images than it used to. Has anyone else seen performance erode with time? I’m using the same 32GB Sandisk UHS-1 SDHC ‘Extreme’ cards, writing RAW to each (so I have a backup for card failure). Card throughput should exceed the K-1 internal bus capabilities, I’d have thought. Most jpg custom features are turned off, as I know this slows things down. The cards are closer to being full than normal though - I can only get another 88 images on them according to the body. Before I reformat the cards and see if that improves things I thought I’d ask if anyone has experienced similar?

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01-06-2019, 02:56 AM - 3 Likes	#2
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112	Memory cards age with wear and then they also are not completely reliable. The fuller they get the slower they are. Start off with completely wiping the card using the official format tool: SD Memory Card Formatter - SD Association and then check again writing to the empty card.

01-06-2019, 02:56 AM - 1 Like	#3
joergens.mi Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 408	In my experience, the cards get slower over the time. I didn't see so much of the effect, because I'm using 128 GB cards - therefore it lasts longer before it happens. I think that is a problem of the wear leveling of data.

01-06-2019, 03:21 AM - 1 Like	#4
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	As suggested above, try SDFormatter. Use the Overwrite Format option. This will format the card as much as possible to factory specs. Be sure to copy all your data off the card first.

01-06-2019, 03:23 AM - 1 Like	#5
sqrrl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Otago, New Zealand Posts: 422	Perhaps a red herring, but cards can slow down if you delete shots in camera and then keep shooting - it has to do with how the files are written and the file allocation tables. I tend to copy my cards and then format them as a matter of routine. The in camera format should be fine.

01-06-2019, 03:25 AM	#6
HippyHippo Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Derby Posts: 98 Original Poster	Interesting - the cards are indeed a few years old now and currently more full than normal. So that all figures. Will reformat and test, then replace if necessary. Thanks for the replies.

01-06-2019, 04:44 AM - 2 Likes	#7
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Reformatting the cards should take care of that.

01-06-2019, 05:54 AM	#8
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Originally posted by HippyHippo I’m using the same 32GB Sandisk UHS-1 SDHC ‘Extreme’ cards You said you use these cards, but what's the write speed of them? And to the others who have given you advice, could that have anything to do with the slow down of a card? I don't have that problem yet, I use 128GB cards also.

01-06-2019, 06:02 AM	#9
HippyHippo Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Derby Posts: 98 Original Poster	Originally posted by photolady95 You said you use these cards, but what's the write speed of them? 90MB/s. I read some time back that the K-1 data bus has a max throughout of around 30MB/s (see attached), so should be ample. I also found this, which is interesting. It asserts that the two slots are different hardware so there can be issues when formatting in one slot then using in a different slot. I’ve never cared which went in which slot, so might be a factor. https://alikgriffin.com/best-memory-cards-pentax-k-1/

01-06-2019, 06:08 AM	#10
photolady95 Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Cruising the forum watching his back Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,712	Unfortunately, I don't have a K-1 but I have other Pentax cameras, a K-50 and a K-30, and a K-x but all my cards are 90MB/s. I was just asking about speed if it could be part of the case for your slowness for my benefit too. So, in the overall problem you're having, it doesn't matter what speed of the card, the slowness can happen even on 90MB/s cards. Good to know. Thanks.

01-06-2019, 06:39 AM - 1 Like	#11
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,202	Originally posted by HippyHippo I also found this, which is interesting. It asserts that the two slots are different hardware so there can be issues when formatting in one slot then using in a different slot. I’ve never cared which went in which slot, so might be a factor I swap cards all the time. Never had an issue.

01-06-2019, 07:11 AM - 1 Like	#12
HippyHippo Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Derby Posts: 98 Original Poster	Ok thanks everyone. Completely reformatting the cards has restored performance again.

01-06-2019, 07:33 AM - 1 Like	#13
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,403	Fat32 file system is the culprit. There are better file systems available but fat32 is a widely used standard that makes it very portable but this is one downside.

01-06-2019, 08:20 AM - 1 Like	#14
joergens.mi Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 408	Maybe another reason, why I don't have the problem, is, after copying the pictures to the computer, I put back the card to the camera and format the card there. I don't delete pictures on the card, and the reformatting gives the card the chance of wear leveling the file system.

01-06-2019, 11:43 AM	#15
pschlute Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Surrey, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,202	Originally posted by HippyHippo Ok thanks everyone. Completely reformatting the cards has restored performance again. Did you format in camera or with software ?