Memory Card for Sony F828

King Tiger · 22nd July 2004

I am thinking of getting another memory card (1 GB or more) as I will be going for a short trip to KL during the National Day period.

At first, I am thinking of getting Micro Drive (2.2 GB or 4 GB), since the overall storage/cost is cheaper than CF card, and also, Micro Drive have the ability to record movie image in 30fps instead of 16.6fps in the normal CF card.
However, there is an article on Micro Drive (which is built in hard disk inside), is fragile to impact, not suitable for too cold weather, too hot weather and also, after a continuous of long usage, it will generate heat.
If such a case of generate heat, I wonder if it will damage the component inside the camera.

Another issue is about CF card.
Any idea will there be any difference affect on F828s' read/wrtie speed between a normal CF card, 40X CF card and 80X CF card or the Lexar MS Pro, Sandisk MS Pro and Sandisk Ultra II MS Pro?
Please comment and suggest.

snowspeeder · 22nd July 2004

I'm using both Lexar CF 40X and MSPRO 512MB cards. Compared to the normal Sandisk 256MB (which is now semi-retired and only serve as backup), the write speed is slightly faster, especially when you're shooting in 8MP. Probably in this case, the write-speed of sony's 2MB/sec has been optimzed.

rexus · 22nd July 2004

From my current experience, after using microdrive for some time, I dun find it slow as compare to the normal cards. one of the reason is that the speed is already being 'optimised'. I do not think there is a significant increase in speed even if you are to get the fastest card on the market.

Unless you are going to take action sports and stuff, that slightly increase in speed will not be observed if you are out walking in the street shooing at leisure. After all you have all the time to spend.

For me, I leave the card in the camera 100% of the time and it never come out of the camera. Thus there is no reason to drop the MD. If you drop the camera, I have nothing to say..haha.. thus the MD is safe in the camera. With such a huge storage in the MD (2.2G in my case) you never got the chance to fill up the card. I can record more than 550 or so photos at 8M resolution. and for RAW about 100 or so.

Heat wise...its not that significant too. I find that my body heat from the hands are generating more heat than the camera or the MD..haha...

King Tiger · 22nd July 2004

Suggest I will go and get a Micro Drive so that I dun have to worry about "Out of Memory" on my KL trip.
Btw, any place selling? I can't find it anywhere at Sim Lim.

lexx · 22nd July 2004

hi there. you may like to double check on the use of microdrive for movie. as i recall, only MS pro can record at 30fps. cheers.

bry'an · 22nd July 2004

Originally Posted by lexx

hi there. you may like to double check on the use of microdrive for movie. as i recall, only MS pro can record at 30fps. cheers.

don agree. normal cf cannot support 30fps due to the limitation of its slower writing speed. Micro Drive and MS pro are comparable in term of their wrting performance. not sure which one is faster, but heard that Micro drive can support 30fps feature.

rexus · 22nd July 2004

Originally Posted by bry'an

don agree. normal cf cannot support 30fps due to the limitation of its slower writing speed. Micro Drive and MS pro are comparable in term of their wrting performance. not sure which one is faster, but heard that Micro drive can support 30fps feature.

Yes MD can take 30fps...really make the movie nicer! smooth!

holeinone · 22nd July 2004

Originally Posted by King Tiger

I am thinking of getting another memory card (1 GB or more) as I will be going for a short trip to KL during the National Day period.

At first, I am thinking of getting Micro Drive (2.2 GB or 4 GB), since the overall storage/cost is cheaper than CF card, and also, Micro Drive have the ability to record movie image in 30fps instead of 16.6fps in the normal CF card.
However, there is an article on Micro Drive (which is built in hard disk inside), is fragile to impact, not suitable for too cold weather, too hot weather and also, after a continuous of long usage, it will generate heat.
If such a case of generate heat, I wonder if it will damage the component inside the camera.

Another issue is about CF card.
Any idea will there be any difference affect on F828s' read/wrtie speed between a normal CF card, 40X CF card and 80X CF card or the Lexar MS Pro, Sandisk MS Pro and Sandisk Ultra II MS Pro?
Please comment and suggest.

On long trips I will bring along my XDrive Pro to copy the photos out after the MS is filled. With a 20Gb harddisk, it's way bigger than any memory card you will ever find. Way cheaper too, probably cost you less than $300 with a harddisk. This is a good alternative if you don't want to spend on a large CF or MS Pro.

bernards · 23rd July 2004

Originally Posted by snowspeeder

I'm using both Lexar CF 40X and MSPRO 512MB cards. Compared to the normal Sandisk 256MB (which is now semi-retired and only serve as backup), the write speed is slightly faster, especially when you're shooting in 8MP. Probably in this case, the write-speed of sony's 2MB/sec has been optimzed.

I agree with you. On my D70, the speed difference between a microdrive and a 40x is pretty significant. But for street shooting, the extra speed doesn't amount to anything useful. Unless you can afford large and fast cards. I would rather get a large and slow card, then a small but fast card.

trueno · 23rd July 2004

Hi Guys,

Actually i do find before consider getting bigger size capacity memory card,
do consider battery juice too.

My battery juice ratio is 512mb : 1 FM50
Note: altogether 355 shots, 90% use viewfinder, LCD review 2x on 100+shots &
use the pop-out flash instead(only 30% of the photo use the flash)
I am using a MS Pro & the battery left about 20mins.

Will try out with my MD and see how it last.....
MD consume more power, as there are mechanical parts inside, right?

bernards · 23rd July 2004

Yes, microdrives do suck up a whole lot more power then CF. I think the Sony eBook has got details on how much difference.

Many people who shoot with DLSRs leave their cams on all the time. But digicams will turn themselves off after a certain amount of time. So it might not be such a big deal for digicam users.

rexus · 23rd July 2004

MD will take about 30mins or so of life faster than CF on batteries. I always like the led flashing on my F828 when the MD writes....like a HDD..hahah

Ramses · 23rd July 2004

Just to add-on and share with you guys.... I have a Scandisk MSPro 512 which i bought so that I can use it for the movie mode. However I must say that for every time I used it, I will experience a currupted file in it. It can be any file...once it happened on a movie which I have to deleted it so that I can get on with downloading the rest behind it.
I even try to reformat it each time I ned to use it. But still useless..

I don't really know how to solve it but have to live with it perhaps.

So now I am using it as a backup.

pianodancer · 23rd July 2004

Originally Posted by Ramses

Just to add-on and share with you guys.... I have a Scandisk MSPro 512 which i bought so that I can use it for the movie mode. However I must say that for every time I used it, I will experience a currupted file in it. It can be any file...once it happened on a movie which I have to deleted it so that I can get on with downloading the rest behind it.
I even try to reformat it each time I ned to use it. But still useless..

I don't really know how to solve it but have to live with it perhaps.

So now I am using it as a backup.

Sounds like a faulty MSPro... get someone to try it on their cam.

King Tiger · 23rd July 2004

Originally Posted by Ramses

Just to add-on and share with you guys.... I have a Scandisk MSPro 512 which i bought so that I can use it for the movie mode. However I must say that for every time I used it, I will experience a currupted file in it. It can be any file...once it happened on a movie which I have to deleted it so that I can get on with downloading the rest behind it.
I even try to reformat it each time I ned to use it. But still useless..

I don't really know how to solve it but have to live with it perhaps.

So now I am using it as a backup.

It is still under warranty ?
Suggest you return and exhange for a new one.

rexus · 23rd July 2004

Originally Posted by Ramses

Just to add-on and share with you guys.... I have a Scandisk MSPro 512 which i bought so that I can use it for the movie mode. However I must say that for every time I used it, I will experience a currupted file in it. It can be any file...once it happened on a movie which I have to deleted it so that I can get on with downloading the rest behind it.
I even try to reformat it each time I ned to use it. But still useless..

I don't really know how to solve it but have to live with it perhaps.

So now I am using it as a backup.

Did u manage to upgrade ur firmware in the camera to Version 2? It is suppose to fix bugs that damage the files when transfering from USB2. The bug does not occur to me but maybe it does happen to some of you guys out there.

Ramses · 24th July 2004

Originally Posted by rexus

Did u manage to upgrade ur firmware in the camera to Version 2? It is suppose to fix bugs that damage the files when transfering from USB2. The bug does not occur to me but maybe it does happen to some of you guys out there.

hi... No i did not...
Is there a firmware for 828?
Please guide me...

thanks!

Ramses · 24th July 2004

Originally Posted by King Tiger

It is still under warranty ?
Suggest you return and exhange for a new one.

yeah perhaps i shld bring it to Eastgear which was where i got it...

pretty annoyed frankly.....

King Tiger · 24th July 2004

Originally Posted by Ramses

yeah perhaps i shld bring it to Eastgear which was where i got it...
pretty annoyed frankly.....

If under warranty, I believe will exhange one to one for you.
Do let us know.

King Tiger · 24th July 2004

Originally Posted by Ramses

hi... No i did not...
Is there a firmware for 828?
Please guide me...

thanks!

Yes, there is.
Check it out on the new thread at Sony Forum.

22nd July 2004	#1
King Tiger Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: In the heart of SengKang Posts: 4,976	Memory Card for Sony F828 I am thinking of getting another memory card (1 GB or more) as I will be going for a short trip to KL during the National Day period. At first, I am thinking of getting Micro Drive (2.2 GB or 4 GB), since the overall storage/cost is cheaper than CF card, and also, Micro Drive have the ability to record movie image in 30fps instead of 16.6fps in the normal CF card. However, there is an article on Micro Drive (which is built in hard disk inside), is fragile to impact, not suitable for too cold weather, too hot weather and also, after a continuous of long usage, it will generate heat. If such a case of generate heat, I wonder if it will damage the component inside the camera. Another issue is about CF card. Any idea will there be any difference affect on F828s' read/wrtie speed between a normal CF card, 40X CF card and 80X CF card or the Lexar MS Pro, Sandisk MS Pro and Sandisk Ultra II MS Pro? Please comment and suggest. Last edited by King Tiger; 22nd July 2004 at 02:09 PM.

23rd July 2004	#13
Ramses Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Singapore la Posts: 90	Just to add-on and share with you guys.... I have a Scandisk MSPro 512 which i bought so that I can use it for the movie mode. However I must say that for every time I used it, I will experience a currupted file in it. It can be any file...once it happened on a movie which I have to deleted it so that I can get on with downloading the rest behind it. I even try to reformat it each time I ned to use it. But still useless.. I don't really know how to solve it but have to live with it perhaps. So now I am using it as a backup. Last edited by Ramses; 23rd July 2004 at 09:12 AM.

22nd July 2004	#2
snowspeeder Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: 35A East Coast Rd Posts: 3,436	I'm using both Lexar CF 40X and MSPRO 512MB cards. Compared to the normal Sandisk 256MB (which is now semi-retired and only serve as backup), the write speed is slightly faster, especially when you're shooting in 8MP. Probably in this case, the write-speed of sony's 2MB/sec has been optimzed.

22nd July 2004	#3
rexus Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bukit Batok Posts: 276	From my current experience, after using microdrive for some time, I dun find it slow as compare to the normal cards. one of the reason is that the speed is already being 'optimised'. I do not think there is a significant increase in speed even if you are to get the fastest card on the market. Unless you are going to take action sports and stuff, that slightly increase in speed will not be observed if you are out walking in the street shooing at leisure. After all you have all the time to spend. For me, I leave the card in the camera 100% of the time and it never come out of the camera. Thus there is no reason to drop the MD. If you drop the camera, I have nothing to say..haha.. thus the MD is safe in the camera. With such a huge storage in the MD (2.2G in my case) you never got the chance to fill up the card. I can record more than 550 or so photos at 8M resolution. and for RAW about 100 or so. Heat wise...its not that significant too. I find that my body heat from the hands are generating more heat than the camera or the MD..haha...

22nd July 2004	#5
lexx New Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 14	hi there. you may like to double check on the use of microdrive for movie. as i recall, only MS pro can record at 30fps. cheers.

23rd July 2004	#10
trueno Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 70	Hi Guys, Actually i do find before consider getting bigger size capacity memory card, do consider battery juice too. My battery juice ratio is 512mb : 1 FM50 Note: altogether 355 shots, 90% use viewfinder, LCD review 2x on 100+shots & use the pop-out flash instead(only 30% of the photo use the flash) I am using a MS Pro & the battery left about 20mins. Will try out with my MD and see how it last..... MD consume more power, as there are mechanical parts inside, right?

23rd July 2004	#11
bernards Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 884	Yes, microdrives do suck up a whole lot more power then CF. I think the Sony eBook has got details on how much difference. Many people who shoot with DLSRs leave their cams on all the time. But digicams will turn themselves off after a certain amount of time. So it might not be such a big deal for digicam users.