Memory Card Speed for Sports

<p>How fast of a memory card are you guys using? Is there a point where the memory card speed doesn't matter anymore (ie camera buffer can't keep up with the speed of the card)? I'm using a 7D.</p>

Cameras do have maximum write speed.

There is a list of the write speed for the 7D:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/

camera_wb_multi_page0c99.html?cid=6007-

10294

<p>Sorry, my phone mangled the URL: http://www.robgalbraith.com/camera_wb_multi_page0c99.html?cid=6007- 10294</p>

<p>Find out what your camera's specs call for and get that card. Get a faster card if you are thinking of upgrading bodies. Be aware, that some camera's fill their buffers faster (or empty slower) if recording to two different cards. I believe (not positive) that the Canon 5D3 writes faster to the CF card than the SD card. Either way, it does not write simultaneously to both - again a factor. I use a 60 mbs rated CF card in my 5D3 shooting raw only to the CF. I rarely shoot beyond 2-3 seconds and have never run into buffer issues when doing so. But as you can see, we aren't talk about all that many shots; 15-20 in roughly 3 seconds. My 1D3 is spec'd for a slower card, but that is probably due to the time it was released, I don't see any difference between the spec'd card and a faster card when shooting that body. In other words, the faster card (faster than camera is spec'd) does not seem to make any difference in buffer fill time. YMMV<br>

Also, the faster cards are really only necessary if you are shooting at high frame rates, like with sports or BIF shutter-gun approach. If your idea of fast shooting is 5 frames, don't worry too much. Find the best deal on a name brand, even at moderate speed you'll be okay.</p>