SDHC Card Test Updated with PNY Optima Pro 8GB

I received one of these cards and put it in the Canon XSi for test – results updated on the testing page.

SDHC Memory Card Tests with my Canon XSi

I ran some tests on the SDHC cards I’m currently using with my Canon XSi/450D.  I tested the number of simultaneous RAW shots that each card was able to handle as well as the number of shots I could fire in 10secs.  The RAW burst turned out to be 6 for all cards, which tells me that’s the limit of the XSi’s internal buffer.  More cards are tested on Rob Galbraith’s page.  

Based on Rob’s page, I’ll be looking for one of these cards for best performance: SanDisk Extreme III 8GB 30MB/s Edition, PNY Optima Pro 8GB, SanDisk Extreme III 8GB, Lexar Professional 8GB, ATP Pro Max, or Kingston Ultimate 120x.

Update 8/29/08: PNY Optima Pro 8GB results posted.  I ordered the PNY Optima Pro 8GB Class 6 card, and am disappointed in the results as it came in tied for last among my other cards.  Perhaps the 2GB card Rob tested is better performing.  I’ll have to try a SanDisk Extreme III 8GB next.

Update 9/16/08: AData Turbo 8GB Class 6 results posted.  This has been the worst card of the bunch.  It struggles to complete the 6 RAW shots and pulls off only 8-10 saves in the 10sec test period.

Update 9/23/08: SanDisk Extreme III 8GB Class 6 30MB/s Edition results posted.  You can’t beat the SanDisk.  It performed as its 4GB brother did – it wanted to get a 7th RAW burst frame, but just couldn’t make it.  I’m definitely at the limits of the camera — a faster writing camera could take more advantage of the speed this card allows.

SDHC Card	RAW Burst	Shots in 10sec
SanDisk Extreme III 8GB 30MB/s Edition	6	16.5-17
SanDisk Extreme III 4GB Class 6	6	17
SanDisk Ultra II 2GB Class 4	6	13
PNY Optima Pro 8GB Class 6	6	12
Patriot 4GB Class 6	6	12
Patriot 8GB Class 6	6	12
PNY Optima Pro 8GB Class 6	6	12
AData SDHC 8GB Class 6	5.5	9

Final Thoughts

Fry’s Feedback: The Patriot and AData cards are popular @ Fry’s because of their cost, but don’t provide the best performance.

Class Rankings: Don’t always tell the whole story as there’s wide variation in Class 6 speeds.  A good Class 4 card is shown to outperform the cheap Class 6 cards.