Optimum cost vs. benefit M8 memory card speed

Rob-F

Rob-F

Likes Leicas
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What is the optimum memory card speed for an M8? One that will take full advantage of the M8 processing speed, but not be wasted on it, nor on the computer when downloading? I use Aperture on Mac OSX Snow Leopard. Is a Sandisk level 4 card enough? Or a 6? Is there a benefit to a 10?
 
I think the M8 is a slow camera in terms of write times, refresh times on the screen etc when compared to its contemporaries. It is certainly no speed demon so the main constraint is the camera not the card. I have not therefore worried about buying top end cards with super fast write times as when I have tried them I have not really noticed any appreciable difference.
 
Yeah I have also not found any difference between a modern high speed card versus one from several years ago. Class 10 30mb/s versus Class 4 15mb/s in this example.

The biggest difference will probably how fast the card can write to your computer as long as you have a card reader and cable connection that are all in line with the fastest speed.

The Leica doesn't seem to write any faster though.
 
i vaguely remember reading that the M8 can only write at class 6 speed. the class 10 card may upload to your computer faster, but the camera cannot write that fast.

bob
 
Thanks for the answers!

Thanks for the answers!

Thanks for the helpful answers. I decided to take advantage of Adorama's current sale on Sandisk cards. I got a 2-pack of 8gb class 6 cards for $39.98 with free shipping. So those will probably be my regular cards for the M8.2 for a while! Those along with two 4gb class 4 cards should do me!
 
on a different note,
I found 2 GB cards quite sufficient, especially when onle an 8 GB card had issues on the computer (fortunately resolved with recovery software) - how much are you prepared to loose!
I now use 2GB cards even with the M9
 
I think memory cards are so cheap now you are as well buying class 6 or 10 Lexar or Sandisk, I like the 4gb lexar premium 6 speed they can be bought for about £12. I do have a couple of 8gb but I'm lucky if I could fill a 2gb at a time. Its good to have the quick download speeds.
 
What I can report from my brief experience with the M8.2 is that class 2 cards are noticeably slow, both for writing and downloading. The fastest card I have yet is a class 4. That one will download 25 DNG files to the iMac in 35 seconds, which seems very good to me. I have ordered a pair of class 6 8gb, to compare. Your posts have convinced me I won't need to look for anything faster.

Note: Amazon isn't always the best deal! Many of their bargains seem to be on the older and slower cards.

Thanks, everyone!
 
I've tried the various speed cards in both M8 and M9, and while there is not a big difference between class 4, 6 and 10, the difference is there, especially between 4 and 6. I can get one more RAW shot off in a burst with a class 10 card than a class 4 card, and the time to have the full write to disk done is about 10 seconds faster.

I like the Transcend 8Gb, either class 6 or 10 best for value and quality. In various formats i've had more problems with Sandisk, and a lot more with Lexar.

8Gb cards in the M8 still keeps the shot counter below the '999' when shooting RAW, so it's convenient.
 
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