C200: CFast compatability - Cards that support VPG-130

"IMPORTANT
Proper operation cannot be guaranteed for all recording media.
In some cases, it may take longer to write data on the CFast card and recording may stop. To avoid this, we recommend that users regularly fully format and refresh their card using the "CFast Full Format and Refresh Tool" available from the link below.
SanDisk : http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17370
Lexar : http://www.lexar.com/support/downloads
If the card is inserted into a camera with a different firmware version, a message recommending to initialize the card may be displayed. In such case, back up the clips recorded on the card and then initialize it with the camera."


I would like to use the Sandisk tool but have not been able to get it to install successfully on any of my Macs . The install starts, seems t proceed normally and then fails. Are you using Macs? Obviously you’re using the app so its installed on what ever computer you are using.
 
No, I use PCs.

I thought you were using Lexar cards, though. I guess you have Sandisk too.

Interestingly, Arri no longer approves Sandisk for the Amira, otherwise I would have bought Sandisk cards for it so I could also use them on my C300s. So I got Lexar 3600x for the Amira and have Lexar 3500x for the C300 Mark IIs. I'm tempted to try them out with each other but Lexar says they cannot be used on the cameras they are not approved for.
 
Eric Coughlin said:
I had the buffer overflow issue on a couple shoots and found a solution to the issue on Canon's page of approved cards.


below.
SanDisk : http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/17370
Lexar : http://www.lexar.com/support/downloads
If the card is inserted into a camera with a different firmware version, a message recommending to initialize the card may be displayed. In such case, back up the clips recorded on the card and then initialize it with the camera."


I now often use the "CFast Full Format and Refresh Tool" and have not had issues since. I use Lexar 256 GB 3500x cards, though it says Sandisk should run through the Sandisk tool as well.
Click to expand...


Is there a reason why Canon does not have their own Complete format and refresh tool available ? That would seem to be a No Brainer .
I have downloded the Sandisk tool and have not been able to get a successful install on my iMac running Sierra or Laptop running. High Sierra. The Installer starts, all seems good and then it fails to complete installation. Are you using windows or have you gotten the installer to work correctly on a Mac. If so how did you accomplish that ?
 
I just rented a pile of Sandisk cards for a C300 MKII shoot I did and lensrentals.com strongly recommended that I download the use the Sandisk "refresh and reformat" tool. It's PC only and I only have Macs. So the shoot went fine and I reformatted in camera.
 
Mark Smith said:
Is there a reason why Canon does not have their own Complete format and refresh tool available ? That would seem to be a No Brainer .
I have downloded the Sandisk tool and have not been able to get a successful install on my iMac running Sierra or Laptop running. High Sierra. The Installer starts, all seems good and then it fails to complete installation. Are you using windows or have you gotten the installer to work correctly on a Mac. If so how did you accomplish that ?
Click to expand...
As I already said, I only use PCs. So, Windows.

I download the file, and it's a .exe file. Don't think the program really installs to the computer, just opens up when you double click on it. I'm talking for Lexar; I haven't used Sandisk's.
 
Mark Smith said:
Is there a reason why Canon does not have their own Complete format and refresh tool available ?
Click to expand...
In the world of SSDs the refresh/sanitize tools are typically SSD brand specific. i.e. Samsung has their own tools for their Samsung SSDs. So same with CFast cards, it seems. Should be possible with a more standardized approach eventually, though.
 
Eric Coughlin said:
Interestingly, Arri no longer approves Sandisk for the Amira, otherwise I would have bought Sandisk cards for it so I could also use them on my C300s. So I got Lexar 3600x for the Amira and have Lexar 3500x for the C300 Mark IIs. I'm tempted to try them out with each other but Lexar says they cannot be used on the cameras they are not approved for.
Click to expand...

1. Lexar recently changed owners. It's no longer owned by Micron of Boise, Idaho, USA, but by Longsys of Shenzhen, China. After the ownership change a new compatibility chart appeared. Scroll down to FAQ and click on "What cameras are compatible with Lexar CFast cards". Or here's a screen grab if you can't find it:
http://www.lexar.com/products/memory-cards/cfast/Lexar-Professional-3600x-CFast-2-card.html#panel1d
Lexar_CFast_compatibility.jpg

2. Arri has had some issues with Sandisk claiming their reliability is too variable (rep told me). Support for the newest 256GB VPG-130 Sandisk CFast cards were promised in SUP5 around NAB time (in writing), but when SUP 5 came, support for the new VPG-130 Sandisk cards was MIA. Arri has to reevaluate that decision and fast! Lexar CFast cards are already hard to find and many are listed as discontinued at B&H.

3. I have used the 3600x cards in C300mk2 several times with no issues. Rolling mostly 4K.
 
Parrot said:
3. I have used the 3600x cards in C300mk2 several times with no issues. Rolling mostly 4K.
Click to expand...
Good to hear.

I was pretty annoyed about having to buy different Cfast cards for the Amira, as I was hoping I could use the Sandisk 256 GB. Arri told me Sandisk is not approved with their current firmware.


Here is my ever growing collection of CFast cards...


5qWygww.jpg
 
DLD said:
A fairly informative post on cards from Nikon Rumors, with bits on Lexar, Cfexpress, etc.

https://nikonrumors.com/2017/10/31/...odman-rumored-to-start-making-xqd-cards.aspx/
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting. This is a post everybody who's investing in CFast cards should read. CFExpress is coming and CFast is going away. I wouldn't bet on CFExpress being fully compatible with XQD, though. Specs are too different.

CFExpress is finally a memory card standard with some serious growth potential. PCI-E 1 lane is 8Gbits/s, and 8 lane PCI-E 5 will be 256GBits/s.
CFast 2.0 is stuck at 6Gbits/s interface speed and a big overhead in the standard.

My bet is on one or two more camera from Canon with CFast, then they switch full force to CFExpress...
 
Eric Coughlin said:
Good to hear.

I was pretty annoyed about having to buy different Cfast cards for the Amira, as I was hoping I could use the Sandisk 256 GB. Arri told me Sandisk is not approved with their current firmware.


Here is my ever growing collection of CFast cards...


5qWygww.jpg
Click to expand...

That's a serious collection. Hope you get good mileage out of it.
I am obviously somewhat skeptical of the new compatibility chart from Lexar appearing right after a Chinese company bought them.
I don't have a lot of mileage with the 3600x in C300mk2, and some Canon 1Dx mk2 owners have reported serious issues with the 3600x cards.
But so far it's all good, not a single frame lost with 3600x cards. No guarantee, though!

I went ahead and bought Sandisk 256GBs after Arri announced compatibility in SUP 5, btw.
So much for that decision...
 
Poor Canon with their poor cameras with poor CFast cards. Throw them right away in the trash can.

They don't have interface with 256GBits/s bandwidth to save required ONE Gbps. SIX Gbps CFast 2.0, which is 6x more then required, is just not enough.

Canon cameras are so obsolete. Especially those C200 - they are so obsolete that they are flying off the shelf by them selves.

What you need is 8 lane PCI-E 5 with 256GBits/s to save Up to 400 Mbps (future update) to 128 MB SD card.
And then whine about data volume required to handle raw.


PS. One PCIe V3.0 lane is 8 GT/s, with 1.54% overhead translates to 985 MB/s, bideirectional.

PPS. One PCIe v5.0 lane will be 32 GT/s. Eight PCIe v5.0 lanes are 256 GT/s.

PPPS. Theoretical interface speed has nothing to do with real transfer rates.
 
There has been mention of SD Card v43.07 here.

Also no mention of arrival or specification, but it will bee faaaaaaaaaaaast. Stop your new camera order if you can.
 
laverdir said:
Poor Canon with their poor cameras with poor CFast cards. Throw them right away in the trash can.
PPPS. Theoretical interface speed has nothing to do with real transfer rates.
Click to expand...

Funny, but seems like my point didn't come through, so here's a clarification:

Nobody should stop buying any cameras with CFast slots in them. They're state of the art today.
People should just invest with the knowledge that when they want to upgrade, it's possible that their next camera won't have a CFast slot in there because the CFast standard can not be upgraded past the current CFast 2.0. So invest and price yourself accordingly. Some camera manufacturers have deliberately been misleading their customers on this issue, hence it's worth mentioning. (It's not Canon!)

CF Express seems to be fully embraced by Canon as their reps are giving statements in press releases pushing CF Express. It's based on technology with good future upgrade path, and designed to accommodate a variety of applications, all the way from DSLRs to Alexa 65 type of data rates.

But for now the technical limit is thermal (as I'm sure you know), so interface speed is (as you say) somewhat irrelevant at this time.
The critical number to watch for progress is Mbytes/Watt, not max write speed.
As we all know in this Canon forum, Canon limits their CFast write speed to 1Gbits/s (about 1/4 of what the standard is capable of) in the C200. And similarly Arri is advising their customers to only use the best cooled CFast slot in the Amira when running at max data rates. (200fps HD f.ex.)
 
Last edited:
Angelbird cards do work with the c200 even the 512GB version records the full hour without problems.
I'm currently testing a few cards of them the next few days and will keep you all updated.
 
Have anyone really tried to use Transcend cards with C200 or we will just blindly listen what Canon says ? Canon likes to be triple sure something will work, so they overkill everything. That's why Canon gear is the most reliable out there. Transcend 256 cards are 370MB/s, and that's 3 times faster than we need, so I'm pretty sure it will work without problems, as for the other similar cards. I have one Transcend card, but I have to wait for the C200 to try it.
 
guru said:
Have anyone really tried to use Transcend cards with C200 or we will just blindly listen what Canon says ? Canon likes to be triple sure something will work, so they overkill everything. That's why Canon gear is the most reliable out there. Transcend 256 cards are 370MB/s, and that's 3 times faster than we need, so I'm pretty sure it will work without problems, as for the other similar cards. I have one Transcend card, but I have to wait for the C200 to try it.
Click to expand...

Why would anyone buy any other CFast 2.0 card other than the EgoDisk cards since they are only $299.00 for a 256GB, meet the VPG-130 standard, have been proven by numerous users to function perfectly in the C200 with CRL and cost a mere fraction of what all of the other cards cost? Sure, in the beginning, it was prudent to stick with established, name-brand, ultra costly cards like Sandisk but when an alternative exists that now has a proven track record and costs only a small portion of what the "name brand" cards cost, wy waste money? Transcend told me that NONE of their cards meet the VPG-130 standard, therefore they will not work with the C200. Simple.
 
puredrifting said:
Why would anyone buy any other CFast 2.0 card other than the EgoDisk cards since they are only $299.00 for a 256GB, meet the VPG-130 standard, have been proven by numerous users to function perfectly in the C200 with CRL and cost a mere fraction of what all of the other cards cost? Sure, in the beginning, it was prudent to stick with established, name-brand, ultra costly cards like Sandisk but when an alternative exists that now has a proven track record and costs only a small portion of what the "name brand" cards cost, wy waste money? Transcend told me that NONE of their cards meet the VPG-130 standard, therefore they will not work with the C200. Simple.
Click to expand...

I'm talking from a standpoint that Transcend cards already exists in some peoples drawers, so they should use it, not blindly follow the overkilled standard :) Off course new purchases should be EgoFast, but I will thorougly test my Transcend card and post the results.

edit: Just tested it in a USB3 reader with Blackmagic Disk speed test, and writing speed never gets under 250MB/s, and pretty much locked at 262MB/s most of the time.
 
Last edited:
guru said:
I'm talking from a standpoint that Transcend cards already exists in some peoples drawers, so they should use it, not blindly follow the overkilled standard :) Off course new purchases should be EgoFast, but I will thorougly test my Transcend card and post the results.

edit: Just tested it in a USB3 reader with Blackmagic Disk speed test, and writing speed never gets under 250MB/s, and pretty much locked at 262MB/s most of the time.
Click to expand...
I tested my Transcend a couple of weeks ago and the Blackmagic disc speed test said it was fast enough. After about 2.5 minutes in my C200 it gave buffer overrun errors. Cinema5d said they used Transcend but not which one.
Mine is a CFX600. Maybe if you have a CFX650 you will have success.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top