FS7: Interesting development on the XQD card front

mainstreetprod

mainstreetprod

Veteran
Just stumbled across this card on B & H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1082429-REG/lexar_lxqd64gcrbna1333_64gb_xqd_memory_card.html


It's the new Lexar 64gb XQD card- faster (200mbs) than a Sony S series (180mbs) and half the price (LIST price is $148). I've been holding off on additional card purchases because I thought prices would come down, looks like I was right to wait.

Right after buying my FS7 I found two Lexar 64gb cards that run at 164mbs for $200 each and thought it was an incredible deal because equivalent Sony cards were $300. Those cards work just fine with 4K and overcranking, these new ones are more than capable and cheaper.

So you can buy two of these for $300, or a 128gb Sony G card for $800, and get the same capacity and capability, other than theoretically faster upload to a HD.
 
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nyvz said:
Can you confirm it works in all modes including XAVC-I 4k 60p and XAVC-I 2k S&Q 180fps? I wouldn't trust the speed ratings to assume it is the same as a Sony S card. I would just worry that the camera would treat it as an N card and it wouldn't be able to shoot the highest bitrate formats.

BTW even cheaper on amazon http://www.amazon.com/Lexar-Professional-1333x-64GB-LXQD64GCRBNA1333/dp/B00O1M1UKW or buydig
Click to expand...


As I mentioned, my two cards are 164mbs and I've shot 4K 24p and 2k 180fps with no issues (haven't yet shot 4k 60P but will be trying that tonight). These new cards are considerably faster at 200mbs and should easily handle all the modes, but a test of them will tell us for sure. I recall reading that the Sony S cards (180mbs) are more than up to the task of any of the camera's modes and that faster cards are only needed for speedier uploads of footage to a HD.
 
Where are your numbers coming from? The specs listed on the box? N cards say 125MBps and are rated 125MBps read and 80MBps write which seems like it should be more than enough for all recording modes which top out at 75MBps, but obviously that's not the case, so I probably wouldn't go by numbers listed or tested and only go by what the camera will actually allow you to record.
 
Great to see prices coming down. I grabbed 4 of the S cards before they went out of stock and glad I did. The price difference for the G cards made no sense purchase wise for me. Its like I got a free 64gb card by going S cards over G.
 
What kind of reader do I need? Will they work with my existing Sony "G" reader?
Thanks!

=mark=
Mark Knobil
Docco DP Fs7, Panasonic HdX900, Aaton XT
 
Mknobil said:
What kind of reader do I need? Will they work with my existing Sony "G" reader?
Thanks!

=mark=
Mark Knobil
Docco DP Fs7, Panasonic HdX900, Aaton XT
Click to expand...

I heard the new G reader will read old S cards, but not the other way around. i.e. the S card reader will not read G cards.

Anyone confirm or deny?
 
Dennis it's the other way around. The Sony reader I have reads both but the G card reader only reads G cards.
 
OK glad you clarified it.

I'm wondering if the lexar cards have the same error protection as the Sony S-series do? Is be weary to use cards that weren't "as safe".

Anyone have more details on this?
 
Lexar have been my go-to CF card manufacturer for stills for years and they've always been totally reliable. Hope someone can confirm whether these work with every shooting mode. I'd be keen to pick up a couple of additional cards for that price - being able to shoot a full day without reusing any cards would certainly be nice.
 
I'm not questioning Lexar as the brand and their reliability. I was under the impression for some reason that the S-series cards did something extra special not found for example on the cheaper N-series cards.. so I wondered if that was the case as compared to the Lexar cards as well. As they just as special or….
 
Hopefully Lexar posts something to clear this up.

N-series cards give a warning when I put them in my FS7 and Z100 in 4K modes, but I am able to start recording (until the buffer fills up and crashes). So for now, it looks like Sony cams will allow you to try to use non-rated cards. It wouldn't surprise me if they took this functionality out in a firmware update.

I wonder if the Lexar cards are any more durable. I've already had one Sony N-series card give way at the mounting point. The plastic snapped off and the card is no longer usable.
 
Here's a question that is to the side of the point - I don't see any write protect switch on the XQD cards - Is that correct?
 
there is no write protect on the Sony XQD cards, and there is no write protect switch on the Sony Express adapter either.
 
I shot 180fps on Lexars when I first got the camera, and tried 4K 60P (UHD) a couple of days ago, no issues. My cards are Lexar "1100" series, 168mbs. The new Lexars are 200mbs. I don't get a warning with mine. You can't shoot over 180fps on internal cards.
 
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