F3: New 120G XQD card?

C

captslomo

Well-known member
Since we had to update the FS-7/F5/F55 firmware to use these new XQD cards, does this mean the F3 would not be able to record on them without a similar update?
 
Didnt know there are SxS to XQD adapters. But I see no point using that for internal recording on the F3.
 
J.Brown said:
Didnt know there are SxS to XQD adapters. But I see no point using that for internal recording on the F3.
Click to expand...

Well, XQD cards in an SxS adapter cost a fraction of an equal capacity SxS card. That's why my sales rep steered me towards that route several years ago when I bought my F55.

A 128GB SxS card is $993.33 @ B&H. The equivalent XQD/SxS adapter combo is $200.34. And keep in mind that Sony has approved these XQD/SxS combos to be fully compatible with all internal resolutions, codecs, frame rates and bit rate. For about 1/5th the cost.

So, while I do not have an F3, the point is the same as with my F55. You're saving major money while still using real Sony media that Sony has approved.

I have 11 cards. 5x 64GB's and 6x 128GB's. Going by current price differentials, that's almost $4,800 I saved just on the 128GB cards. What could you do with almost an extra $5K you didn't have to spend? Buy a new lens? Upgrade some older gear? Take a little vacation? Put it in the bank?
 
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JB: not if you value your files. I would never use SD cards for a professional shoot. As R&G correctly noted, there is a massive savings in using XQD cards in a Sony SxS adapter, over using the Sony SxS Pro+ cards. I've been doing so for nearly four years now without a hitch. (Well, once the editors early on downloaded the XQD drivers to their NLE.) :thumbsup:

What I was hoping to avoid was having to parse through my card/adapter stash each time I shoot with the F3, should I buy some of the new cards, to make sure I've got the right one loaded. But I suspect that's gonna be an issue.
 
In ten years, since I started using SD-cards, not one has failed. But I had a couple of CF cards going bad.
 
I've never had issues with my old 64GB XQD cards in the F3 with the XQD-SxS adapter. (and at the 35mbps record speed never needed anything bigger for the F3).
But I don't have any of the new XQD 120GB cards to try - so I wouldn't even venture a guess as to whether the F3 would accept them.
 
On the basis of the white paper issued by Sony re the new G120 and G140 cards stating that most late model cams need firmware updates and the fact that the paper goes on to say that these cards are incompatible with CineAlta cameras I guess the answer is probably a no go for the F3.

Chris Young

XQD cards compatability on G120 & G240.jpg
 
I use only SXS cards in the F3. I use an Odyssey 7Q+ if I need the higher quality 422 or 444.
I am always surprised at the grade - ability of the 420 in camera recording. I alway record both internally whenever recording to the Odyssey for back up.

The F3 is a great little camera.
 
cyvideo said:
On the basis of the white paper issued by Sony re the new G120 and G140 cards stating that most late model cams need firmware updates and the fact that the paper goes on to say that these cards are incompatible with CineAlta cameras I guess the answer is probably a no go for the F3.

Chris Young

View attachment 134304
Click to expand...


I've read through that announcement multiple times, but find the wording a bit confusing.

Can anyone confirm whether the 240GB XQD cards (the 400MB/s-440MB/s ones) are compatible with the F55 with firmware v9.2?

I've got an F55 shoot coming up and we need really long record times. The rental house doesn't have 256GB SxS cards, so the 240GB XQDs are looking like our best option (if they'll work).

Can anyone confirm one way or the other?
 
I did not do extensive testing but the Sony XQD 64GB, Sony XQD 128GB, and the new Sony XQD 120GB cards all record on the F3 with the Sony SXS/XQD adapter. The F3 used for the quick test has Version 1.45 firmware installed. I do not use the F3 very often anymore but man does it still look good...
 
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