why the difference?

[New_Zealand]

I was looking at the 7d, 5d and my old Rebel Xti that doesn't shoot video and they all use the flash card (sandisk) but the 60d uses the SD card. Why so small?

 

[Guest]

I was looking at the 7d, 5d and my old Rebel Xti that doesn't shoot video and they all use the flash card (sandisk) but the 60d uses the SD card. Why so small?

For usability, it hardly makes a difference wether it is SD or CF, if you are using a faster SD card. However, the transfer speeds to the computer do make a difference.

Anyway, it can be assumed that 60D and below are targeted to the consumers who prefer the widely used SD format.

 

[Samuel H]

the best CF cards are faster than the best SD cards, which means more stills in burst mode before the buffer is full and the rate is decreased, and faster transfer speeds when moving stuff to the PC

but those are best vs best: average CF cards are just as fast as average SD cards, and there are very slow CF cards and very slow SD cards

 

[Guest]

the best CF cards are faster than the best SD cards, which means more stills in burst mode before the buffer is full and the rate is decreased, and faster transfer speeds when moving stuff to the PC

but those are best vs best: average CF cards are just as fast as average SD cards, and there are very slow CF cards and very slow SD cards

Yes, you are correct. I was talking in terms of using the 60D and T3i/T2i consumer cameras, and did not specify that. If the camera's buffer is up to it, a CF can outperform an SD. Thank you for clarifying.

 

[DavidBeier]

I personally think it's a bone-headed move by Canon. I understand their desire to make the Rebel line shoot SD since they are more consumer oriented but the 60D should shoot flash because it's a better format (it should also be made of metal...). I love my 60D but it does annoy me that it shoots SD while my old Rebel XT is on CF.

I also just prefer CF because they're more solid and larger so I'm less likely to lose them.

 

[Samuel H]

I like the faster options and the small-but-not-too-small size of CF, but every time I insert the card I'm afraid I might bend one of the pins and ruin the camera; in the end, I'd rather use SD unless I really need the higher bandwith (not the case with current canons)

 

[M. Gilden]

I was looking at the 7d, 5d and my old Rebel Xti that doesn't shoot video and they all use the flash card (sandisk) but the 60d uses the SD card. Why so small?

Ok, one second. Just to clarify some things here, because I'm not sure if everyone is on the same page:

Flash card is a term that usually refers to Solid State memory. Since all of the cards we are discussing here use non-moving flashable chips as opposed to spinning media like a hard drive, they are all commonly called flash cards.
Sandisk is a brand name, and they make just about all forms of memory cards.

Now that that's cleared up, the format you are talking about (on the 7D, 5D and older Rebel) is called Compact Flash, and it has been around a lot longer than the smalller and more contemporary Secure Digital. But don't let the name "Compact Flash" fool you, not all CF cards are based on Flash Memory. I used to own one called a microdrive, which actually had a teeny tiny motor and spinning HD inside it. Gave massive amounts of memory back in the day, but was slower than the flash-based media.
But here's the other thing- CF cards weren't just for memory. I had an old PocketPC with a CF slot, and since the CF interface internally is very similar to the old PC ATA/IDE interface, you had all kinds of neat accessories, like GPS units, modems, RFID scanners, etc, as well as just memory cards. To this day, many point-of-sale devices in department stores and warehouses have CF slots for this very thing.

So, back in the day Compact Flash was THE format that everything used, whether it was professional or consumer gear.

But since then, Secure Digital has emerged as a strictly memory card format that is smaller and less expensive to manufacture (ok, there was a brief stint with some sort of IO interface for SD-based accessories, but that never caught on). But you don't find consumer electronics with CF cards much anymore because as far as strictly memory cards go, there isn't much of an advantage to the design. The SD format is less complex and cheaper to produce.

So why do professional high end cameras still use CF?
You could say because there are more high end CF memory cards than there are SD. But then you could ask, why is THAT the case?
I'm under the impression that in the professional world, many pros have already invested heavily in high end professional quality CF cards. In general, I've noticed that professional gear doesn't adopt new formats as quickly as consumer electronics do. You have something that works, and works well, why switch to an entirely new format and be forced to buy all new expensive pro cards? Therefore, pro cameras are continuing to use the older technology, and in turn manufacturers are gearing their higher end cards for that format.

To conclude my little rant- I actually love that the 60D uses SD media. I prefer it, since it is compatible with more of my equipment (built in slots, readers, etc) and can be found for cheaper per Gigabyte. I sold almost all of my CF cards years go. Since the 60D is priced closer to consumer level, it makes sense that would adopt the more consumer friendly format IMO.

 

[kylevant]

Ok, one second. Just to clarify some things here, because I'm not sure if everyone is on the same page:

Flash card is a term that usually refers to Solid State memory. Since all of the cards we are discussing here use non-moving flashable chips as opposed to spinning media like a hard drive, they are all commonly called flash cards.
Sandisk is a brand name, and they make just about all forms of memory cards.

Now that that's cleared up, the format you are talking about (on the 7D, 5D and older Rebel) is called Compact Flash, and it has been around a lot longer than the smalller and more contemporary Secure Digital. But don't let the name "Compact Flash" fool you, not all CF cards are based on Flash Memory. I used to own one called a microdrive, which actually had a teeny tiny motor and spinning HD inside it. Gave massive amounts of memory back in the day, but was slower than the flash-based media.
But here's the other thing- CF cards weren't just for memory. I had an old PocketPC with a CF slot, and since the CF interface internally is very similar to the old PC ATA/IDE interface, you had all kinds of neat accessories, like GPS units, modems, RFID scanners, etc, as well as just memory cards. To this day, many point-of-sale devices in department stores and warehouses have CF slots for this very thing.

So, back in the day Compact Flash was THE format that everything used, whether it was professional or consumer gear.

But since then, Secure Digital has emerged as a strictly memory card format that is smaller and less expensive to manufacture (ok, there was a brief stint with some sort of IO interface for SD-based accessories, but that never caught on). But you don't find consumer electronics with CF cards much anymore because as far as strictly memory cards go, there isn't much of an advantage to the design. The SD format is less complex and cheaper to produce.

So why do professional high end cameras still use CF?
You could say because there are more high end CF memory cards than there are SD. But then you could ask, why is THAT the case?
I'm under the impression that in the professional world, many pros have already invested heavily in high end professional quality CF cards. In general, I've noticed that professional gear doesn't adopt new formats as quickly as consumer electronics do. You have something that works, and works well, why switch to an entirely new format and be forced to buy all new expensive pro cards? Therefore, pro cameras are continuing to use the older technology, and in turn manufacturers are gearing their higher end cards for that format.

To conclude my little rant- I actually love that the 60D uses SD media. I prefer it, since it is compatible with more of my equipment (built in slots, readers, etc) and can be found for cheaper per Gigabyte. I sold almost all of my CF cards years go. Since the 60D is priced closer to consumer level, it makes sense that would adopt the more consumer friendly format IMO.

Fantastic post. Personally I say: Out with the old, in with the new. SD will continue to rock. It will get faster, bigger, and it will run in almost everything.