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SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)
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(5.0 out of 5)
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Sandisk Extreme III 4 GB SDHC Card with MicroMate Reader - Great SD Set for SDHC Compatible Devices
(5 out of 5) by Mark on May 21, 2008 (East Coast)The SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card with MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader is a great set. Sandisk cards average about $15 to $20 more per card than some of the off-brands like transcend and dane-elec. If you don't have an SDHC reader, this set includes a reader for your computers that aren't SDHC compatible. If not you can just transfer your pics directly from your camera with your card still inserted.In general I would still choose SanDisk over that one or even over PNY and Kingston.
As long as your devices are compatible with the SDHC format, this card is a great buy. 4 GB is a nice size though I do prefer 8 GB capacity for high capacity storage. Sandisk is generally very reliable in honoring their warrantees, though I have yet to have an issue with their SD or SDHC memory cards.
The class 6 speed is the fastest speed available in mass market SDHC cards. Class 6 guarantees minimum transfer speeds of 6 MBs, but I've gotten speeds up to 20Mbs! That's based upon sequential reads and writes, which isn't totally realistic but still possible to attain in some circumstances. That makes this card perfect for storing pictures in RAW image formats.
General SDHC and SD Card Tips
There are a few tips that I've learned the hard way through buying TOO MANY different memory cards.
1. Make sure your device is compatible with the card! Even in regular SD cards, some older electronics aren't compatible with that large of a size (2 GB). In terms of SDHC cards, make sure your camera or other device is SDHC compatible. SDHC is different from regular SD and only newer devices tend to have built-in compatibility
2. Once you install this in your camera or device, you will generally want to format the card with your compatible device's interface. That is because the standard formats for certain devices, particularly Canon, are different from the factory installed format
3. Just like your devices, most computer SD card readers are not compatible with the SDHC format. So use a card reader or download the pictures via USB connection to the camera with the card still installed.
4. For some reason, placing the card in the locked position allows some older laptops to still read it. This is just to be used in a pinch however, and it won't apply to all systems
5. If you did not properly format your card, you may be able to save things to it and then have them "disappear." If this happens to you, make sure you use the software recovery tools BEFORE you try to save anything else to your card. That way, you can retrieve your images without over-writing them.
6. Make sure you know what you are going to use this card for. Once you have set up everything and ensured it's all compatible, you still have to decide on speed. If you are using this for storing RAW images instead of JPEGs or HD video, step up to the faster class 6 speed format if you can afford it.
7. If you are going to pay more for a faster speed, make sure your device can benefit from it. For example, some Kodak cameras are set to a fixed voltage and cannot go faster than standard speed. So the extra cash spent on Class 4, 5, or 6 is basically wasted.
Conclusion
It's great to start off your SDHC card collection with a set like this that includes a spare reader. It's also a good idea to have several extra cards on hand just in case. This 4 GB card is a nice performer. If you have a high capacity camera (10 Megapixels or more) and are storing videos or RAW images, the extra cash for the 8GB card is worth it. Or you may want to step up to the larger 16 GB size that is now available.
Enjoy!
As long as your devices are compatible with the SDHC format, this card is a great buy. 4 GB is a nice size though I do prefer 8 GB capacity for high capacity storage. Sandisk is generally very reliable in honoring their warrantees, though I have yet to have an issue with their SD or SDHC memory cards.
The class 6 speed is the fastest speed available in mass market SDHC cards. Class 6 guarantees minimum transfer speeds of 6 MBs, but I've gotten speeds up to 20Mbs! That's based upon sequential reads and writes, which isn't totally realistic but still possible to attain in some circumstances. That makes this card perfect for storing pictures in RAW image formats.
General SDHC and SD Card Tips
There are a few tips that I've learned the hard way through buying TOO MANY different memory cards.
1. Make sure your device is compatible with the card! Even in regular SD cards, some older electronics aren't compatible with that large of a size (2 GB). In terms of SDHC cards, make sure your camera or other device is SDHC compatible. SDHC is different from regular SD and only newer devices tend to have built-in compatibility
2. Once you install this in your camera or device, you will generally want to format the card with your compatible device's interface. That is because the standard formats for certain devices, particularly Canon, are different from the factory installed format
3. Just like your devices, most computer SD card readers are not compatible with the SDHC format. So use a card reader or download the pictures via USB connection to the camera with the card still installed.
4. For some reason, placing the card in the locked position allows some older laptops to still read it. This is just to be used in a pinch however, and it won't apply to all systems
5. If you did not properly format your card, you may be able to save things to it and then have them "disappear." If this happens to you, make sure you use the software recovery tools BEFORE you try to save anything else to your card. That way, you can retrieve your images without over-writing them.
6. Make sure you know what you are going to use this card for. Once you have set up everything and ensured it's all compatible, you still have to decide on speed. If you are using this for storing RAW images instead of JPEGs or HD video, step up to the faster class 6 speed format if you can afford it.
7. If you are going to pay more for a faster speed, make sure your device can benefit from it. For example, some Kodak cameras are set to a fixed voltage and cannot go faster than standard speed. So the extra cash spent on Class 4, 5, or 6 is basically wasted.
Conclusion
It's great to start off your SDHC card collection with a set like this that includes a spare reader. It's also a good idea to have several extra cards on hand just in case. This 4 GB card is a nice performer. If you have a high capacity camera (10 Megapixels or more) and are storing videos or RAW images, the extra cash for the 8GB card is worth it. Or you may want to step up to the larger 16 GB size that is now available.
Enjoy!
58 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
This SD card just works!
(5 out of 5) by N. Keller on Jun 12, 2007 (New York)For anyone with a fast 10-megapixel camera that accepts high-capacity SDHC cards (check with your manufacturer!), this choice is a no-brainer! Nikon USA reassuringly has this specific card on their "approved" list for the D80 and other recent DSLR models.
Shooting in high-quality RAW format, capacity is now up to 326 images (or more), meaning less chance of running out of image storage -- usually at the worst possible moment -- when you're paying more attention to the scene before you rather than the image count-down indicator. And if you shoot in .jpg format, you now have a virtual warehouse for your images. The free USB reader is a bonus, allowing for quick, reliable image transfers to your hard drive, Mac or Win.
The downside? As of June, 2007, these cards are still relatively expensive and in scarce supply. But, based upon past SD card history, it should become a non-issue over the coming months. Still, if you want speed, reliability AND capacity for your new digital camera NOW, this card is worth the price.
Shooting in high-quality RAW format, capacity is now up to 326 images (or more), meaning less chance of running out of image storage -- usually at the worst possible moment -- when you're paying more attention to the scene before you rather than the image count-down indicator. And if you shoot in .jpg format, you now have a virtual warehouse for your images. The free USB reader is a bonus, allowing for quick, reliable image transfers to your hard drive, Mac or Win.
The downside? As of June, 2007, these cards are still relatively expensive and in scarce supply. But, based upon past SD card history, it should become a non-issue over the coming months. Still, if you want speed, reliability AND capacity for your new digital camera NOW, this card is worth the price.
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
20 MB per second, no kidding!
(5 out of 5) by Brian P. Barnes on Oct 19, 2007 (Austin, Texas USA)This device does exactly what it claims and a bit more. Every other memory card I have benchmarked has been overrated, many shamelessly. Sandisk claims 20 MB/s and I measured 20.1 with HD tach, with a 20.2 burst rate! My digital pictures are 18 MB so I definitely need the speed and Sandisk Extreme III brings home the bacon. Well done!
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
Wow Great Carder Reader and Card
(5 out of 5) by P. Thomas on Oct 30, 2007 (Fredonia, WI USA)I was having problems reading SDHC Cards on my SD readers, but no problem using my camera. So I scoured all the sites for a good deal on SDHC readers. I was dumbfounded about the inexpensive price that included the Extreme III cards. I have purchased two 2GB Extreme III cards that are great. I can take 3 shots/second with this card. Incredible stop action pics for tennis and football.
The card reader is smaller than my old one I loved, what a plus. It takes the SDHC without a hitch. It comes with a groovy holder that protects the reader and card. This one is definitely a photographer's friend.
I wholeheartedly recommend this combo and I would like to thank everyone that has written reviews on Amazon because I come here first.
The card reader is smaller than my old one I loved, what a plus. It takes the SDHC without a hitch. It comes with a groovy holder that protects the reader and card. This one is definitely a photographer's friend.
I wholeheartedly recommend this combo and I would like to thank everyone that has written reviews on Amazon because I come here first.
49 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
Great Memory Card
(5 out of 5) by Kristi Branstetter on Sep 16, 2007 (Raytown, Missouri United States)I bought a new Canon PowerShot G9 recently. I had to buy a new memory card. My Canon PowerShot G6 took CompactFlash cards.
Comparison between CF and SDHC
Cost
I had to buy a 2 GB CF card at RadioShack for $80 while I was on Vacation in July. I bought this SDHC for $63, which includes a reader.
Download Speed
This card is much faster than the CF by far. It takes me half the time or more to download photos. Whereas my pictures on my Canon G6 ranged from 1 to 3 MB, the pictures from my Canon G9 range from 3 to 5 MB.
I never take the card out of the camera. I simply hook my camera up to the computer via a USB cord. It saves wear and tear on the card. I don't really use that much battery power from the camera.
Comparison between CF and SDHC
Cost
I had to buy a 2 GB CF card at RadioShack for $80 while I was on Vacation in July. I bought this SDHC for $63, which includes a reader.
Download Speed
This card is much faster than the CF by far. It takes me half the time or more to download photos. Whereas my pictures on my Canon G6 ranged from 1 to 3 MB, the pictures from my Canon G9 range from 3 to 5 MB.
I never take the card out of the camera. I simply hook my camera up to the computer via a USB cord. It saves wear and tear on the card. I don't really use that much battery power from the camera.