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strotter13 · Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 1683 Location: Nevada

Ok so it started out that Adorama had a deal on a 2GB eye fi card (a card that uses your wireless network to transfer you images wirelessly from your camera) for 25 bucks. I quickly bought the card, received it in the mail and set it up. It didn't work. I did some research and found that I had to buy the 4GB X2 card (45 bucks) for my camera. I bought it and received it in the mail today and set it up. Same result. Suddenly the thought occurred to me, what if this card cannot transfer RAW format images???? I switched my camera to capture in JPEG and walla it transferred. I grabbed the 2GB card to give it a try (as I had not mailed it back to return it yet) and success it transferred to. So I think to myself well I could probably shoot JPG in the studio....but let me check and see if they have a card that transfer RAW. I do some research and find out that I have to have the "PRO" model card in order to transfer RAW. Errrr, its 99 bucks! How did I go from 25 dollars to 99 dollars. I am still debating on putting down the cash or shooting in JPG......

hhltdave5 · Posted: Fri Sep 23, 2011 7:26 am

Shane one of the oldest marketing tricks in the world is to put up a price that is just too good to pass up. Everyone wants to get something for as little as possible and when they see a great price first impulse is to buy. The first impulse should be to keep reading the fine print and checking out exactly what you are getting.

In the photography area one of the biggest ploys like this is to offer memory cards for unbelievable prices. 8 gig for $19.99. Problem is they are the older and slower cards that no one wants anymore.

Nothing wrong with watching for legitimate sales but watch out for the "gotcha" type sales. The question I would ask myself with something like this is is this something that I really need and if it is worth the money you will be shelling out.

felix_casio · Joined: 16 Jul 2006 Posts: 1781 Location: www.felixtm.com

the whole technique seems to leave your images open for the taking. what is someone near you is able to obtain a copy of your images onto their computer as well.

strotter13 · Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 1683 Location: Nevada

No it is all secured, but after reading Dave's post, I don't really need them, so I am just going to return the money and keep the money as savings towards a new lens or camera.

pharm · Joined: 09 Jul 2006 Posts: 9422 Location: Never quite sure

strotter13 · Joined: 29 Nov 2010 Posts: 1683 Location: Nevada

rinder99 · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:53 am

Makes me wonder shane how i could possibly earn a living with a old 35mm Manual Film camera for 30 years without this stuff and without PS. LOL

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 8:53 am

Anybody who has ever worked in the "Retail world" like i have knows how this works.

It is an advertising gimic to get you in the door and then you find out that what you realy need isnt what is advertised but is something else and it is way more expensive.

But the Ad did what it was supposed to do which was to get you to the store and in the door and now since you are there why go anywhere else to get what you need when they have what you need and want right there.

Ever see the tire Ads for 4 tires for $99?

What do you think the chances are they fit your car?

Slim to none because the $99 tires are 145/80 R 12 which only fit very few cars and you more then likely dont drive one that they fit.

jeffbanke · Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 7:59 pm

I am curious Shane, why you think that transferring via eyefi is any faster than simply plugging in the memory card into the computer?

I can continue shooting using another memory card while your camera would be tied up doing the transfers, not mention the added battery drain.
So let me get this straight you are willing to have camera down time and the additional expense and weight to carry a pocket full of batteries just to be able to wirelessly send images to a computer, is that right? :-) Just playing devils advocate my freind

Oh, and dave's comment about older slower memory cards, buy them before they are gone, for 99% of what we do, you don't need fast cards. If you are doing video with an SLR, or possibly shooting sports you might need something faster than a 133x, but even then it is a really big IF. 133x is perfectly adequate for any 6 frames a second camera.

The slowest thing in the equation is the processor in the camera, shooting RAW or TIFF slows this process down because one is using all the data, which in turn fills the buffer faster, and since buffers are a finite size, they only allow a finite number of shots to be taken before they are full and literally stop the camera taking any further shots, no matter how fast the memory card is.
You can speed up the camera by shooting JPG, by throwing away 2/3rds of the data, but the above still applies, the buffer will run out of memory at some point. and still will not need fast cards.
One more point, if you are shooting in the studio, strobes take about 2 secs typically to recycle, my camera will do 8 frames a second with the right battery in it, so now there is another slowing facter and argument agaisnt fast cards :-)

greenfield54 · Joined: 21 Jun 2009 Posts: 2635 Location: Philippines

This maybe the answer to a problem I have with my ancient D1x. Couldn't get the firewire system to work.I just hope they also make it CF form.

rinder99 · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:51 am

"Oh, and dave's comment about older slower memory cards, buy them before they are gone, for 99% of what we do, you don't need fast cards. If you are doing video with an SLR, or possibly shooting sports you might need something faster than a 133x, but even then it is a really big IF. 133x is perfectly adequate for any 6 frames a second camera. "

Agree.My D3 shoots at 11 fps but I don't shoot sports or burst anymore. I use the hoodman CF RAW CARDS at 300X 2 16GB on board.For only one reason. Sponsorship. LOL And from what im hearing CF is on the way out.Get them now.

But for video, I have to use the class 10 SD cards.

hhltdave5 · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:11 pm

jeffbanke · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:24 pm

hhltdave5 · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:31 pm

rinder99 · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:48 pm

Things are getting smaller Shane.90% of all video equip is SD now and SXS.Consumers rule the market, Not pros.Makes no difference to me at all. My Camcorder has 2 slots I use 2 32GB cards. also From what I hear Cameras are going to start coming with Internal Memory Just Like Camcorders. Mine also has 250 GB on board + the 64 removable.Skies the limit.I see coming is for High FPS guys like sports a external storage device tethered on there belt.