{"id":1455,"date":"2011-02-21T11:23:08","date_gmt":"2011-02-21T19:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/?p=1455"},"modified":"2011-04-04T19:30:49","modified_gmt":"2011-04-04T23:30:49","slug":"digital-cameras-write-speed-on-sdhc-memory-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/digital-cameras-write-speed-on-sdhc-memory-cards","title":{"rendered":"Digital Cameras Write Speed on SDHC Memory Cards"},"content":{"rendered":"

I recently purchased some Patriot 32GB 10speed SDHC cards for my Canon 60D. I was excited to see some improvements over my current 16GB 4Speed card…\u00a0\u00a0 but I was sadly mistaken.<\/p>\n

Problem Symptoms<\/h3>\n

I can only record a few seconds before I get a “Movie recording has been stopped automatically<\/strong>” message. Apparently I’m not the only person experiencing this problem<\/a>. This may be an issue with the 60D, as it seems that SanDisk & PNY users are experiencing the same issue on their 32GB 10Speed cards.<\/p>\n

The problem is intermittent.\u00a0 When it occurs, you can see the SD write status light on the camera flashing, but then the flashing will temporarily hold.\u00a0 At this point, you’ll see the buffer bar pop up on the LCD.\u00a0 Sometimes it will stall here, or continue.\u00a0 If you are still recording after 4-5 seconds, you’re golden and it should continue on for minutes of recording.<\/p>\n

In this thread, a user recommends using a special SD Formatter<\/a>, which is specifically designed to comply with SD & SDHC standards.\u00a0 What’s the difference between this and a standard Windows format?\u00a0 Well, we’re about to find out. According to memin1857’s posting<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Sd cards are flash devices just like ssd’s. By using it (filling it with data) it will get slow by time. Because overwrites to sectors will be slow compared to fresh sectors as sd controller does not know actually which sectors are free when you delete files.
\nBy formatting with the above utility and setting erase: ON it will instruct sd controller to release all charge from all flash cells so future writes will be much faster. (On par the day you bought your sd card)
\nThis is comparable to MANUALLY TRIMMING an SSD.<\/em><\/p>\n

NOTE: Do not confuse Overwrite ERASE with Flash ERASE. Overwrite ERASE is just overwriting sectors with zeroes so data is not recoverable but may not necessarily make your card faster, a real Flash ERASE is a command sent to the controller and will make your card freshly fast in short time. (discharging all sectors is a quick operation compared to overwriting them with null data) Also do not confuse with quick format. ERASE:ON is what you want for performance. (Smaller, older sd cards OR some sd card reader\/controllers may not support real ERASE function, you will be notified by the format tool if this is the case<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n

THIS IS AN HARDWARE ISSUE, NOT LOGICAL\/SOFTWARE.<\/em> <\/em><\/p>\n

This may also fix if hardware sectors do not align with logical sectors. This will affect performance.<\/em>
\nYou may have trouble finding a configuration that can do flash erase.<\/em><\/p>\n

Conclusion: Formatting with this tool may enhance your sd card performance and there are no negative affects. Worst case senario is you get do benefit.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I tried the SD Formatter, but am having the same results. However, I was unable to get the “Erase” option to work on my Sony VAIO laptop.\u00a0 This funky movie recording stopping problem seems identical as when I use the Windows formatting.<\/p>\n

I am attaching 4 text files which show the resulting recording sessions on the 3 unique Patriot 32GB cards of the same type.<\/p>\n

videoSessions_02_cardA.txt\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 – Repeating test on first card. Attempting to record full 30 second sessions (file sizes greater than 175MB). Red marks auto-stopped recordings.<\/p>\n

02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:09 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 176,652,568 MVI_1156.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:10 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 177,215,652 MVI_1157.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:10 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 178,358,460 MVI_1158.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:11 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 176,667,328 MVI_1159.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:11 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31,602,912 MVI_1160.MOV<\/span>
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:11 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 178,501,696 MVI_1161.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:12 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26,168,012 MVI_1162.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:12 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,185,552 MVI_1163.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:12 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31,843,188 MVI_1164.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:12 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 21,323,728 MVI_1165.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:12 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,406,284 MVI_1166.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:13 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,109,836 MVI_1167.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:13 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,208,380 MVI_1168.MOV<\/span>
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:13 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 177,901,300 MVI_1169.MOV<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

videoSessions_03_cardB.txt\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 – Testing a unique second card. Attempting to record full 30 second sessions (file sizes greater than 61MB). Red marks auto-stopped recordings.<\/p>\n

02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:22 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 61,924,480 MVI_1192.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:23 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 62,234,256 MVI_1193.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:23 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 62,047,496 MVI_1194.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:23 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 62,473,264 MVI_1195.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:23 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26,144,048 MVI_1196.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:23 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,028,496 MVI_1197.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:24 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,117,764 MVI_1198.MOV<\/span>
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:24 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 62,037,244 MVI_1199.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:24 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26,262,360 MVI_1200.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:24 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,228,560 MVI_1201.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:24 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,203,492 MVI_1202.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:24 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 32,324,280 MVI_1203.MOV<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

videoSessions_04_cardC.txt\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 – Testing a third card. Attempting to record full 10 second sessions (file sizes greater than 58MB). Red marks auto-stopped recordings. Lens cap was on during these sessions.<\/p>\n

02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:36 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 58,113,676 MVI_1228.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:36 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 60,127,292 MVI_1229.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:36 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 60,470,144 MVI_1230.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:36 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 60,958,272 MVI_1231.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:36 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31,874,880 MVI_1232.MOV<\/span>
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:37 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 61,413,000 MVI_1233.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:37 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26,051,140 MVI_1234.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:37 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31,969,860 MVI_1235.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:37 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31,953,048 MVI_1236.MOV<\/span>
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:37 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 62,914,432 MVI_1237.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:37 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 62,286,076 MVI_1238.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:38 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25,760,912 MVI_1239.MOV<\/span>
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:38 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 61,450,564 MVI_1240.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:38 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26,067,636 MVI_1241.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:38 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31,970,588 MVI_1242.MOV
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:38 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 31,785,792 MVI_1243.MOV<\/span>
\n02\/22\/2011\u00a0 09:38 AM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 60,489,452 MVI_1244.MOV<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I find it interesting how, on a freshly formatted card, I’m able to record exactly 4 full sessions. On the fifth session, the recording stops recording automatically after 4-5 seconds.\u00a0 After 5 sessions, I start to get intermittent failing sessions.<\/p>\n

Another detail that I should note: On successful recording sessions that follow a failed session<\/span>, the buffer bar will pop up and display 2 bars before the bar disappears and the session continues to record as normal. This behavior is consistent on recordings that follow a failed recording session.<\/p>\n

My Advice<\/h3>\n

First, avoid 32 GB cards<\/a> if you have a Canon 60D. If you have already purchased a few cards (like myself), make sure you have some freshly formatted cards on hand. When the time comes to records some critical moments, just pop in a fresh card and you should get a few good recording sessions before things start failing.<\/p>\n

If anyone has better luck with this, please let me know.<\/p>\n

**UPDATE**
\nIn the comments Henry Levenson<\/a> wrote,
\n<\/p>\n

The issue with the movie stopping automatically with the 60D has to due with the buffer capacity of the SD card used and the info transfer rate which has to be equal or > than 40 MB\/second. If the transfer rate is slower or the buffer capacity for video\u2019s on the card is exceeded.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/em>
\nIf this is true, it leaves me wondering just how useful the speed rating of the card is. Henry’s explanation will potentially disappoint many 32GB SD card owners.
\nThanks Henry!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I recently purchased some Patriot 32GB 10speed SDHC cards for my Canon 60D. I was excited to see some improvements over my current 16GB 4Speed card…\u00a0\u00a0 but I was sadly mistaken. Problem Symptoms I can only record a few seconds before I get a “Movie recording has been stopped automatically” message. Apparently I’m not the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[331,335,254,322,333,332,334],"class_list":["post-1455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-software-hardware","tag-60d","tag-buffer","tag-camera","tag-canon","tag-memory","tag-sd","tag-speed"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1455"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1455\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1460,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1455\/revisions\/1460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.jerslife.com\/word\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}