reliable SD card for M9

[unclebob]

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Never in a decade of shooting hundreds of events from sports, weddings, portraits (200K images) have I had a card failure. Now this...I just had my first failure and lockup with my M9.

 

Lost a few images while testing the camera. Nothing of value, but it is concerning.

 

Just discovered the SD card compatability issues with the M9.

 

User error is likely culprit contributing to the issue.

 

The first Leica brand battery won't hold a decent charge, and then it died in midst of a few test shots.

 

Left to charge overnight it wont hold a charge.

 

Today, switched to an 3/4 charged off brand battery and the situation repeated itself.

 

Card in question was a Sandisk 8GB Etreme Pro.

 

I have a new Leica brand battery on the way.

 

Is there an SD card that plays nice with the M9? I could care less about write speed, only reliability.

 

I have a wedding in October and this is freaking me out a bit.

Edited July 29, 2014 by unclebob
spelling error

[DigitalHeMan]

I am using Sandisk 16 gig Extreme Pro cards without problem. It's not clear from your post exactly what the problem is, but try doing a full format with overwrite to see if that helps.

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[colonel]

You didn't mention what card you are using

don't use Sandisk and keep speed at class 10 or 6

I use Samsung and PNY, 16gb and 32gb, and have never had any issues over 4 M9s

 

Good luck

[k-hawinkler]

Never in a decade of shooting hundreds of events from sports, weddings, portraits (200K images) have I had a card failure. Now this...I just had my first failure and lockup with my M9.

 

Lost a few images while testing the camera. Nothing of value, but it is concerning.

 

Just discovered the SD card compatability issues with the M9.

 

User error is likely culprit contributing to the issue.

 

The first Leica brand battery won't hold a decent charge, and then it died in midst of a few test shots.

 

Left to charge overnight it wont hold a charge.

 

Today, switched to an 3/4 charged off brand battery and the situation repeated itself.

 

Card in question was a Sandisk 8GB Etreme Pro.

 

I have a new Leica brand battery on the way.

 

Is there an SD card that plays nice with the M9? I could care less about write speed, only reliability.

 

I have a wedding in October and this is freaking me out a bit.

 

 

I would search this forum for Panasonic Gold card.

A new properly functioning battery will help tremendously. Get a new spare as well.

Also I would use the latest firmware or version 1.162 with the Panasonic card.

Version 1.162 with the Panasonic card will give you reliable and speedy performance.

Unless your camera needs a repair.

[jonogilmour]

I hope your new battery is a free replacement under warranty, they do replace them for free.

 

I have tried the following with great success on my M-E:

 

16GB Sandisk Extreme

16GB Lexar Platinum

16GB Samsung Pro (Samsung MB-SGAGB 16GB SD Pro (Digital SLR & 3D Video) - Samsung IE - OVERVIEW)

8GB Sandisk Ultra

 

Just note you should only use a max of class 10 (no UHS or a max of UHS-1) and preferably 8-16GB

 

I highly recommend the Samsung Pro as they're extremely cheap at approx. $15 for a 16GB card.

[JamesBarry]

I had card issues with the same Sandisk Extreme Pro card, totally froze on me on a no. of occasions so switched to their Ultra cards and have had no problems since. Likewise shoot weddings, family portraiture etc. for full time work. Need confidence in one's kit...! I also used the latest firmware mentioned in previous post. Good luck

[Steve Ash]

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Never swap cards between cameras.

Edited July 30, 2014 by Steve Ash
error

[wda]

After the much reported problems with Sandisk cards a year or so ago, I changed to Lexar PREMIUM SERIES SDHC 200X 16GB and have never suffered any problems.

[haroldp]

The fastest Sandisk cards are a waste of money on an M9, a 30mbs card is already faster than the port, and faster still is more likely to have handshake issues between camera and card controller.

 

I am using 15mbs sandisk ultra's 8gb for years without issue.

 

That being said, an astonishing fraction of sandisk cards on the market are counterfeit, and pretty much all of them from ebay sellers.

 

Sandisk cards should be sourced only from sellers big enough to buy directly from sandisk, and not from distributors.

 

This leaves B & H, Adorama, and Amazon (direct not marketplace).

 

I test every card I get for integrity and write speed, and have a drawer full of cards (mostly labeled sandisk) that I use to give data out in lieu of flash drives, but will never see the inside of one of my cameras.

 

I hve not gotten a counterfeit since I confined my purchasing to the three vendors I named.

 

There may well be other reliable vendors, make sure they source directly from Sandisk.

 

 

... H

[visoflex]

I bought my M9 secondhand, just as the SD card issue was breaking. So, I bought 16Gb Lexar cards from the off, and I have never had any problems with using them.

[NZDavid]

Try this to retrieve pictures: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-sd-card-issues/328658-free-software-image-recovery.html

 

Best to get a new SD card. It probably is not user error but the perennial hex of computer error. However, it may help to slow down and wait till red light has stopped flashing before turning on and off.

[unclebob]

I haven't noticed any issues since receiving my new battery.

 

I have a couple of portrait sessions scheduled in the next two weeks, so I might have a better feel for the issue after some extended use.

 

Thanks for the input.

[haroldp]

Try this to retrieve pictures: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-sd-card-issues/328658-free-software-image-recovery.html

 

Best to get a new SD card. It probably is not user error but the perennial hex of computer error.

 

On a PC or mac, it is more likely perennial ASCII than Hex (Hexadecimal).

 

.... H

[IWC Doppel]

I use SanDisk Ultra 30mb/s '6' 8GB cards 300 pics or so jpg fine and RAW. That way on a picturesk day I can swap cards, I have 4-5 knocking around. I've never had an issue after 16k actuations. I did a lot if reading 2years ago and these were the 'ones' then, I'm sure that's all changed but they are cheap, have never failed yet and I personally think 16GB is too much on one card, I see no point in one 16 vs two 8's especially I'd you drop, damage or lose one over a weekend

[Rick in CO]

I've been using the Sandisk Extreme HD Video 8GB 20MB/s cards for a few years without issue. Considering their age, I should buy some new cards. Everything wears out eventually, better to be proactive than regretful.

[sblitz]

i have exclusively used the Hoodman 16GB SDHC Memory Card RAW STEEL Class 10 and now the 32GB never had a problem. I also don't reuse cards, save them as one more back. I know, after so many years the memory supposedly disappears but it I prefer to keep them that way and save on disk and back-up dual RAID the ones I want not just all the shots I took.

[jmahto]

My 2 cents. I have *never* had any issues in 2+ years (30,000+ pics) with my Scandisk Ultra 8GB cards.

 

However, I never formated them (except initial one). I always do *delete all* from play menu. It is easier than going to the main menu > format.