does it matter what kind of memory card you use? for example cheap ones against expensive ones...i found a no name 4 gig compact flash for $25.

 

I'm pretty sure the read/write performance sux. you'll never know if it's durable or not either, until it stops working.

 

Yes it makes a big difference. With the nonamer that came free with my camera I can snap only a few pictures quickly before it forces me to wait. On my 266x Kingston I can snap away happily without pausing (not sure how many, I've never hit the limit).

 

Depends on your camera body. If it can use the speed (older bodies tend to top out sooner) the cards will transfer faster and you can take your next shot sooner.

Here's a relatively new comparison -- http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/mul...e.asp?cid=6007

 

I have 2 2Gb CF. one is suspicious to be a fake. although they are same 2Gb, fake can hold less photos as well as slow when I download it. also rarely but it does get hung up during continuous shooting with D70. It's frustrating when you are shooting F1 cars flying by and you are waiting for camera to come back from coma.

 

I use an 8GB 133X Transcend card I got from newegg. It was 1/2 the price of the "pro" cards. Have not had a single error, and the write speed is blitz fast.

 

^^ is this the one you have?

I was looking at this the other day but just a bit wary. 16Gb's is a lot to lose if something goes bad.

 

Yup, but I have the 8gb. Never had a problem. In fact, I might just pick up that 16 gigger for the hell of it. Also, read the reviews on newegg...very nice.

 

Yeah. For less than the price of an 8gb from the other brands, you can get a 16gb transcend.

Just keep remembering that old adage, "If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is...".

 

I use a minimum of Sandisk Extreme III cards, and they're great, but every once in a while I'll have to use the old back-up 4GB Hitachi Microdisc. It is best saved for still shots without any bursting whatsoever. It just can't keep up with fast clicking. I also have a cheap 2GB SD card that came with my P&S. I've thrown it in the 1D on occasion and noticed the same slower write speeds. It also takes longer to pull images off both cards to any computer or my Epson viewer.

As you move up in MegaPixels (RAW/JPEG file sizes) you're going to need faster cards. I notice a difference between my 1D and 1Ds and there is only a 3 MP difference. I'm wondering what is going to be able to keep up with the 1DsMKIII!