Sub-$200 128GB CompactFlash Memory Cards

[DViant]

Has anyone used the following 128GB CompactFlash Memory Cards from RiData/RiTek? My sole experience with this brand is with their blank CDs and DVDs.

I learned about these really "low" cost memory cards from another forum when I asked about 128GB CF cards selling for under $200.

On the forum I was linked to this site http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/ri...arch_e10=Compact+Flash+Card&xsearch_e12=128GB

Not buying from them as it means import duties charges if I ship em to where I am currently at and I have found the local distributor.

Robgalbraith.com benchmarked the RiData 600x cards performing within a permissible range. I would assume the 1000x, 800x and 400x will be as consistent, hopefully.

http://www.robgalbraith.com/camera_wb_multi_page7de5.html?cid=6007-12451
http://www.robgalbraith.com/camera_wb_multi_page7de5.html?cid=6007-12452

Note:

- Not associated with RiData, RiTek or their resellers
- Just want to get end-user feedback for this sub-$200 128GB CompactFlash memory card from actual owners.
- Yes, I know the maxim of not "putting all your eggs in one basket". Same was said back in 2003 when 128MB (Megabyte) memory cards were $100 and 1GB cards were $1,000.
- Not spamming forums. I just want end-user feedback. There are no reviews on RiData's 400x, 800x or 1000x lines of CompactFlash memory cards.

 

[patric]

I tend to stick with Sandisk and Lexar cards these days. Years ago, I had an old RiData 8GB CF card and was using it for a shoot only to find it had developed some bad sectors. One of those bad sectors was right where the card decided to save a shot of me and Bruce Campbell kicking it back on a sofa toasting each other with drinks in one hand and thumbs up in the other hands...It would've been an epic picture...but all I could recover was a preview about the size of a Windows icon.

 

[UnknownSouljer]

I don't have any experience with these cards so you can take my advice with a grain of salt.

Considering that all the hundreds of dollars you spend on a camera, glass, and possibly lighting is ultimately dependent on the card you save it on, it makes little sense to use anything that you cannot be 100% reliant on. Although photographers can get overly zealous about which brands they buy, they do so because failure cannot be an option in the field. Missing, or rather losing a shot or even an entire cards worth of shots is not an option. Especially for one time events (weddings, sports events, et al). This gets even worse if you're recording video, perhaps why you want such a high capacity card in the first place. It only takes one bad sector to wreck your 15 minute clip.

If you want to take a chance, go for it. I personally only purchase Lexar. I'd take a used Lexar card versus a new almost anything else (provided of course that it's genuine Lexar, Lexar like many other memory companies has the unfortunate problem of having a lot of counterfeits due to its high reputation and hence high cost). I have a friend that shoots weddings, and he's so paranoid about this issue that he intentionally has many 8GB cards (I know he has at least 8). As for his industry it's better to have many small cards that he turns over constantly rather than having one high capacity card that the entire wedding is shot on. If he loses one card it sucks and he'll of course have a gap. If he lost the one card with the entire wedding on it, it would be a disaster.