Compact Flash
Since my new Canon EOS 1Ds writes files that are almost twice as big (RAW ~ 11 MB) as the 10D or D60 I decided I needed to increase my storage capacity in the field. After reading Rob Galbraith's reviews of various Compact Flash storage devices and comparing read and write times, I decided to get the Lexar 1GB 32x Pro. When it arrived I decided to test for myself how it compared to the 1GB microdrives I had been using. The test was done with my Canon EOS 1Ds. The camera was set for Manual Focus and Manual Exposure at 1/125 at f/8.0. Each card was freshly formatted with the camera. I took sets of three exposures for each measurement and timed them with a stop watch. If I obviously messed up the timing, I threw out that measurement. For each kind of storage media I measured time from shutter release to write light out for a single exposure, time from shutter release to review image appearing with a single exposure, and time from shutter release to write light out for a 10 shot continuous burst. Results are below.
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| Measurement | 1GB Microdrive | 1GB Lexar 32x Pro |
| single to light out | 7.20 sec | 5.92 sec |
| single to review | 3.17 | 3.15 |
| burst to light out | 45.61 | 38.23 |
My main use of the camera is for landscapes. I don't anticipate seeing any great difference in the field based on these tests, but for anything else that might require quick follow on shots, or continuous bursts, I will make sure the Lexar is in the camera.