Why only Sony XQD Cards?

I was just noticing that when you do a search for XQD cards, it's mainly only Sony that is offering these cards.  Why is that and if these happen to be proprietary cards, why are some cameras using this card as the primary card?

That is a very good question.

My guess is that XQD was going to be the next big thing, until the CF people revised their spec (and form factor) to come up with CF Express. Which will equal or surpass XQD, I think.

With a firmware update, the Nikons will be able to use CFE cards, and we think that will happen.

The problem here is that it's relatively new technology, and is not yet ubiquitous. As we get more systems needing high speed storage we'll see more adoption, and hopefully more manufacturers.

I'm, frankly, annoyed that it is so difficult to acquire UHS-II cards or XQD cards, even now.

And I'm afraid that XQD is the new memory stick. I really hate Sony.

Cristy Fields wrote: it's mainly only Sony that is offering these cards.  

It is their creation… so patent applies!

Cristy Fields wrote: why are some cameras using this card as the primary card?

Personally. I use a Sony 128GB XQD in my D850 and I'm very
happy with it… mind you, like Gary says, they may be hard to
come by, I got mine two weeks after I got the camera and I'm
seriously happy I ordered and got two of them.

I use an XQD only in the D850 because the files are bigger and
it is the best way to go to support the buffer. The Sony reader
is Thunderbolt III and the transfer rate is stunningly fast.

It really seems odd that Sony cameras don't use Sony XQD. 

Shadowfixer1 wrote: It really seems odd that Sony cameras don't use Sony XQD. 

Why so, Randy?

None of the Sony products need to use such a card because the
file size is not so big or the frame rate and or the buffer do 
not justify it… or else!

Nikon Shooter wrote:

Shadowfixer1 wrote: It really seems odd that Sony cameras don't use Sony XQD. 

Why so, Randy?

None of the Sony products need to use such a card because the
file size is not so big or the frame rate and or the buffer do 
not justify it… or else!

You don't think the file sizes of an A7RIII or 7RII don't compare to Nikon file sizes? You may want to rethink that.

The Alpha 9 can capture 24MP images at 20 frames per second.

The Alpha 7R III shoots 47MP files at 10 fps.

Both of those produce more data than the D850 at 9 fps. Whether it (the a9) can store it to the card quickly is a design and software problem, but if it can't it's because Sony dropped the ball.

There are plenty of bodies now that capture large images and can benefit from getting them to the storage media as fast as possible.

Nikon Shooter wrote:

Cristy Fields wrote: it's mainly only Sony that is offering these cards.  

It is their creation… so patent applies!

Cristy Fields wrote: why are some cameras using this card as the primary card?

Personally. I use a Sony 128GB XQD in my D850 and I'm very
happy with it… mind you, like Gary says, they may be hard to
come by, I got mine two weeks after I got the camera and I'm
seriously happy I ordered and got two of them.

I use an XQD only in the D850 because the files are bigger and
it is the best way to go to support the buffer. The Sony reader
is Thunderbolt III and the transfer rate is stunningly fast.

So, with your D850 slinging out 42MP files, you are able to fit about 1250 photos on each card then?  

What sort of video time are you seeing at 4K?

1250? I calculated more than 3000!
I don't do videos!

I don't intend to ever shoot on two cards but it is an
old reflex to backup everything… specially new things.

Nikon Shooter wrote: 1250? I calculated more than 3000!
I don't do videos!

I don't intend to ever shoot on two cards but it is an
old reflex to backup everything… specially new things.

I'm just winging some numbers, I'm driving my car right now.

Is that on EACH card shooting in RAW?

Street Shark wrote: Is that on EACH card shooting in RAW?

Yes, RAW on both but the second is a SDXC card.

Well this is interesting.  You see I remember seeing Lexar XQD cards, and just noticed they are discontinued now:  www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1186721-R...933x_xqd_memory.html

Anyone know what happened there?  Seems like these haven't been out long enough to be discontinued unless Lexar licensed the tech from Sony, and deal went bad?  

Street Shark wrote: So, with your D850 slinging out 42MP files, you are able to fit about 1250 photos on each card then?  

What sort of video time are you seeing at 4K?

Number of images depends upon the type of compression. The number you see in the display is worst case, and is recomputed as you go. Using lossless compress the files are about 60MB in size, so you'll get appr. 1000 or more on a 64GB card.

Video is limited by the license/codec. It's 30 minutes of HD, but I haven't bothered with 4k on that body, so can't say. Likely limited to between 10 and 20 minutes.

If you want unlimited 4k, you need to buy a dedicated video camera, or a body that can be hacked, like a Pany GH7.

Me, I think 4K quality is not good. I prefer HD.

Fess Walker wrote: Well this is interesting.  You see I remember seeing Lexar XQD cards, and just noticed they are discontinued now:  www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1186721-R...933x_xqd_memory.html

Anyone know what happened there?  Seems like these haven't been out long enough to be discontinued unless Lexar licensed the tech from Sony, and deal went bad?  

We know what happened; it's old news. Lexar went out of business, and some of the previous officers started up a new company. Hoping they decide to pick up this format and manufacture it.

Sony developed the format in league with Nikon and SanDIsk. Nikon should have known better. Or gotten a commitment from SanDisk to manufacture cards. Hoping they move to CFE by the end of the year and blow off XQD.

I'm just catching up on this.  Why did Sandisk not make these?  I don't suppose that is known?  These cards are pricey.  You would expect anyone else would see a market opportunity seeing that Sony seems to have this space all to themselves.