Advice Wanted How do YOU use dual card slots?

[DeeJayK]

I'd love to get some input on how others are utilizing the dual card feature available on many cameras, as this is something that I don't feel like I've really tapped the potential of. I presume the options are somewhat different for the various manufacturers, but that many of the same features are available. If it matters, I'm using a Fuji X-H1 (dual UHS-II SD slots) as well as an Olympus E-M1.3 (dual SD slots, one of which is UHS-II).

So far what I've done is use one slot (the UHS-II slot, in the case of the Olympus) for video and the other for stills. That said, I only very occasionally shoot any video, so I'm not sure that setup really makes the most sense for me.

I know that I could use the slots to both store the same images (essentially creating an in-camera backup) or to store images sequentially (i.e. use the second when the first fills up). Neither of these uses cases seems all that compelling to me — my concern about the failure of a solid state memory card is pretty low, and I would almost never shoot enough images to fill up a card (I use mostly 64GB+ cards). I also understand that I could set up one card to store JPGs and the other to store RAWs, but it seems like that would only complicate my personal workflow, such as it is.

I'd love to hear others' thoughts on what value I'm overlooking or how you're using this feature to your benefit.

- K

 

[TNcasual]

I just don't use the second slot in my K1.

 

[fredlong]

I’ve been storing extra air in the second slot.

 

[DeeJayK]

I’ve been storing extra air in the second slot.

I suspect running out of oxygen while out shooting is roughly equally likely to happen as having an SD card "fail", so this isn't a bad plan at all.

- K

 

[William Lewis]

I only have a card in slot one as well.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I try to have my cameras all set up the same, images on first slot, video on second slot. I will admit that my most useful use of the second slot came when I forgot to take the first slot card out of the computer after downloading and would have been 'out of film' at a most inopportune time if not for the card being in the second slot. Moved it to the first slot and I was able to shoot away.

 

[DM Larson]

I would hate to run out of storage (never came close) or had a memory card fail (has happened once), so I do keep a card in each slot and use the second card for extra storage. I shoot only stills, usually RAW + jpegs. I'll add that I am kind of neurotic about having enough storage and have erred on having more than I will likely ever use in a photo trip.

 

[mnhoj]

I always have one in backup mode.
It's cheap insurance imo.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I've never come close to filling up a card as 'burst' shooting hasn't been in my repertoire of late. It'd just give me too many pics to look at to make it worth while.

 

[Brian]

I have had two SD cards fail in the camera, it happens.

I use the second slot in the Nikon Z5 as backup. For cameras with only one slot, I transfer the images to a Laptop computer usually the same day, put the card back to the camera.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)

Here's a hurried shot of how I use my cards. Left to right is A7R3, A9, A73. I figured the high burst rate of the A9 would make better use of the 256gb card, so when I got the A7R3 I only got a 128gb card for it.

 

[William Lewis]

I have had two SD cards fail in the camera, it happens.

I use the second slot in the Nikon Z5 as backup. For cameras with only one slot, I transfer the images to a Laptop computer usually the same day, put the card back to the camera.

Well, yes, daily transfer is important. I use smaller cards too (the 16 gb ones you recommended) as well too. But still, even on the one camera with two slots (the D7100) I only use one card.

If I get a D700 as planned, it'll probably be the same as then I'll only have the one CF card to use

 

[gordo]

For cameras with dual slots, I use one for RAW and the other for jpg. If the slots are different specs (UHS-I/ UHS-II or XQD/ CF/ SD) I use the faster media for RAW and jpg to the other. I don't do video, stills only.

 

[DeeJayK]

For cameras with dual slots, I use one for RAW and the other for jpg. If the slots are different specs (UHS-I/ UHS-II or XQD/ CF/ SD) I use the faster media for RAW and jpg to the other. I don't do video, stills only.

Can you describe what benefits this provides you, Gordon? I often shoot in RAW+JPG, but I don't see how having these images saved to different cards would be valuable (to me).

Is there a performance benefit in storing both images simultaneously? Or do you choose to import only the RAW or JPG versions of particular images or shoots? Or do you view it just as a way to maximize in-camera storage space?

- K

 

[gordo]

Can you describe what benefits this provides you, Gordon? I often shoot in RAW+JPG, but I don't see how having these images saved to different cards would be valuable (to me).

Is there a performance benefit in storing both images simultaneously? Or do you choose to import only the RAW or JPG versions of particular images or shoots? Or do you view it just as a way to maximize in-camera storage space?

- K

I always shoot RAW + jpg. Sometimes the jpg is good enough for a webpost without post processing. Depending on the camera, saving RAW to the faster card (if it's a thing) can be for backup without imparting a speed penalty or strictly for speed. This mattered to me for aviation shooting. Not an issue for other stuff I shoot like landscape, travel, etc...

Examples.

The Canon 7DII I had used CF + SD. Writing RAW + jpg to both cards severely impacted buffer due to slow writing to the SD card. Moving to RAW > CF and jpg > SD made a huge difference for aviation shooting, coming much closer to listed speed specs.

Pentax K3mkIII had 2 SD slots, but only slot 1 was UHS-II. Combined with a relatively small buffer, even shooting RAW > slot 1 and jpg > slot 2 imparted a penalty on the number of shots and clearing to the cards. Shooting only to slot 1 was the only way to come close to listed specs. As bad as my X-H1 is, with its 2 UHS-II slots it was better than the K3mkIII for aviation stuff.

 

[Bobby T]

When I did paid shoots I used the second slot as duplicate/backup. Now I just use them consecutively and never have to take any extra memory cards with me.

 

[DeeJayK]

I always shoot RAW + jpg. Sometimes the jpg is good enough for a webpost without post processing. Depending on the camera, saving RAW to the faster card (if it's a thing) can be for backup without imparting a speed penalty or strictly for speed. This mattered to me for aviation shooting. Not an issue for other stuff I shoot like landscape, travel, etc...

Examples.

The Canon 7DII I had used CF + SD. Writing RAW + jpg to both cards severely impacted buffer due to slow writing to the SD card. Moving to RAW > CF and jpg > SD made a huge difference for aviation shooting, coming much closer to listed speed specs.

Pentax K3mkIII had 2 SD slots, but only slot 1 was UHS-II. Combined with a relatively small buffer, even shooting RAW > slot 1 and jpg > slot 2 imparted a penalty on the number of shots and clearing to the cards. Shooting only to slot 1 was the only way to come close to listed specs. As bad as my X-H1 is, with its 2 UHS-II slots it was better than the K3mkIII for aviation stuff.

Thanks for elaborating, Gordon. I rarely use burst mode, but can see how that would be very useful at an air show. It's interesting to read of the different experiences between the camera brands as well.

- K

 

[griffljg]

On my OMDS (Olympus) OM-1, I have UHS-II cards in both slots. The card in slot 2 is used as a backup storage of raw files.

On my Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mk III, I have a UHS-II card in slot 1 and a UHS-I card in slot 2. It is pointless having a more expensive UHS-II card in slot 2. As for the OM-1, the card in slot 2 is used as a backup storage of raw files, unless I am using ProCapture (a form of burst shooting), in which case I switch off storage to the card in slot 2.

 

[gordo]

Thanks for elaborating, Gordon. I rarely use burst mode, but can see how that would be very useful at an air show. It's interesting to read of the different experiences between the camera brands as well.

- K

You're welcome.

Yeah, there are many reasons out there based on particular use cases and personal reasons. One size doesn't fit all, IMHO.

 

[gryphon1911]

I don’t really use them. If I did, it would be as overflow when card one is full.