SanDisk SDCFX4-4096-901 4GB Extreme IV CompactFlash Card

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Product Details

• Item Weight: 4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000HI4VHI
• Item model number: SDCFX4-4096-901
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (69 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

As the leader in high-performance flash technology, SanDisk introduces the newest flagship products – The Extreme IV line of CompactFlash. The Extreme IV line of CompactFlash is our newest digital film cards for the high-end professional photographers, who require the highest possible performance and the largest capacities for their medium format and high-end digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras. It has extremely fast read/write speeds. (Up to 40MB/sec) It provides the highest durability, speed, and quality demands on the market today for serious photography.

The reason for the extreme fast read/write speeds is that the Extreme IV memory cards feature innovative ESP ("Enhanced Super-Parallel Processing") technology for the fastest speeds and highest performance. You get the fastest read/write speeds available today – up to 40MB/sec sequential read and write speed.

SanDisk also introduces the new SanDisk Extreme FireWire reader. Combined with our new Extreme CompactFlash cards, images can transfer from the SanDisk Extreme IV cards to a computer, at up to 40MB/sec, for significantly improved workflow efficiency.

Every SanDisk Extreme IV CompactFlash card comes with RescuePRO Deluxe so you can recover images, documents, mail, video, music – just about any digital file, with ease. Built with leading-edge media recovery algorithms, RescuePro Deluxe lets you preview recoverable data before you try to retrieve it. With RescuePRO's unique recovery algorithm for MPEG audio and MPEG video recovery (MPEG-1/2/3) what you see, and what you hear, is what you can recover.

Extreme IV is the new industry leader in the best-in-class solution for high profile professional photographers. As the elite flash memory cards available on the market, Extreme IV has extremely fast read/write speeds. This line provides the durability, high-speed, and quality demands for serious photography. SanDisk's award-winning technology solidifies the strength of the Extreme IV family of high-performance flash cards.

Advanced Features:

• Designed to meet the critical speed and performance needs of serious professional photographers. Significantly improved workflow efficiency for capturing, viewing, upload and transferring large image files
• Ideal for demanding photo shoots under severe weather conditions—heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, etc.
• Built to perform in the most extreme environments and temperatures—from -13º F to 185º F
• Up to 40MB/sec sequential read and write (leveraging the new Extreme FireWire Reader)
• Durable, reliable and thoroughly tested—temperature tested (heat and cold); shock and vibration tested
• Data recovery software—ensures your photos will always be there (even if you delete them accidentally)
• Dedicated, priority technical support hotline for direct customers of SanDisk Extreme products
• Included travel case keeps your memory cards organized
• Lifetime limited warranty

Product Description
As the leader in high-performance flash technology, SanDisk is introducing the newest flagship product specifically designed for medium format cameras with a digital back, targeted at the high-end professional photographers, for the Americas Photo channel. Extreme IV has extremely fast read/write speeds (45 MB/s). This line provides the durability and high-speed quality demanded for serious photography. SanDisk's award-winning technology solidifies the strength of the Extreme family of high-performance flash cards. It provides your customers the full line of SanDisk digital imaging products, from our entry-level blue label through this newest edition of our Extreme IV products. The Extreme IV CF card has the fastest speed available today, in a brand name you can trust.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

84 of 86 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent card with an unexpected bonus, July 29, 2007

By	I. Miller "Digital Photographer" (Montana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have used many cards with my D200; mostly the 2GB Extreme III version of this card. These are my first Extreme IV series cards in 4GB. My expectations for this card ran something like, same performance as my 2GB cards, maybe a little faster on computer downloads. I was not disapointed.

One interesting little bonus has shown up with these cards and my D200. While shooting on a long trip across Glacier National Park I averaged 700 shots per battery when using these cards. While using the older and slower cards I averaged 400 shots per card. I have shot thousands and thousands of pictures with my 2GB cards and I average between 400 and 500 per battery charge consistantly. This is the first time I have seen 700+ from a single charge on my D200. More shoots are required to establish the actual performance difference but so far there has been a noticable reduction in battery use with this card and the D200.

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This could be the right card for you, May 3, 2008

By	L. T. Beasimer "LBphoto.net" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

With fast shooting high mega pixel DSLR cameras, the CF card can be a major performance factor. Write speeds, capacity, and power consumption all have an impact. The Extreme versions also have a wider temperature range, is impact resistant, and includes recovery software. Why purchase an expensive digital camera only to use a card that cannot keep up?

The Extreme IV cards read/write with a 40 MB/sec sequential read/write speed. These fast write speeds are desirable with large image files especially when uploading to a computer. DSLR cameras often have a buffer which holds images while writing to the card during continuous shots. At some point the card cannot write fast enough, preventing the camera from shooting until the buffer clears enough room for another image. In these cases the camera cannot write as fast as the card, the quick speeds may only be noticeable while uploading images to your computer.

As CF cards continue to decrease in price, they increase capacity. 1GB cards are inexpensive these days, but don't have the capacity I need. Two 2GB CF cards cost about as much and sometimes more than the same model 4GB CF card. Meanwhile the price of two 4GB cards is currently less expensive than the same model 8GB CF card. It appears that the 4GB is the current sweet spot on a cost per GB basis.

When it comes to the price, the trade off partially comes from power consumption. Other model CF cards may use more power to do the same job as this card to maintain a lower price. The Sandisk Extreme IV card's low power consumption means a longer battery life.

Special features of this card include withstanding temperatures from -13 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit (as indicated on the package). Since I live in Texas, I doubt I'll ever have a problem with the card getting too cold. It is nice to know that I could possibly leave the card in a car under the hot Texas sun and it may still work. I've yet to test this scenario, and it's unlikely I ever purposely will.

The high impact rating of this CF card provides protection from accidental drops and falls. For example; if you were to drop this card 10-foot above the floor, this card is rated to sustain the impact without damage.

Additionally, if something should go wrong, this CF card comes with the RescuePRO® Deluxe recovery software. Fortunately I have had no need for the software. For that purpose I cannot give much comment on its usefulness.

I have never had the need to recover my images as CF cards are extremely reliable. However, if you are concerned about reliability, the Extreme IV cards have a dedicated technical support line (1-866-270-5532). Plus it's backed with a lifetime limited warranty outside Europe. The warranty excludes any issues or damages to the card resulting from use in other than its normal and customary manner, misuse, accident or neglect; or improper alterations or repairs.

People generally want to know how many images a card will hold. This is a difficult question to answer and greatly depends on the card, and the camera using it. The number of images this card will hold on my Canon 40D also depends on the settings used. Let me provide a few settings and image counts for an idea of what this card holds.

Shooting Raw w/ISO 100 - 313 images
Shooting Raw w/ISO 800 - 284 images
Shooting Raw + jpg w/ISO 100 - 243 images
Shooting Raw + jpg w/ISO 800 - 214 images
Shooting S-Raw + jpg w/ISO 100 - 366 images
Shooting S-Raw + jpg w/ISO 800 - 321 images
Shooting Large jpeg w/ISO 100 - 1107 images
Shooting Large jpeg w/ISO 800 - 880 images
Shooting Medium jpeg w/ISO 100 - 1815 images
Shooting Medium jpeg w/ISO 800 - 1508 images

Somehow several cards I had came up missing. Needing to replace my missing cards I did some research to find the replacements. When a great warehouse deal on this CF card was listed on Amazon, I decided to make the purchase.

I use both a 2GB and two 4GB cards shooting primarily raw images. Normally I could easily fill the 2GB card quickly, for general use it is adequate though. When I shoot sports action shots I use the 4GB cards instead. There have been many days where I have taken 200-300 pictures without the opportunity to transfer my images. The 4GB card not only gives me more storage space, but also permits me to change the card in a slow moment before it completely fills up. It is truly aggravating to lose a shot because the card filled up. For these reasons I tend to prefer the 4GB cards with my 40D. When considering the card size, one should attempt to balance price, convenience, and capacity. Having one card for all your images may be convenient, but it increases risk of losing all your images if something should unexpectedly go wrong. Having lost several of my cards, obviously this is something I know first hand. Luckily I didn't lose any images as a result.

If the temperature ratings or the Rescue Pro recovery software is an important feature for you, the Extreme IV is the card to get. Otherwise, consider purchasing the Sandisk Extreme III CF Card with many of the same features and save some cash. The Ultra II cards are also available; however they are an older, slower technology. The current price difference between the Ultra II and the Extreme III cards is not that much.

Overall, I do not notice the benefits of this cards speed over the Ultra II when used with the 40D. With twice the capacity, I benefit from quick upload speeds when transferring my images. The other benefits between this and the Ultra II are not necessarily a big plus for me. There is no doubt in my mind the Extreme IV cards are better than the Ultra II though. I like having the recovery software too. Even though this card was more expensive, I am happy with my purchase.

PROS:
Reliable
Fast read/write
Impact resistant
Low power consumption
Backed by a lifetime limited warranty
Recovery software included

CONS:
None

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beware who you buy from!, October 6, 2007

By	Jade Hildahl "guruesq" (Twin Cities, MN UsA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First this is a great card for action digital photography... I'm using this with a Canon 30d and love it, but...

I am writing this review to possibly save would be buyers from an issue I had here on Amazon.

I purchased a "new" Sandisk Extreme IV 4gb card from one of the other sellers here on Amazon, trying to save about 15 bucks instead of just buying it new from Amazon.

Well, it turned out the card I receive had all the markings and appeared in every outward way to be a Sandisk 4gb Extreme IV, but it was actually a 512mb card. Unfortunately for me, because I didn't buy it from Amazon I was out my purchase price.

While most sellers are probably honestly selling a new or a used card, I was conned by a very motivated scam artist, so be careful who you buy this card from. Like I said, my card was advertised as being "new" and it looked EXACTLY like the real thing, but it definitely was NOT genuine.