Unless you want problems, don't use 32GB SanDisk Ultra chips

[H2ooh]

I bought my H3BE last October. I also bought two 32GB SanDisk microSD chips. From then until This April I continued to buy them and exchange them, unwilling to beleive that a company like SanDisk would sell a known defective product. I was wrong.

I had a ton of problems with freezing, interrupted video recording, time-lapse scenes, and a lot of what you see here on this form as GoPro H3BE problems.

After hours of frustration and endless missed opporftunities I decided to get to the bottom of the problems.

I've received a replacement H3BE from GoPro. I've done a lot of chip testing, both in-camera and PC benchmarks.

Here's what I think:

The 32GB Sandisk Ultra is the cause almost all of my problems.

1. It doesn't meet published specs of the industry nor of SanDisk's published claims.
2. In perusing several photo/video forums I find the problem is not just limited to the GoPro H3BE. It's pervasive.
3. SanDisk is hiding behind obscure opaque tests that they dislose as "internal testing." I think that means "trust me everything is OK."
4. They don't follow the SD's industry guidelines of clearly marking speed classes (C10 and U1) on chips that are marketed as such.
5. On one forum about a year ago, a member published an email from San Disk that stated UHS-I and Class 10 are the same so they don't need to stamp them.

So... I ordered three Transcend 32GB chips and a USB3-powered UHS-I chip reader and did some write/read speed tests. I used two readers. One with UHS-I support and one without. Here are the results:

Notice that even when using the UHS-I reader just one of the SanDisk chips reached the Class 10 standard of 10MBytes/sec. In the Class 10 reader all three fell short.

BTW the chips are similarly priced. Approximately $25 ea.

 

[ReductiMat]

Nice work.

I too have had nothing but issues with my 32 and 64 gig Sandisk cards. Their obfuscation shows them for the guilty party they are.

I will never buy another of their products again. I'd also like to know how much testing GoPro did with their cards to recommend them.

 

[Hawseman]

The tech world has always been a joke of false advertising.....storage capacity, network throughput, etc. etc. To be fair, the class rating is "up to" and not "average". Even the Samsung (I have 2 - 64 bit) and Transcend test below posted speeds. Sandisk Extreme (not Ultra) is comparable to the Transcend Premium & Samsung Pro.

I do think GoPro is partly to blame for this fiasco. I appreciate that they push the envelope, but Class 15 is really what is needed. What bothers me, is that the Transcend and Samsung cards are "not on the supported cards" list.......when they should be the only ones. The GPBE doesn't even format the Samsung 64gb properly. Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmm.

 

[Vector Nozzle]

I use 16G Ultra well:slap:

 

[suggett48116]

SanDisk should just go away forever. How many hero3's were replaced because of these cards we will never know.

 

[16hypen3sp]

I'm sick of issue after issue... if it isnt the camera thats messed up then its the card... and if it aint that then its something else.

 

[steve_t]

I'm sick of issue after issue... if it isnt the camera thats messed up then its the card... and if it aint that then its something else.

So install firmware v2.39 and use a Sandisk Extreme Pro card. If you're having issues, do something about it instead of just whining on here

 

[Mr5150]

I went with Transcend. Much better. Sandisk replaced my 16gb & 32gb Ultras no problem. I told them random freezes with GoPro Hero3 BE. The new cards should be here Monday. I'll check write speeds then. I was getting about 8.5 MB/s on both an 13 MB/s for transcend.

 

[taffrican]

I sent 2 32gb cards back to Sandisk in czech republic, they replaced them no problem, the cards I received back from them are just as bad as the originals, 8mb/s max. I decided to cut my losses and not bother sending them back as it cost me £8 to post them and by the time I eventually get a decent pair of cards back I could have gone and bought a couple of decent cards.... there is a lesson to be learned here, DO NOT BUY SANDISK....EVER!! well, not me anyway:crazy:

 

[steve_t]

I sent 2 32gb cards back to Sandisk in czech republic, they replaced them no problem, the cards I received back from them are just as bad as the originals, 8mb/s max. I decided to cut my losses and not bother sending them back as it cost me £8 to post them and by the time I eventually get a decent pair of cards back I could have gone and bought a couple of decent cards.... there is a lesson to be learned here, DO NOT BUY SANDISK....EVER!! well, not me anyway:crazy:

Sandisk's full sized SD cards are brilliant. It's just their Ultra line of MicroSD that are utter crap

 

[Mikeyw64]

Ok so I saw this thread &after* purchasing a 64Gb Sandisk for use on an upcoming European roadtrip.

Now so far I havent had any problems with my 32Gb Sandisk that I purchased with the GP however writing a series f files to the card I have noticed the write speed varies between 4.5 & 10mb usually hovering around the 6mb mark. reading from the card pretty much flatl;ines at around 10mb


Have tried the same series of files (some a couple of Gb) using the new 64Gb card , write speeds fluctuate between 8 & 10mb whilst read speed is a pretty steady 25mb

 

[16hypen3sp]

haha... good one. what makes you think i haven't updated and tried using the correct card already???
the update causes more issues than it fixes.

 

[steve_t]

haha... good one. what makes you think i haven't updated and tried using the correct card already???
the update causes more issues than it fixes.

Post a video of your your camera having problems and your cards... please

 

[ReductiMat]

haha... good one. what makes you think i haven't updated and tried using the correct card already???
the update causes more issues than it fixes.

Many people on here take it personally when others have issues with Sandisk cards and GoPro's.

 

[steve_t]

Many people on here take it personally when others have issues with Sandisk cards and GoPro's.

Many people know that Sandisk ULTRA cards have caused a LOT of problems with GoPro cameras. Sandisk Extreme Pro are probably the best card out there. There's no issue with Sandisk per se.
Many people have also seen the same people complaining in multiple threads without any notes of attempts for resolution and seriously wonder if there are trolls on here just trying to sully GoPro's reputation (even further). If there's a video posted showing problems with v2.39 being worse than previous firmwares with a Sandisk Extreme Pro card, I'll eat my words and apologise unreservedly.

 

[ReductiMat]

...trying to sully GoPro's reputation (even further)

In what way does GoPro's reputation materially affect your life?

 

[steve_t]

In what way does GoPro's reputation materially affect your life?

In what way does my genuine participation in a forum/community and questioning people who don't seem to genuinely want solutions but instead just want to whine affect your life?

 

[ReductiMat]

In what way does my genuine participation in a forum/community and questioning people who don't seem to genuinely want solutions but instead just want to whine affect your life?

I'll answer your question even though you ignored mine.

But I first need further clarification on your stateme-question.

How are you determining whether a person doesn't genuinely want a solution?

 

[steve_t]

I'll answer your question even though you ignored mine.

But I first need further clarification on your stateme-question.

How are you determining whether a person doesn't genuinely want a solution?

When people have problems and seek solutions, they ask questions and get offered solutions. If they try the solutions and still have problems, perhaps there is a problem with their GoPro. If all they constantly post is "This camera is shit" or "There are so many problems" without wanting to discuss what the specific problems are or what the solutions could be, they can appear to be disingenuous. When you ask these people what their problems are, if they continue to be vague and make claims that the product is just bad, you start to suspect a troll.

As far as my interests in GoPro's reputation, I have none. I do, however, wish to be a part of a community of folk who are genuinely here to discuss the product and share tips, tricks, videos, DIY mounts etc. People who just post to sledge the product without evidence or care for a solution, or people who spam the site trying to sell phones or tablets etc should be exposed and dealt to by the moderators. I'm not specifically talking about anyone in particular here but just in general. It's actually against the T&C's of most forums.

There's no need to answer my question. It was rhetorical

 

[theimmc]

SanDisk should just go away forever. How many hero3's were replaced because of these cards we will never know.

If a large number of Hero3 were replaced because of SanDisk Ultra cards, GoPro is partly to blame. On the official GoPro online store's accessories page, guess what microSD cards they sell?