How long do P2 cards last?

Q: How long do P2 cards last?

A: The A series of P2 Cards, as well as the original H and R series, can be recorded and rerecorded more than 30,000 times. The new E series can be used about 1,825 times (give or take). P2 manufacturers like to talk about life expectancy in years but the truth is the life span of a P2 card depends on the number of times you record to it, not the number years you own it.



For example, according to manufacturer's specs for the "E" series, the card will last a maximum of 5 years, if used only for its respective record time once per day. If you use your 16GB to record 16 minutes of HD footage per day (and no more) the card could last up to five years. But who uses their P2 card only once a day? Do the math: 365 daily uses X 5 years = 1,825 total uses. (Using the same once-use-per-day criteria, an A series card would last more than 80 years.)

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