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Gadget Bag: The State Of Memory Cards
Digital memory cards just keep getting better and cheaper. Digital SLRs, camcorders and other multimegapixel cameras require memory cards that deliver very large storage capacity and high performance in terms of read and write speed. Noncamera applications and other digital devices—cell phones and PDAs in particular—require storage media that’s very small and thin. The memory-card industry has met and exceeded all of these requirements. Meanwhile, fierce competition among card makers for market share has kept retail prices surprisingly low.
Physical Aspects
For the most part, memory cards aren’t interchangeable from one type to another. However, adapters that allow the one card type to fit and function in a card slot designed for another card type are becoming commonplace. For example, Sony offers two different Memory Stick adapters, one to fit CF card slots, the other to fit Memory Stick PRO.
Currently, SD (Secure Digital) is the most popular card type.
SDHC (the HC stands for High Capacity) is the latest development in the SD family and was designed to stretch the 2 MB capacity limitation of standard SD all the way to 32 MB. SDHC is not backwards compatible with SD—but you can use standard SD in SDHC host devices. In an attempt to bring some sensibility to speed ratings, all official SDHC cards are marked according to their performance class. For example, Class 2 cards (the slowest) must deliver sustained read and write speed of at least 2 MB per second. Class 4 equates to 4 MB per second. This new speed rating system makes it easier for consumers to select the right card for a particular application. However, all of the confusion hasn’t yet disappeared because some cards are capable of higher burst rates and are promoted as such.
One more type—the xD-Picture Card—is used only in Olympus and Fuji digital cameras. It’s available in capacities up to 2 GB, with larger sizes expected in the future. There are two types: Type H offers speed advantages but isn’t 100 percent compatible with type M. Check your owner’s manual or the camera manufacturer’s Website before you buy.
Memory card prices are quite reasonable these days. There’s no excuse for not having at least a 2 GB card (higher for a D-SLR). Nonetheless, when you go on vacation, take a spare.
The number of image or movie files that can be stored on a card of a specific capacity varies so much from model to model that it’s impossible to generalize. The total is influenced by many factors, including file format (RAW files are huge), compression ratio (i.e., Fine vs. Standard) and other considerations. Best bet is to buy a card so large that you’re unlikely to fill it during one shooting session.
Speed
As mentioned above, the SDHC speed class ratings are a step toward a standardized way of understanding how cards perform in terms of sustained read and write speed. CompactFlash, on the other hand, as well as standard SD cards, is often categorized by the X factor. The same measurement method is used to rate the throughput of CD and DVD writers and works as follows: 150 KB per second is “1X” and all other speeds are expressed as multiples of that speed. For example, 80X means a write/read speed of 12 MB per second (150 KB x 80 = 12,000 KB or 12 MB). Rule of thumb: high-speed cards can capture images and play them back faster than slower cards can; though slower cards cost less and work great in everyday applications.
Accessories
Card readers are a must—no one connects a camera to a computer to download images anymore. FireWire readers are blazingly fast, although Hi-Speed USB 2.0 isn’t pokey, either. Although memory cards are surprisingly durable, the electrical contacts can become soiled or damaged—and cards are easy to lose. Keep your spare cards clean and findable in a case—not in the bottom of a gadget bag.
Panasonic offers a full range of SDHC cards, from entry level to professional. Available in densities up to 4 GB, Panasonic’s Pro High Speed series are Class 6 compliant, which means that they’re certified to deliver a minimum sustained write speed of 6 MB per second. As a matter of fact, like Panasonic’s previous generation of premium cards, they’re capable of burst speeds of up to 20 MB per second. Panasonic has announced plans for a 16 MB card later this year.
The new UDMA-enabled CF cards from Lexar are said to be capable of sustained write speeds of 45 MB per second when communicating with a UDMA device. UDMA is the abbreviation for Ultra Direct Memory Access. Even with conventional devices, the cards have a 300X speed rating. They’re available in capacities of 2 GB, 4 GB and 8 GB. Lexar also offers a UDMA-enabled FireWire (IEEE1394) memory card reader.
Delkin eFilm CompactFlash memory cards are available in capacities of up to 8 GB and speeds of up to 150X. They’re popular among professionals (and serious amateurs alike) because of the extra level of quality assurance-testing Delkin performs. All eFilm cards are made in the USA.
From Seagate, manufacturer of high-quality computer hard drives, comes a hard drive for your camera. The Seagate 4 GB and 8 GB CompactFlash photo storage drives work with any digital cameras that accept CF+ Type II cards. Despite the fact that they store data on spinning media (as opposed to solid state), they’re built Seagate-tough and are resistant to impact damage.
Delkin Devices
(800) 637-8087
www.delkin.com
Hoodman
(800) 818-3946
www.hoodmanusa.com
Kingston Technology
(877) KINGSTON
www.kingston.com
Lexar Media
(800) 789-9418
www.lexar.com
Panasonic
(800) 211-PANA
www.panasonic.com
PNY Technologies
www.pny.com
SanDisk
(866) SANDISK
www.sandisk.com
Seagate
(831) 438-6550
www.seagate.com
Sony
(877) 865-SONY
www.sonystyle.com