SD or Compact Flash???
- Thread starter bodhi
- Start date
Ian
Administrator
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2002
- Messages
- 19,878
- Reaction score
- 1,509
I use a normal speed 512MB one and its fine 
I does take a couple of mins to empty the thing, but it doesn't really bother me to be honest - its quicker than burning a CD, and I just do something in the meantime 
I've never tried the High Speed cards before, but its just down to preference I guess - you could save yourself a tenner if you can spend a few extra seconds really!
I've got a Kingston card (I think) at the moment for my PDA and it seems to work fine, I've also got a 64MB Crucial one from months back - no problems with that either. They are much of a muchness for something like a memory card I assume - as long as it isn't a super cheap generic one! Just be sure to get one from a good retailer (with a good warranty).
I does take a couple of mins to empty the thing, but it doesn't really bother me to be honest - its quicker than burning a CD, and I just do something in the meantime I've never tried the High Speed cards before, but its just down to preference I guess - you could save yourself a tenner if you can spend a few extra seconds really!
I've got a Kingston card (I think) at the moment for my PDA and it seems to work fine, I've also got a 64MB Crucial one from months back - no problems with that either. They are much of a muchness for something like a memory card I assume - as long as it isn't a super cheap generic one!
Just be sure to get one from a good retailer (with a good warranty).
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2002
- Messages
- 25,754
- Reaction score
- 1,211
Ok, ... I've learnt something, I don't own a camera ... and I'm missing Quads' input here.
Speed of the memory card can be a critical item ... its nothing to do with how "fast" it can copy the pictures to your PC ... but how quickly it can transpose the picture to the card.
Put it this way ... the faster cards allow you to take the picture more quickly.
It seems the more "Mega-pixel" the camera is, the slower it can render the picture to the card ... if you have a faster card the camera then takes less time. Press the button and wait OR press button and there is the picture.
QUAD, I need help here ...
Sorry bodhi ... I should have done my research sooner.
But I still say ... choose the camera your happy with and enjoy it.
Speed of the memory card can be a critical item ... its nothing to do with how "fast" it can copy the pictures to your PC ... but how quickly it can transpose the picture to the card.
Put it this way ... the faster cards allow you to take the picture more quickly.
It seems the more "Mega-pixel" the camera is, the slower it can render the picture to the card ... if you have a faster card the camera then takes less time. Press the button and wait OR press button and there is the picture.
QUAD, I need help here ...
Sorry bodhi ... I should have done my research sooner.
But I still say ... choose the camera your happy with and enjoy it.
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2002
- Messages
- 6,651
- Reaction score
- 572
I have already stated the importance of a good brand on this thread, I have also stated that first choose the camera and let the merory card be the responsibility of the camera maker, they would not scrifice their sales by suggesting wrong type of cards.muckshifter said:Ok, ... I've learnt something, I don't own a camera ... and I'm missing Quads' input here............
QUAD, I need help here ...
But I still say ... choose the camera your happy with and enjoy it.
A good brand will always be a good brand, looking for bargains in cards is stupid since the card will be holding the pictures not the camera. Even the best digital camera will be useless if generic cards are used, Once the card goes kaput, the pics you take go down the drain. I have used Lexar and Sandisk always and have no problems whatsoever. Not that they are 100% foolproof, they can also go bad but the percentage of a good brand card going bad is very very low. It is also prudent to have two instead of one really big capacity card. If I need 1 GB I would insted get two 512MB ones, I my needs dictate 2 GB I would get two card of 1 GB each and so on and so forth. A standby card always comes in handy. This policy works great if you are shooting a lot of pictures on a regular basis.
This is the first thread I have come across where the card is the centre of attraction, it has always been the camera not the card, but, times are a changing
Bodhi, please do not take offence but almost everyone here has given their input to the best of their ability and also sincerely, if you still cannot make up your mind, I am afraid none of us can be of any help in the circumstances.
I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to choose!
Mucks: you are too humble, you already know a great deal about almost everything
- Joined
- Mar 5, 2004
- Messages
- 1,737
- Reaction score
- 123
Thanks quad, i know everyone is doing their best to advice, i am just trying to get advice incase i make a mistake in buying, its an expensive purchace. I know which camera im buying now, and it takes SD memory. Ive looked at lots of cards, but there are different speeds and im just not sure which to get. There seem to be standard ones and high speed ones. Saw a corsair one for £30, 512Mb and it says the speed is 40x. No idea if 40x is fast or not, but i know that a lot of you guys think corsair are good.
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2002
- Messages
- 6,651
- Reaction score
- 572
UPDATE
This thread is a bit old but I thought it would be prudent to update it with some latest information since many today buy memory cards not just for digital camera's but for other gadgets as well.
Please understand that all memory cards are not equal, there are faster and slower cards on the market and invariably the cheapest is the slowest one. The memory cards have two important components built in the NAND flash memory cells which store the data and the controller. The interface between the two is crucial as the speed depends on the smooth working of the two.
NAND flash memory is made by few and the controllers as well. There are many brands in the market but not all produce the two vital components. The cheaper cards use slower memory and older controllers whereas the top brands use the latest of the two.
SD card is now gaining momentum and will invariably take over in the long run and CF or what is known as Compact flash will be phased out. SD is future along with others but not CF.
Buying cards from top brands makes a difference.
If you need assistance you can come back to this thread and we will help you select the right one.
This thread is a bit old but I thought it would be prudent to update it with some latest information since many today buy memory cards not just for digital camera's but for other gadgets as well.
Please understand that all memory cards are not equal, there are faster and slower cards on the market and invariably the cheapest is the slowest one. The memory cards have two important components built in the NAND flash memory cells which store the data and the controller. The interface between the two is crucial as the speed depends on the smooth working of the two.
NAND flash memory is made by few and the controllers as well. There are many brands in the market but not all produce the two vital components. The cheaper cards use slower memory and older controllers whereas the top brands use the latest of the two.
SD card is now gaining momentum and will invariably take over in the long run and CF or what is known as Compact flash will be phased out. SD is future along with others but not CF.
Buying cards from top brands makes a difference.
If you need assistance you can come back to this thread and we will help you select the right one.