Posts Tagged ‘cards’

Photography – Understanding Memory Cards

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Even more confusing than the process of deciding which model of digital camera to buy is the process of selecting a memory card for your camera. This is compounded by the fact that often your first digital camera will not come bundled with a memory card, and you will need to purchase it separately. Important characteristics for a memory card, beyond whether or not it is compatible with a given digital camera model, are the file storage capacity (generally measured in gigabytes), and the file transfer rate (the higher the better). As an example of the numbers involved, a 6 megapixel resolution camera can store about 320 high resolution JPEG images on a 1GB memory card. A 2GB memory card would hold 640 images, and so on. But note that if you store images in the camera’s RAW image format as well, your memory card will accept a significantly smaller number. This is why high-capacity memory cards are favored when you can afford them. The wide variety of memory card types and makers reflects the relative immaturity of the field of digital photography. The different companies are still battling for market dominance, and no standard has yet been established for memory cards. However, there are presently two main types of memory card that seem to stand above the others. These two types are known as Compact Flash (or CF) and Secure Digital (SD). For the remainder of this article I shall restrict my discussion to these two card types. Most digital cameras will support only one memory card type, though the very high end digital SLR models, like the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and the Nikon D3 support both CF and SD memory cards for maximum flexibility. Compact Flash, which is currently the most popular memory card type for digital cameras (due to its historically superior capacity and reliability), was introduced by SanDisk in the mid nineties, so it has been around for a while. All the major digital camera brands employ CF memory cards on at least some, if not most, of their models. SanDisk produces memory cards that can hold up to 8 GB in file size. For people who need to reel off a great number of shots in order to get the one or two great ones (sports photographers come to mind here), the high capacity cards are extremely convenient. Transfer rates are specified in term of the incremental “1x” rate of 150 KB/s. A “12x” card would therefore be capable of a maximum file transfer rate of 1800 KB/s. CF memory cards come in one physical size only, though with two possible thicknesses, designated as Type I and Type II, with the second being the thicker. A Type II memory card will not fit into a Type I slot, so be sure to get the correct Type when selecting CF memory cards. Because CF memory cards are relatively large (1. 43 inches by 1. 68 inches) they are less likely to be found in use with smaller point-and-shoot digital camera models. Instead, their physical size makes them more suitable to the digital SLR models. The Secure Digital memory card name derives from the fact that it was originally introduced as a means to securely store music files. The idea was that music files would be copyright protected and limited access would be permitted to files stored on SD disks. But the concept was short-lived when the security protocol was cracked not long after its introduction. Because of the tight association with the music industry, slots that accept SD cards also accept other devices like Bluetooth antenna, PDAs, mobile phones, and so on. SD memory cards are used by all the top digital camera brands, including Casio, Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Kodak, Panasonic, and Konica Minolta. Like CF memory cards, the SD card transfer rate is measured in the same units of 150 KB/s. Due to the smaller physical size of the SD memory card (1. 26 inches by 0. 94 inches) the maximum file storage capacity has historically been a great deal lower than for CF cards. Typically around 1 GB. However, SD has now targeted the high capacity market, and to do so it has had to shift to a new file format. Unfortunately this was done without a corresponding change in physical dimensions of the card, which has meant that older cards are often inserted into newer SD card slots that cannot read them, and vice versa, causing some confusion to consumers. Once you have a memory card that is full of images, you are going to want to transfer the files to your computer, where you might process them with a software application like Photoshop, or you might send them on to someone else for the editing. One common way to transfer images from your memory card is to use a card reader. This is a small device, roughly of ipod size, which contains one or more memory card slots at one end, and a cable at the other end which connects to the USB port of your computer. In this way, your card reader simply becomes another port from which to read data onto your hard drive. If your digital camera does not ship with a card reader, it almost certainly is accompanied by a cable which can be used to connect the USB port of your PC to the camera. In this way, your camera doubles as the card reader device that you might otherwise have used to read the memory card. Other devices, such as photo printers, are likely to have memory card slots built right into them, so that they can accept a memory card directly. Some devices are even capable of receiving a WiFi signal sent from a camera so that files can be transferred “over the air”. No matter what the model of your digital camera may be, it is always a great idea to first consult the user manual to see what your options are regarding memory cards. Never make the assumption that one memory card is likely to work for your camera simply because a sister model, or immediate predecessor model, uses the same memory card. It is likely the case, but it pays to find out before you order new cards. You can also visit the SanDisk site and check memory card / camera model compatibility. SanDisk lists all the major camera manufacturers and for most current camera models, gives the SanDisk cards that can be used with them. To help you select a suitable digital camera to get started with, I have put together an article for you about how to find the right Beginner Digital Camera. Whether you need a simple point-and-shoot model, or a more complex digital SLR model, you will find the answers, and greatly discounted digital camera offers, at http://www. bestdigitalcameradiscounts. com/

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Digital Cameras – Memory Cards Explained

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Wholesale memory cards are utilized by old digital cameras to shop photos as well as video clips. In this sense they will execute the same part as film in a classic motion picture photographic camera. There are various types of memory card available. You’ll need to be cautious when buying the memory card to make sure it works with you got it. The capability of a memory card is actually assessed in megabytes (Mb) and Gb (Gb). The amount of photographs it is possible to store on the memory card depends upon how many megapixels the digital camera has. The more megapixels the low the number of images you will be able in order to keep. To provide you with a very rough concept of ability any 1GB card can hold 400 photos used having a five megapixel photographic camera, 335 using a six to eight megapixel product and 280 using a more effective megapixel digital camera. The memory card just isn’t usually offered with an all new digicam. This is actually because a lot more cameras are being created using small quantities of memory built into them. Typically you will be able to be able to shop between several as well as twenty pictures about the card that accompany your camera or in the particular internal memory. Therefore before it is possible to do any significant picture taking you need to buy a card having a higher capacity, its one type of card. Others can use 2, three or even 4 several types of card. The commonest type of card used in customer stage digital cameras has become the particular Sd card. This type of card can also be referred to by its complete name, Protected Digital. There’s two reasons for the growth in availability of the particular Sd card. The first is it’s fairly small dimension (30mm x 22mm approx). The second is it can be effective at storing many photos. The Files is often found in Cannon, Casio, Kodak, Nikon, Panasonic and Pentax digital camera models. Sony has their kind of wholesale memory cards. This is known as Memory Stay. There’s two kinds of Memory Stay. One is original Memory Adhere. This is actually close to 50mm times 20mm in dimension. Recently more compact Memory Stay Mixture cards have elected their particular tag. These have dimensions regarding 30mm by 20mm and therefore are additionally thinner than the original Memory Stay. Memory Adhere Mixture cards are now being employed since the card of choice through The new sony in their particular old digital cameras. Points to be able to keep in mind when buying wholesale memory cards include because you can find high rate cards which there may be any maximum capability card that the camera is compatible with. Even though the high rate cards may sound like a good idea it is quite entirely possible that except if you guessed it-your camera is definitely an superior design it won’t be in a position to use the higher speed capabilities of the fast card.

SD Association adds pins for 300MB/s cards

The SD Association has announced an extension to the format that will allow SDHC and SDXC cards with transfer rates of up to 300 MB/s – three times faster than the theoretical maximum of the UHS-I cards that are starting to appear and sixteen times quicker than conventional cards. The as yet unnamed standard will use a second row of connection pins located behind the existing ones to allow the greater transfer rates. The association says the cards will be defined by the SD 4.0 specification expected in early 2011 and will be backwards-compatible with existing SD, SDHC and SDXC devices, albeit without the speed benefits.

Toshiba to introduce world’s fastest SDHC UHS-I cards

Toshiba has announced what it claims will be the world’s fastest SDHC UHS-I and the world’s first microSDHC UHS-I compliant memory cards. To be available in 32GB, 16GB and 8GB capacities, the SDHC cards will offer read and write speeds of up to 95MB/s and 80MB/s respectively. The microSDHC cards will be available in 4GB, 8GB and 16GB capacities with read and write speeds of up to 45MB/s and 20MB/s. The company says mass production of the SDHC UHS-I cards and sample shipments of the new microSDHC UHS-I cards will begin from November 2010.

Panasonic releases 8GB & 16GB UHS-I SDHC cards

Panasonic has released 8GB and 16GB SDHC cards adhering to the SD association’s latest UHS-I specification. Both memory cards have maximum read speeds of up to 60MB/s and Class 10 speed specification complementing 3D and full HD video recording features of recently released cameras. Like the company’s ‘Gold’ line of memory cards, it features protection against power failures and a Super Intelligent Controller that cleans up errors preventing data damage. The memory cards will be available from November 2010.