Digital Camera Memory Cards Explained
Owners of digital cameras know for a fact that without suitable memory cards to store clicked images, these devices are virtually useless. Over time these memory cards have evolved in size, space and composition, and today it is possible to store thousands of pictures on a simple memory card that is no bigger than a few centimeters. But with so many choices comes the confusion about which memory card to use, since every camera now supports multiple formats and extensions.
Digital camera memory cards utilize the concept of flash storage. What this means is that these cards do not require an external power source in order to store its contents or even access them, and this increases the startup speed of these cards. Once you have decided on the amount of storage space that you need your card to have you can go ahead and pick a type that is suitable for your camera.
Most digital cameras specify which type of memory card they require, but with a few adjustments and accessories you can even make use of other types as well. The latest cameras also support multiple formats, so this makes it easier for people who click a lot of pictures and videos with their camera.
Digital Camera Memory Cards Examples and Types
You can start by exploring the various types and formats that are available. Like the different types of memory cards, these are also easily available in retail stores and electronics stores, and they are also available in a wide variety of sizes for your benefit.
Secure Digital (SD)
These are the most standard type of memory cards but they have now been succeeded by SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) cards. SD cards have traditionally had slow transfer speeds, hence the update. Cameras which use SDHC cards are also capable of using SD cards since they are backwards compatible, and these are available in sizes ranging from 2GB to 32GB. These cards are about the same size as a postage stamp, and almost all digital cameras are capable of reading them.
Extreme Digital (xD)
This is a format that is supported by the Fujifilm and Olympus camera brands, and in all honesty they are fast becoming obsolete. People want memory cards that are universally compatible, and not just restricted to a handful of brands. Moreover, the maximum capacity of these cards at present is 2GB which is unacceptable when you can get a 32GB card elsewhere. The fast transfer speeds are a definite benefit though.
Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC)
With the rise in popularity and usage of high-definition video recording by most cameras the need for more storage space has become very widespread. This is the newest form of SD card available, and their maximum storage space at the moment is 64GB. It is believed that this space will soon rise to an astonishing 2TB in the next few years.
Compact Flash (CF)
When it comes to professional DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras, SD cards are slowly catching on for the sake of universal compatibility. But most DSLR cameras still make use of the CF format. The advantage of these cards is that they are sturdier and can withstand extreme weather conditions, hence making them ideal for professional photographers who shoot in extreme weather conditions. CF cards are larger than SD cards, and they are also available in two formats - type I and type II. Most DSLR cameras can read both these types of CF cards. Additionally, in the manner that SDHC is a faster variant of SD cards, CFast is a faster variant of CF cards.
Memory Stick
This is another type that is compatible with one selected brand of cameras (Sony) only. Sony cameras are now compatible with SD cards as well, but for a long time memory sticks were the only compatible memory cards for them. Again, this is a slightly limited strategy, but Sony have taken the necessary steps to correct this.
Ultra Direct Memory Access (UDMA) CF Card
Most DSLR cameras that do make use of type I CF cards use UDMA cards in particular. These are highly reliable and fast memory cards, and transferring data and loading up images on the screen is very speedy thanks to the technology used. The maximum storage space available is 16GB so it is a worthy competitor to the SD cards. Professional photographers who like to click images at a high speed regularly propagate the importance and the efficiency of UDMA cards.
SmartMedia
These are obsolete flash memory cards that used to be manufactured by Toshiba. Their maximum capacity was 128MB, and with the rise to prominence of larger memory cards, the need for these became less profound. The advantage of these cards was their extremely small size.
MultiMediaCard (MMC)
These memory cards were jointly created by SanDisk and Siemens. Even though they have been used in digital cameras, they are more likely to be found in PDAs, camcorders, eBook readers and car navigation systems. These cards are also known for being very sturdy and rugged, but their maximum capacity is also restricted to 128MB. All these factors have led to the standardization of the SD cards (for digital cameras at least), since they offer so much more space than any of these other options.
MicroDrive
MicroDrives are a rather unpopular for digital cameras, owing to their fragility and unreliability. Additionally, this card does not work on the flash storage concept so it also eats up a greater amount of power. A MicroDrive is a mini-hard drive enclosed in a type II CF chassis, and as mentioned above, these are almost obsolete as well. Their storage capacity is on par with SD cards but their slow-speed makes them an unpopular choice.
The storage space and the size that you need will depend on your photography skills and level, and also the number of images that you will need to store. The price will also play an important role, so you must make a wise decision about this before you go ahead and buy a digital camera for yourself.
