There are about 6 different kinds widely used in cameras, and most cost something around 70-100 for a 1GB card at the moment. You just get the one that fits in the camera you have. Flash prices can only really go down from there, but for a P&S, a 1 gig stick ought to see you through 2 or 3 weeks of vacation most of the time. Think 1-2 megs per photo at maximum quality, so a gig is a *lot* of photos. Get a 256 as absolute minimum, but 512 as reasonable minimum. 1 gig ought to see you through.
In case you care for some inexplicable reason: Compactflash type I (CF), is basically a PCMCIA card writ small. 4x3 cm and 3 mm thick. Available in up to several-gig formats. Most common camera format, especially in larger and older cameras. Some larger PDAs accept them.
CompactFlash Type II (CF Type II): like CF except 5 mm thick. *Really* large flash cards come in this format as well as all the IBM Microdrives (as seen in an ipod mini and equivalents), which are available in up to 4 or 6 gig for a lot less than equivalent flash mem. But you don't want them cause they slurp battery power like a mofo and they have moving parts so they're more shocksensitive.
Sony Memory Stick: Pretty much limited to Sony cameras and other Sony products. Look like a stick of gum. Several variants: The original MS goes to 128 meg. There's the MS Duo which is a half size variant of same. There's also a 'Twin' which is basically 2 128 meg sticks grafted together, which you select from with an onboard switch. It's a way to sort-of get 256 meg sticks with the 128 meg limit. Then: the MS Pro. comes in at least up to 1 gig sizes, and the Pro Duo, which is same except in half size (don't know currently available max capacity there, but 1 gig is a good bet). You do *not* want a camera that only takes non-Pro sticks (any cam that does take Pro sticks will also take old sticks if you happen to have them).
Smartmedia (SM): less than a mm thin, size of two postage stamps, max of 128 MB per cards. You don't want that. Its successor is xD, which is extremely small, much sturdier, and comes up to at least half a gig now. That's acceptable.
MMC/SD: Multi Media Card is something like 2.5 by 1.5 cm and 1.4 mm thick, comes in up to 256 megs at least, and is used among others by Nokia mobile phones. Secure Digital is 2.1 mm thick, same size, twice as fast as an interface, and has some irrelevant extra features, and comes in at least up to 2 gigs now. Many PDAs have it. MMC-RS (Reduced Size) is half the size, and that's basically it. miniSD same thing for SD. MicroSD is supersmall and not intended to be user changebale, found in newer smartphones.
That's basically it as far as common flash cards go. And don't complain: you asked for it.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-07-30 09:18 pm (UTC)In case you care for some inexplicable reason:
Compactflash type I (CF), is basically a PCMCIA card writ small. 4x3 cm and 3 mm thick. Available in up to several-gig formats. Most common camera format, especially in larger and older cameras. Some larger PDAs accept them.
CompactFlash Type II (CF Type II): like CF except 5 mm thick. *Really* large flash cards come in this format as well as all the IBM Microdrives (as seen in an ipod mini and equivalents), which are available in up to 4 or 6 gig for a lot less than equivalent flash mem. But you don't want them cause they slurp battery power like a mofo and they have moving parts so they're more shocksensitive.
Sony Memory Stick: Pretty much limited to Sony cameras and other Sony products. Look like a stick of gum. Several variants: The original MS goes to 128 meg. There's the MS Duo which is a half size variant of same. There's also a 'Twin' which is basically 2 128 meg sticks grafted together, which you select from with an onboard switch. It's a way to sort-of get 256 meg sticks with the 128 meg limit. Then: the MS Pro. comes in at least up to 1 gig sizes, and the Pro Duo, which is same except in half size (don't know currently available max capacity there, but 1 gig is a good bet). You do *not* want a camera that only takes non-Pro sticks (any cam that does take Pro sticks will also take old sticks if you happen to have them).
Smartmedia (SM): less than a mm thin, size of two postage stamps, max of 128 MB per cards. You don't want that. Its successor is xD, which is extremely small, much sturdier, and comes up to at least half a gig now. That's acceptable.
MMC/SD: Multi Media Card is something like 2.5 by 1.5 cm and 1.4 mm thick, comes in up to 256 megs at least, and is used among others by Nokia mobile phones. Secure Digital is 2.1 mm thick, same size, twice as fast as an interface, and has some irrelevant extra features, and comes in at least up to 2 gigs now. Many PDAs have it. MMC-RS (Reduced Size) is half the size, and that's basically it. miniSD same thing for SD. MicroSD is supersmall and not intended to be user changebale, found in newer smartphones.
That's basically it as far as common flash cards go. And don't complain: you asked for it.