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The Definitive Guide to SD Memory Cards
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<blockquote data-quote="Browncoat" data-source="post: 794913" data-attributes="member: 1061"><p>Memory cards are an <strong>essential</strong> purchase for your camera. We spend so much time researching and shopping for a great camera that fits our needs and budget, and then often throw caution to the wind when it comes to a memory storage device. There are so many El Cheapo brands out there, many consumers just assume that one card is just as good as another. Or that memory storage is an area where you can skimp on quality. Neither of the above is true!</p><p></p><p>If you read no further, please at least read this: <span style="color: red"><strong>Do not buy a low-grade memory card for your camera</strong><strong>!</strong></span></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH]383279[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>What is SD?</strong></span></p><p></p><p>What does SD stand for? It means <strong>S</strong>ecure <strong>D</strong>igital. </p><p>How about SDHC? <strong>S</strong>ecure <strong>D</strong>igital <strong>H</strong>igh <strong>C</strong>apacity.</p><p>And SDXC? <strong>S</strong>ecure <strong>D</strong>igital e<strong>X</strong>tended <strong>C</strong>apacity.</p><p>Other formats: miniSD and microSD.</p><p>Is there a quality/security difference between these formats? No!</p><p></p><p>Cards labeled SDHC have a capacity of 4GB - 32GB. SDXC formats can be very large and expensive. For the purpose of this guide, I am going to recommend that everyone stick with SDHC format. These cards have more than enough storage, even for the most trigger-happy shutterbug.</p><p></p><p>SD is merely a format name. There are technical standards that apply, but I won't go into all that here because it's not really important for what we do. SD has specific file transfer/storage types and methods designed to work with digital cameras/camcorders/PDA, and other consumer electronics. </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>Storage Capacity</strong></span></p><p></p><p>Think of your memory card as a bucket that you're dumping your photos into. How many photos the card will hold will largely depend on a few factors:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Camera megapixels: More MP means bigger photos that take up more space.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Shooting mode: JPEG only/RAW only/RAW+JPEG. Listed here from smallest file size to largest (typically).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The GB capacity of the card.</li> </ul><p>SD card storage capacity are listed in gigabytes (GB) on the packaging and the card itself. Remember, we are focusing on 4GB-32GB cards here, which is the SDHC format. Storage works the same as it does on your computer. SDHC cards come in these sizes:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">4GB</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">8GB</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">16GB</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">32GB</li> </ul><p>There is no trickery here, it's simple math. An 8GB card has twice as much space as a 4GB card. A 32GB card has eight times as much space as a 4GB card. You can swap out "space" for "photos" here. Just for an easy example, if a 4GB card will hold 1,000 photos, a 16GB card will hold around 4,000.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>Speed</strong></span></p><p></p><p>This is where there seems to be a lot of confusion on the forums lately. In addition to capacity, read/write speed is a vitally important factor in determining which card is best for you. In Layman's Terms:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Read: How fast the card looks at the data (the photo you just took) in the camera.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Write: How fast the camera transfers the data to the memory card.</li> </ul><p>Speed is shown in varying ways on the packaging and card itself. Sometimes speed data is shown as Speed Class with a symbol like the ones listed here:</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH]383277[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>This is an official speed rating as defined by the <a href="http://www.sdcard.org/" target="_blank">SD Association</a>. Whatever the Speed Class rating is, consider the number shown as the transfer rate:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Class 2: 2MB/s</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Class 4: 4MB/s</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Class 6: 6MB/s</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Class 10: 10MB/s</li> </ul><p>Another way transfer speed is shown is with an X rating. This type of rating uses a 1.2MB/s standard similar to CD-ROM drive speed. Those with a keen eye will notice the extra .2 at the end there. Does that mean the cards that use the X rating system are faster than the ones that use the Speed Class rating?</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Class 4 = 4MB/s</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">x 4 = 4.8MB/s</li> </ul><p>On the surface, it looks that way. But there's a catch, and it's a big one...so pay very close attention here. The Speed Class rating system requires <u>sustained transfer rates</u> to use their symbol notation. The X system does not. Typically, a card reads a lot faster than it writes. Don't you? Manufacturers will put the fastest speed that they legally can on these cards, which may or may not be what you want...which is the write speed. You could care less how fast the card is reading data, you just want it to transfer quickly.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>Speed and your camera</strong></span></p><p></p><p>Your digital camera has an operating system. No, it's not as fancy was Windows 7, but it's there. Somewhere in your instruction booklet is a section that discusses memory and read/write speeds. Find it and read it. Most likely, it will not list a maximum read/write speed, but it will show some sort of comparison chart. </p><p></p><p>If you want the most out of your memory card, go with the highest speed rating your camera can handle. For the Nikon D90, this is 30MB/s. It makes no sense to use an SDHC card with a read/write speed higher than 30MB/s with this camera, because the camera's firmware (operating system) can't transfer files any faster that it was designed to do.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>Which card is best for me?</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong></strong></span>The short version: The best one you can afford. The long version: There are varying schools of thought on memory storage. Some photogs like to get smaller capacity cards (4GB) and swap them out when they need to. Others prefer one larger card to store all their photos in the same place. One very important thing to note here is the potential for static shock and a memory wipe. This is not a myth. Static shock can delete or corrupt any or all files on any SD memory card. </p><p></p><p>I will recommend here that you use your camera's USB cable for downloading images whenever possible. This minimizes the chance of static shock or other damage to the card. Many printers and other external devices are equipped with SD card slots, but the fewer times you physically remove the card from the camera, the better. Just my opinion...and this is my guide after all.</p><p></p><p>Another good practice to get into is formatting your card after each time you connect the USB cable. Data can become corrupted over time, after you verify that your photos have transferred to your computer, use the camera's systems menu and format the card. This will delete all photos contained on the card, so be absolutely certain before you do this.</p><p></p><p>As far as brands, I can only recommend one. I will preface my recommendation by saying that I work for a company who sells technology products, and there is one name that is very respected in the memory industry: <a href="http://www.kingston.com/flash/photo.asp" target="_blank">Kingston</a>. As a special note, they use the Speed Class rating system, and the information on their cards is reliable.</p><p></p><p>If you want the very best memory card out there (in my opinion) go for the <a href="http://www.kingston.com/flash/sdhc10.asp" target="_blank">Kingston SDHC Ultimate X Class 10</a>.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">22MB/sec. read and 18MB/sec. write speed</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">8, 16, and 32GB capacity</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lifetime warranty, 24/7 support</li> </ul><p>It doesn't get much better than that, kids. </p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"></span>[ATTACH]383278[/ATTACH]</p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>Summary</strong></span></p><p></p><p>All memory cards are not created equal.</p><p>Most bang for your buck = SDHC.</p><p>Don't exceed the write speed of your camera.</p><p>READ THE CARD PACKAGING so you know what you're buying.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Browncoat, post: 794913, member: 1061"] Memory cards are an [B]essential[/B] purchase for your camera. We spend so much time researching and shopping for a great camera that fits our needs and budget, and then often throw caution to the wind when it comes to a memory storage device. There are so many El Cheapo brands out there, many consumers just assume that one card is just as good as another. Or that memory storage is an area where you can skimp on quality. Neither of the above is true! If you read no further, please at least read this: [COLOR=red][B]Do not buy a low-grade memory card for your camera[/B][B]![/B][/COLOR] [ATTACH]383279._xfImport[/ATTACH] [SIZE=4][B]What is SD?[/B][/SIZE] What does SD stand for? It means [B]S[/B]ecure [B]D[/B]igital. How about SDHC? [B]S[/B]ecure [B]D[/B]igital [B]H[/B]igh [B]C[/B]apacity. And SDXC? [B]S[/B]ecure [B]D[/B]igital e[B]X[/B]tended [B]C[/B]apacity. Other formats: miniSD and microSD. Is there a quality/security difference between these formats? No! Cards labeled SDHC have a capacity of 4GB - 32GB. SDXC formats can be very large and expensive. For the purpose of this guide, I am going to recommend that everyone stick with SDHC format. These cards have more than enough storage, even for the most trigger-happy shutterbug. SD is merely a format name. There are technical standards that apply, but I won't go into all that here because it's not really important for what we do. SD has specific file transfer/storage types and methods designed to work with digital cameras/camcorders/PDA, and other consumer electronics. [SIZE=4][B]Storage Capacity[/B][/SIZE] Think of your memory card as a bucket that you're dumping your photos into. How many photos the card will hold will largely depend on a few factors: [LIST] [*]Camera megapixels: More MP means bigger photos that take up more space. [*]Shooting mode: JPEG only/RAW only/RAW+JPEG. Listed here from smallest file size to largest (typically). [*]The GB capacity of the card. [/LIST]SD card storage capacity are listed in gigabytes (GB) on the packaging and the card itself. Remember, we are focusing on 4GB-32GB cards here, which is the SDHC format. Storage works the same as it does on your computer. SDHC cards come in these sizes: [LIST] [*]4GB [*]8GB [*]16GB [*]32GB [/LIST]There is no trickery here, it's simple math. An 8GB card has twice as much space as a 4GB card. A 32GB card has eight times as much space as a 4GB card. You can swap out "space" for "photos" here. Just for an easy example, if a 4GB card will hold 1,000 photos, a 16GB card will hold around 4,000. [SIZE=4][B]Speed[/B][/SIZE] This is where there seems to be a lot of confusion on the forums lately. In addition to capacity, read/write speed is a vitally important factor in determining which card is best for you. In Layman's Terms: [LIST] [*]Read: How fast the card looks at the data (the photo you just took) in the camera. [*]Write: How fast the camera transfers the data to the memory card. [/LIST]Speed is shown in varying ways on the packaging and card itself. Sometimes speed data is shown as Speed Class with a symbol like the ones listed here: [ATTACH]383277._xfImport[/ATTACH] This is an official speed rating as defined by the [URL="http://www.sdcard.org/"]SD Association[/URL]. Whatever the Speed Class rating is, consider the number shown as the transfer rate: [LIST] [*]Class 2: 2MB/s [*]Class 4: 4MB/s [*]Class 6: 6MB/s [*]Class 10: 10MB/s [/LIST]Another way transfer speed is shown is with an X rating. This type of rating uses a 1.2MB/s standard similar to CD-ROM drive speed. Those with a keen eye will notice the extra .2 at the end there. Does that mean the cards that use the X rating system are faster than the ones that use the Speed Class rating? [LIST] [*]Class 4 = 4MB/s [*]x 4 = 4.8MB/s [/LIST]On the surface, it looks that way. But there's a catch, and it's a big one...so pay very close attention here. The Speed Class rating system requires [U]sustained transfer rates[/U] to use their symbol notation. The X system does not. Typically, a card reads a lot faster than it writes. Don't you? Manufacturers will put the fastest speed that they legally can on these cards, which may or may not be what you want...which is the write speed. You could care less how fast the card is reading data, you just want it to transfer quickly. [SIZE=4][B]Speed and your camera[/B][/SIZE] Your digital camera has an operating system. No, it's not as fancy was Windows 7, but it's there. Somewhere in your instruction booklet is a section that discusses memory and read/write speeds. Find it and read it. Most likely, it will not list a maximum read/write speed, but it will show some sort of comparison chart. If you want the most out of your memory card, go with the highest speed rating your camera can handle. For the Nikon D90, this is 30MB/s. It makes no sense to use an SDHC card with a read/write speed higher than 30MB/s with this camera, because the camera's firmware (operating system) can't transfer files any faster that it was designed to do. [SIZE=4][B]Which card is best for me? [/B][/SIZE]The short version: The best one you can afford. The long version: There are varying schools of thought on memory storage. Some photogs like to get smaller capacity cards (4GB) and swap them out when they need to. Others prefer one larger card to store all their photos in the same place. One very important thing to note here is the potential for static shock and a memory wipe. This is not a myth. Static shock can delete or corrupt any or all files on any SD memory card. I will recommend here that you use your camera's USB cable for downloading images whenever possible. This minimizes the chance of static shock or other damage to the card. Many printers and other external devices are equipped with SD card slots, but the fewer times you physically remove the card from the camera, the better. Just my opinion...and this is my guide after all. Another good practice to get into is formatting your card after each time you connect the USB cable. Data can become corrupted over time, after you verify that your photos have transferred to your computer, use the camera's systems menu and format the card. This will delete all photos contained on the card, so be absolutely certain before you do this. As far as brands, I can only recommend one. I will preface my recommendation by saying that I work for a company who sells technology products, and there is one name that is very respected in the memory industry: [URL="http://www.kingston.com/flash/photo.asp"]Kingston[/URL]. As a special note, they use the Speed Class rating system, and the information on their cards is reliable. If you want the very best memory card out there (in my opinion) go for the [URL="http://www.kingston.com/flash/sdhc10.asp"]Kingston SDHC Ultimate X Class 10[/URL]. [LIST] [*]22MB/sec. read and 18MB/sec. write speed [*]8, 16, and 32GB capacity [*]Lifetime warranty, 24/7 support [/LIST]It doesn't get much better than that, kids. [SIZE=4] [/SIZE][ATTACH]383278._xfImport[/ATTACH] [SIZE=4] [B]Summary[/B][/SIZE] All memory cards are not created equal. Most bang for your buck = SDHC. Don't exceed the write speed of your camera. READ THE CARD PACKAGING so you know what you're buying. [/QUOTE]
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