Differences, pros and cons: SD, XD and CF cards

[CameraNewbie]

Im a newbie please educate me, thanks.

[Balrog]

I'm not completely sure of all of this, but here's a brief rundown...

CF = oldest, cheapest, largest, most reliable, highest capacity .. usually found on dSLRs and high end p&s cameras.

SD = Quite a bit smaller than CF, slightly more expensive, more shock-resistant (i think?), a bit less capacity (still go up to 2gb, which is a lot)

XD = even smaller than SD, way more expensive, less capacity (I think the largest is 512mb, so far?) Introduced and used by a small group of camera manufacturers ( i think Fuji and Olympus .. ?)

Sony Memory Sticks: Most expensive, also low-capacity, proprietary (you'll only ever find sony products using this ..), way too many different formats (MS, MS Pro, MS Duo, MS Pro Duo .. sheeesh!)

[Rex914]

Sony Memory Sticks: Most expensive, also low-capacity, proprietary (you'll only ever find sony products using this ..), way too many different formats (MS, MS Pro, MS Duo, MS Pro Duo .. sheeesh!)

The Pro is just an indicator for "high speed." In short, Sony just made their own world by having a larger format (like CF) and a smaller one (like SD). Eventually, the smaller one will probably win out and kill off the old one, and it's already available in 1-2 GB sizes at relatively reasonable prices for a proprietary format (about 25% more expensive than CF).

You forgot to mention that SD cards on average are still slower than CF, especially when you compare the "high speed" versions.

[Balrog]

True, but I don't think that's much of a factor, really .. none of the cameras I've seen with SD slots actually have write speeds / burst modes capable of challenging the fastest SD cards out these days. On the pro cameras you've got CF slots anyway...

[jeisner]

True, but I don't think that's much of a factor, really .. none of the cameras I've seen with SD slots actually have write speeds / burst modes capable of challenging the fastest SD cards out these days. On the pro cameras you've got CF slots anyway...

Most cameras dont write above around 30X anyway...

60X and 66X is become pretty much the standard in SD, well there is a lot around at that speed... Most of the CF I see for sale is a similar speed (80X) a little better though.. Although I think 133X is available... BTW SD cards in 4GB will be available very soon...

I recently read an article comparing the speeds available of all the cards and Sonys Pro cards are lagging way behind... I won't buy anything that uses Sony's proprietory storage anyway, they get on my nerves with moves like that!!!

[Balrog]

I recently read an article comparing the speeds available of all the cards and Sonys Pro cards are lagging way behind... I won't buy anything that uses Sony's proprietory storage anyway, they get on my nerves with moves like that!!!

Truly. I refuse to consider Sony cameras for that exact reason.

[Mark Larson]

Is there a way to find out what my camera can write at, and what my SD card can be written to at? I have an Optio S with a Lexar 256MB SD card, and I think its very slow to write to the card. My pictures come to around 1.5-2MB each, and it takes 5-6 seconds to write. I want to know if i would benefit from a higher speed card. :)

[jeisner]

Testing the cards themselves with a card reader is one thing (I actually use my pocketpc and a program called pocket mechanic) but testing the camera itself, I am not to certain how we can do that at home...

[Jredtugboat]

Im a newbie please educate me, thanks.

As others have pointed out, the differences have to do with the size of the envelope and the speeds ("write speeds") at which cards can be filled with data (your pictures). You buy them based on how big it is (common "denominations" include 128mb, 256mb, 512mb and 1gigabyte) and how fast they are (I have cards that are '4x', and '80x'). Higher is better if you are shooting lots of pictures in a row quickly, to an extent, as someone else has posted.

CF and SD are the dominant formats on the market today. Others, including MMC (when was the last time you heard of that one?), xD, and Sony's "Memory Stick" are all out there, too. In all cases you

CF's big advantage is that it is readily available, the least expensive, and can be had in very fast write speed versions.

Others are smaller or differently shaped. A CF card is about the size of one of those big Express Mail stamps--or just a plain big stamp. It's going to be about 4mm or 1/8" thick.

Quibbling about "which is smallest" is just that, quibbling. There's a limit as to how useful a smaller-sized card is going to be--so while SD is indeed significantly smaller than a CF card, that's sort of like saying a dime is significantly smaller than a penny. It's a true statement that doesn't say much about your ability to carry them around.

Ultimately what memory you're going to need is dictated by which camera you buy. I would by the camera that you like, and use whatever memory it needs. Be aware, however, that some cameras, like Sony, might only use its format of memory. So check into that first, and figure out how much room you're going to need.

If you're using the camera for casual photography, I'd get a 512mb card. Chances are you're getting a consumer model of 5 megapixels or more and it's nice to have the memory space. If you're getting something serious, 512mb is about the minimum you want to get.

I hope this helps some.

yours,

Julian

[Jredtugboat]

Truly. I refuse to consider Sony cameras for that exact reason.

Sony must know this on some level. But it's good business for them to lock consumers into a proprietary format. If consumers know (and care about) the difference, then it's bad news.

My feeling is that most consumers don't pay attention to it, anymore than they paid attention to the kind of film they were buying (on sale at the drugstore: drugstore brand, Kodak, Fuji? who cares?) and will only realize the difference if they inquire.

The only advantage to Sony's strategy is that they have, very nicely I might add, integrated the Memory Stick into their other technologies, from laptops to PDAs...

Julian

[vanDivX]

I won't buy anything that uses Sony's proprietory storage anyway, they get on my nerves with moves like that!!!
I also hate proprietary solutions, I hate Macintosh computer for that reason and more to point I hate the proprietary batteries I have to use with my old Canon Elph...

However I am ready to go with Sony memory stick because I am now looking at Sony DSC-W7 camera and big surprise, it uses non proprietary AA batteries as feed and I was always liking that, in pinch hit, you can put in any AAs. Memory stick is one time expenditure, you buy it (at least I) only once for the life of the camera and then you don't care, it likely is never going to leave the camera casing. With batteries its different, especially as I never use built in finder but always use LCD and batteries come and go when you do that.

Also, my old Canon makes sort of proprietary movies mp2 that I have trouble to postprocess, Sony makes MPEG ("MPEG Movie VX with Audio provides VGA (640 x 480)") which I hope will be something standard (fingers crossed).

So I am ready to buy into proprietary memory stick this time, looking at 1GB that should be out by end of June. Also they will make them soon even in 4GB sizes but the prices are forbiding. http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/ProductDetailDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=1000316
Those are Canadian $s by the way.

vanDivX

[Sigbhu]

i've had an xD that failed once after tow years of extremely rough use. i don't know what to make of it--as xDs good or bad?

[Duwenbasden]

I also hate proprietary solutions, I hate Macintosh computer for that reason and more to point I hate the proprietary batteries I have to use with my old Canon Elph...

However I am ready to go with Sony memory stick because I am now looking at Sony DSC-W7 camera and big surprise, it uses non proprietary AA batteries as feed and I was always liking that, in pinch hit, you can put in any AAs. Memory stick is one time expenditure, you buy it (at least I) only once for the life of the camera and then you don't care, it likely is never going to leave the camera casing. With batteries its different, especially as I never use built in finder but always use LCD and batteries come and go when you do that.

Also, my old Canon makes sort of proprietary movies mp2 that I have trouble to postprocess, Sony makes MPEG ("MPEG Movie VX with Audio provides VGA (640 x 480)") which I hope will be something standard (fingers crossed).

So I am ready to buy into proprietary memory stick this time, looking at 1GB that should be out by end of June. Also they will make them soon even in 4GB sizes but the prices are forbiding. http://www.sonystyle.ca/commerce/servlet/ProductDetailDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=1000316
Those are Canadian $s by the way.

vanDivX

You should take a look into Nikon's Coolpix series.

[tetsuo]

Sony Memory Sticks: Most expensive, also low-capacity, proprietary (you'll only ever find sony products using this ..), way too many different formats (MS, MS Pro, MS Duo, MS Pro Duo .. sheeesh!)
just a point of clarification i have a samsung video camera that takes stills on a memory stick, and i know of at least one minolta camera that uses them as well as a sd card.

[Balrog]

heh .. i didn't know that. Still, the general point remains valid - they're too expensive per megabyte compared to other things, and standardization is always a good thing for consumers...

[jeisner]

In all the comparisons I have seen comparing the fastest cards available in each major format (SD, CF, MS, XD), Memory Stick seems to always come out on the bottom, by a long shot compared to SD and CF too..

[Mark Larson]

I don't think Sony came out with Memory Stick as something only Sony products could use, but rather as something they would always get money for, regardless of who is using them.

So if someone is using a Lexar Memory Stick in a Samsung camera, they still get paid.

[jeisner]

I don't think Sony came out with Memory Stick as something only Sony products could use, but rather as something they would always get money for, regardless of who is using them.

So if someone is using a Lexar Memory Stick in a Samsung camera, they still get paid.

Yeah sounds like sony, unfortunately all they did was reshape SD cards, they really didn't give us ANYTHING new. In fact they are lagging behind SD in card speed quiet a bit, at least they could keep up ;)