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Which SD memory card?

#1
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11/27/05 at 4:07pm
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I just picked up a Nikon CoolPix 4600 and need a secure digital memory card for it, probably 512MB or 1 GB. Should I get a high speed card, or is a standard card sufficient? Any particular brand(s) to look at, or just as important, to avoid? TIA.
Dan

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin
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#2
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11/28/05 at 1:32am
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High speed cards are necessary to make full use of the camera's "burst mode"0


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#3
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11/28/05 at 12:09pm
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I think if you get SD card rated at 60X or above, you'll be okay. I have a couple of the SanDisk Ultra II SD cards, and an ATP SD card. Each is rated for 60X or faster. Don't get the SanDisk SD card (normal, blue packaging, not the black used for their Ultra line), those are slower cards (and thus cheaper, on the whole).

The higher rated speed also better if you use your camera is capable of recording video. I have a Canon S2, which allows me to capture 640x480 30fps video, so a fast card helps.

I've been cautioned to stay away from the Lexar SD cards (via reviews from the past year).

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#4
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11/29/05 at 10:50am
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Thanks for the tips.
Dan

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin
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#5
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1/14/06 at 5:11am
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I just purchased a Canon A610 and I need to buy SD Memory as well. What are the specs/speed I should be looking for ?

Think before you speak....Peace always

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#6
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1/14/06 at 5:17am
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I just got a 1GB Kingston SD card from Buy.com, 49.95, less a rebate of $10, makes it a great deal for only 39.95.
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#7
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1/14/06 at 7:51am
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John, was that the standard speed or is it a fast one ?

Think before you speak....Peace always

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#8
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1/14/06 at 6:08pm
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Think it might be standard, at least I couldn't find anything on the package that said High Speed.
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#9
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8/11/06 at 5:58pm
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Ridata and a-data make pretty decent stuff for low cost, they are 20 bucks for 1gig at newegg. I use them in a Canon A620. Ive also have had great luck with kingstons sd memory which has a great lifetime warranty as well.


p.s. the ridata 150X 1gig module is $21.19 at newegg.com here is the link;

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820183183 pretty sweet price and they have many others in the same price range $17-21
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#10
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11/25/06 at 8:16am
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Interesting article from David Pogue, Technology Editor of the New York Times, Nov 8 2006. He wrote to Canon asking for their opinion of high speed memory cards.

Quote:
“Dear Canon… Can you tell me what, if any, difference a high-speed memory card makes in point-and-shoot cameras? Many thanks! –David Pogue”

A reply came from Rudy Winston in Canon’s technical department:
“A high-speed memory card tends to be more of a priority for the high-end digital SLR user who shoots pictures quickly and aggressively, more so than for the compact camera owner.

That said, there are a few reasons a user may want to invest in higher-speed CF or SD memory cards for a compact digital camera.

1. Users who shoot sequences of high-res still images. While it’s true that most compact cameras can’t shoot faster than 2 or at most 3 frames per second, a fast card will let you shoot either (a) longer continuous bursts of these 2-3 fps shots, and/or (b) be ready faster for more shooting after a continuous burst of pictures has been taken.

2. Movie mode. Many cameras now allow continuous movie recording at up to 30 fps (with sound), and a high-speed card becomes really practical if you’re looking to record individual movie clips longer than 15 or 30 seconds. On many current compact cameras, continuous video recording ‘until the card is full’ depends on the card being fast enough to keep up with the camera’s data transfer rate. So a user who frequently uses the movie mode, and especially for someone who may want to shoot long clips without pausing, will probably benefit from a high-speed memory card.

But it probably does remain true that for the typical, average user taking snapshots of family events and so on, that a less-expensive and lower speed card will work just as effectively most of the time. It’s the so-called power user who will really tend to notice the difference, at least in my opinion.”

You heard it from the top, folks.
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#11
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11/25/06 at 11:14am
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Here is another question:

1 x 2GB (Sandisk) vs 2 x 1GB (PNY) ?

Either option is $30 today at Best Buy.

I bought the 2GB, but I am thinking since I am gonna be away for nearly a month with no possibility of replacing it should it go kapput (how often does this happen?) perhaps I should get two of the 1GB instead?

--
H
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#12
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11/25/06 at 12:53pm
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Sandisk is definitely the more established, name brand here. For cameras I would be less concerned, but I have a LG cell phone that seems to accept only Sandisk cards (micro SD format). If price is equal, by all means get Sandisk.

As for 1 x 2 GB or 2 x 1 GB, I think it's a matter of personal preference. These cards are pretty reliable, and as long as you don't expose them to excessive heat or humidity, they should be fine. Sandisk sells a higher grade card called "Extreme III" for these uses. The risk of malfunction is probably higher with the camera than with the memory card. I would go with the 2 GB for convenience (less swapping and misplacement) but normally I also carry a spare empty card.
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#13
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11/25/06 at 5:54pm
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Quote:
1 x 2GB (Sandisk) vs 2 x 1GB (PNY) ?
I prefer to spread things out on more cards. Just the paranoid in me, in case a card dies or something else goes wrong. It does happen.

"That's the disease you have to fight in any creative field.  Ease of use"
--Jack White--

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#14
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11/28/06 at 10:41am
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Re: Which SD memory card?

When I bought my Canon S3 I also picked up a Transcend SD 4GB 150x card. It worked great for burst shooting and movies with the S3 while we were on Maui.

When we got home I was able to download almost 700 super-fine photos is less than 5 minutes. A 2GB card would probably have been big enough, the card was less than half full. Also, I had to download through the camera, my card reader wouldn't recognized the 4GB card. The reader did not have a problem with a 2GB Transcend card I also have.
Dan

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin
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#15
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11/29/06 at 9:07am
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Hey Dan,

Are you still using the S3? I just bought one and love it. You said you bought a Nikon and was just curious if something went wrong with the S3.
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#16
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11/29/06 at 12:14pm
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Hi Mark,

I am definitely still using the S3 and am very happy with it. I purchased the Nikon over a year ago, as a stop-gap replacement for my film SLR, which has a broken shutter. My wife is now the primary user of the Nikon.
Dan

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
--Benjamin Franklin
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#17
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12/17/06 at 8:53am
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Costco currently has a great deal on memory cards. The Sandisk Ultra II 1 GB SD card is $46.99 - $19.00 instant rebate = $27.99 pay at cashier (minus $20 mail-in rebate = $7.99 final price), limit 3, good until 12/30/06.

They also have cuts on the 2 GB and other formats but the discounts were not as good. The above is good in B&M stores only. The online store usually has different prices.
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#18
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12/17/06 at 2:26pm
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Re: Which SD memory card?

I bought a Kingston 1GB SD card for my wife's new Canon SD800 for under $20 shipped at newegg.com -- and no rebate required. Newegg has great prices on SD and Compact Flash memory.
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#19
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2/17/07 at 11:15am
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Newegg now has a 2GB SD card with USB card reader for $20.

Time marches on!

Feline videophiles Susie and Dukie.

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#20
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2/18/07 at 8:28am
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Re: Which SD memory card?

officemax runs some good deals every once in a while.
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#21
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5/15/07 at 11:46am
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Re: Which SD memory card?

I just picked up a Sandisk Secure Digital Ultra II 2GB Memory Card for just $29.95 at jr.com to go with a new Nikon CoolPix L12 (7.1 megapixel).

I was chuckling as I boxed up the old Toshiba 2.2 megapixel camera with its 8, 16 & 32 MB SmartMedia cards.

If I do the math correctly, I think that new card holds 250x more pictures than that 8MB card.

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

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#22
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5/16/07 at 8:09pm
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Frezon
I just picked up a Sandisk Secure Digital Ultra II 2GB Memory Card for just $29.95 at jr.com

If you get it at Best Buy with a coupon, it would be a lot cheaper.

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#23
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5/16/07 at 8:28pm
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Re: Which SD memory card?

Wow. The hecklers even followed me into this room!

There's Jessie the yodeling cowgirl. Bullseye, he's Woody's horse. Pete the old prospector. And, Woody, the man himself. Of course, it's time for Woody's RoundUp. He's the very best! He's the rootinest, tootinest cowboy in the wild, wild west!

Top Ten Ways to Find Good Deals on DVDs and Blu-ray...
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