Digital Cameras: More Storage, Cheaper Costs
Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Data Storage 101 and other Data Storage topics.
Digital Cameras: More Storage, Cheaper Costs
Digital memory storage options for cameras have grown quickly, along with overall storage options and capacity across the digital storage industry. All camera options are in removeable media, with flash memory. There's no such thing as a hard drive in a digital camera -- so far, at least. That means you can swap digital memory cards in your camera, and almost never run out of space. Virtually all digital cameras use one of the following options: Compact Flash/Microdrives, Secure Digital/Multimedia Cards, or Memory Sticks. Unfortunately, none are compatible. And the decision on which one to use is made by the camera manufacturer.
Sony uses the proprietary Memory Sticks. Compact Flash is generally the standard for most DSLR/pro-level cameras, with capacity of up to 8 GB and counting. SD/MMC cards, which are much smaller, have become the standard for many compact cameras. These cards now run up to 2-4 GB.
The best news in digital camera storage is the price. A few years ago, it cost consumers $500 or more for a 1GB microdrive card. Today, a 1GB CF card, which is quicker than the microdrive, costs less than $100.
Bottom line: You can't pick the type of digital storage to use for your camera; the manufacturer does that. But no matter the digital storage, the products today boast more capacity at a cheaper price.
| Guru Spotlight |
| Heidi Splete |
