Memory card size options - DPChallenge Forums

11/26/2003 10:49:40 AM · #1

Just curious as to other people's take on this. What is better...

1) Two 256mb xD cards at $99 each or
2) One 512mb xD card at $190?

Although the later option provides more memory for the dollar, I am leaning more towards the first option since I could still use the other card if one of them craps out. Kind of like an $8 insurance.

11/26/2003 10:55:36 AM · #2

I agree with you. I would get the (2) 256mb cards.
Why put all of your eggs in one basket.
I already had a 1 gb card crash and burn.
But luckily I got all of my photographs off before it did!

What make are they?

The one I had that crashed was IBM :(
I now go with Lexar WA 40x

11/26/2003 10:58:24 AM · #3

They are Olympus. I figured I'd match the card with the camera. Besides, the Olympus cards are the only ones that support the Panoramic feature. Never used it and don't think I ever will. But I just know that if I don't have the option, then I would want it. lol.

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

11/26/2003 11:05:02 AM · #4

I have one of the Lexar 256mb 40x WA cards also. I ordered a 1gb version of the same card that should arrive today.

I'm not sure what it is about CF cards, but they seem to be much less reliable than the sony memory sticks that I used with my 707. I NEVER lost information from the memory stick... not once :) I have had corrupted CF cards a few times now.

One interesting problem I see is that when I delete the files from my CF card using the card reader attached to the computer, sometimes when I put the card back in the camera, it shows no files on the card but it does NOT show the full 256mb available. It will show a shortage of however much I had just deleted from the card. I'm not sure what causes that but it's annoying to me. A quick format of the card fixes it but I can't explain why it happens.

Message edited by author 2003-11-26 11:05:39.

coolhar

11/26/2003 11:06:55 AM · #5

I'd suggest you get one 256mb Olympus branded card now, to use for panoramas. And then wait on the other. Prices are going to come down, or at least find a sale price.

Message edited by author 2003-11-26 11:08:37.

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

11/26/2003 11:11:22 AM · #6

Trinch,

I like the idea of multiple cards. It make sense to me to have back-ups "just in case". It is a philosophy I live by.

11/26/2003 11:13:31 AM · #7

Coolhar, I am going on a 2 weeks trip over the holidays and want to make sure I have enough memory. I don't want to compromise on picture quality and at the highest quality, I only have 96 shots with my current 256Mb card.

Believe me, if waiting was an option, I would.

11/26/2003 11:24:40 AM · #8

Originally posted by Trinch:

Buy one of these instead of an additional card:

//www.kanguru.com/mediaxchange.html

11/26/2003 11:28:09 AM · #9

That's neat, but unfortunately doesn't accept xD cards. :-(

Thanks anyway.

11/26/2003 12:09:03 PM · #10

Yes I own an Oly C-3030Z and I have one Oly card and the others are compatibles.

The Panorama feature is the greatest in OLY cameras and software I think. It makes it very easy for the novice and all others to stitch them. I just loved the Panorama shots I did. The only down part was fumbling through the menu to set it for panorama. If you did not use it very often it was somewhat hidden.

Originally posted by Trinch:

11/26/2003 12:10:49 PM · #11

John

Did you read that warning from Canon I posted awhile back about XP, Explorer and the use of CF cards?

There was or is a problem with XP, Explorer and CF cards functioning correctly.

Not sure if I can find it again right away.

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

One interesting problem I see is that when I delete the files from my CF card using the card reader attached to the computer, sometimes when I put the card back in the camera, it shows no files on the card but it does NOT show the full 256mb available. It will show a shortage of however much I had just deleted from the card. I'm not sure what causes that but it's annoying to me. A quick format of the card fixes it but I can't explain why it happens.

11/26/2003 12:25:40 PM · #12

No... I missed that but I'm not using XP. I use Windows 2000 Pro. I don't know if that makes any difference or not though..

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

11/26/2003 01:03:24 PM · #13

After reading that I use the camera to delete or format the CF cards just to be safe :)

2000 may cause a similar problem.

It also said if you used Explorer or the viewer to rotate and image it would corrupt the EXIF data and you would get a "?" with Canon software.

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

No... I missed that but I'm not using XP. I use Windows 2000 Pro. I don't know if that makes any difference or not though..

Flash

Nikon D700

11/26/2003 01:34:49 PM · #14

For what it is worth....

I use XP and have not had any trouble with cards. However my system may be a little different....my HP tower has slots in the front for direct insertion of the flash card. I remove the card from my camera, insert it into the slot, it opens and downloads the files, I remove the card and it goes back into the camera, empty and ready to use.

I have not yet had any info loss when rotating pictures from landscape to portrait. I even have the ability to retrieve original file data on edited photos.

11/26/2003 01:37:50 PM · #15

I'm gonna be buying a new pc soon and I will probalby get one with the cf reader built in too... i saw those and they looked nice :)

scab-lab

Canon EOS-D60

11/26/2003 02:18:56 PM · #16

I also use XP with a Kodak multi card reader. Almost 7,000 pics so far using windows explorer and moving images from the CF card. I havent seen any errors yet.

Message edited by author 2003-11-26 14:19:28.

11/26/2003 02:19:43 PM · #17

My 1gb card showed up today... came with a reader... lol

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

11/26/2003 02:26:40 PM · #18

This is the one I was refering to:

//www.dpchallenge.com/forum.php?action=read&FORUM_THREAD_ID=46726

Scroll down and this is the info:

Corrupted EXIF data:

I just found this while looking for info on the Canon software!

I think it explains the "?" I'm getting on some of my photos while using their browsers.

1. Image Display Error Notice (Corrupted EXIF data)

When you perform any of the following operations on picture data shot with a Canon digital camera using Windows Explorer on a PC in which Windows XP Home Edition/ Windows XP Professional Edition (hereinafter
called "Windows XP") is installed, the Exif attribute information that is attached to the image data is altered. As a result, errors related to the display of thumbnail images and some software functions may occur both on Canon digital cameras and accompanying software utilities (ZoomBrowser EX, PhotoStitch, etc.).

Operations:

Select "Picture File" -> Click "Rotate Counter Clockwise" or "Rotate Clockwise" Button (using buttons located on the bottom of the Preview Screen)

Select "Picture File" -> Select "Rotate Counter Clockwise" or "Rotate Clockwise" command (using the menu that appears by right clicking the mouse)

Select "Simple" display on "Summary" tab of picture file "Property" -> Click "Apply" or "OK"

Note:

After performing any of the above operations, the Exif attribute information is altered and cannot be restored. If you intend to perform any of the operations listed above, we recommend that you do so using a back-up copy of the original picture file, and not the original data.

Note:

Even if the Exif attribute information is altered, the image data remains intact and the file can still be opened and used in most image editing applications such as AdobeTM Photoshop.

2. CF Card Formatting Error Notice

When a CF card with capacity greater than 32MB is formatted in WindowsÂ®XP, by default, it will choose to format that card with a higher capacity file system. This file system is not supported in the camera models listed below.

EOS D30, PowerShot Pro90 IS, PowerShot Pro70, PowerShot G2, PowerShot G1, PowerShot S20, PowerShot S10, PowerShot S330, PowerShot S300, PowerShot S200, PowerShot S110, PowerShot S100, PowerShot A50, PowerShot A40, PowerShot A20, PowerShot A10, PowerShot A200, PowerShot A100, PowerShot A5, PowerShot A5 Zoom, PowerShot 350 and PowerShot 600/600N.

Before formatting a CF card with capacity greater than 32MB in WindowsÂ®XP, change the "File System" menu selection to "FAT" in the Windows XP formatting window.

If you use a CF card that has been formatted with the higher capacity file system on a Canon digital camera that does not support that system, one of the following messages will appear on the LCD of the camera and you cannot shoot a picture: "No image", "CF card error!" or "CF card full". (Messages are different according to the camera model.)

If you format a CF Card using anything other than the "FAT" file system, you can re-format it again in your Canon digital camera. If in-camera formatting fails, remove and re-insert the CF Card into the camera, and then format it again.

I got this from the following site:

//www.powershot.com/powershot2/customer/windowsxp.html

It does cover all canon digital cameras from what it says.
I do not know why they named the site powerhot?

Message edited by author 2003-11-26 14:27:16.

Flash

Nikon D700

11/26/2003 02:30:17 PM · #19

Maybe this is just a Canon/XP phenomena.