Photography 101 - Memory Cards for Digital Cameras
What is a Memory Card?
A memory card is a storage device commonly used by digital cameras to write digital photos. It is a mechanism to store your photos, and later transfer them to computer for processing and printing. Essentially, a memory card is to a digital camera what a hard drive is to a computer. That means that the size of your memory card directly affects how many images you can store, and the speed of your memory card directly affects the how fast your camera can read and write photos!
The Need for Speed
As digital cameras evolve to store higher quality images, image size increases, and it becomes more important to find a memory card that is fast enough to write these images before you want to take another shot. Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Digital (SD) formats are two types of memory cards that are improving their speeds dramatically to keep up with high megapixel counts in newer cameras. Not only does a faster memory card allow you to take a second shot sooner, but it also results in quicker download to your computer. The larger your memory card's storage limit, the more important transfer speed becomes. Otherwise, a 2 GB memory card might require an hour of transfer time!
Memory card speeds are measured based on a standard where 1x equals the transfer of 150 KB per second. That means that a 10x memory card transfers data at a rate of 1.5 MB per second and a 133x memory card transfers data at a rate of almost 20 MB per second. These numbers usually indicate the best possible rate when the card is used with a camera that has a super fast recording capability. Certainly not every digital camera is coded in such a way as to take advantage of these peak transfer rates, so you may wish to research very fast cards before purchasing. For example, Lexar has a line of 133x memory cards, but the super fast rates required cameras to be designed specifically with their card's technology in mind - in this case, they provided a list of cameras that would result in fast rates, but my camera wasn't on the list.
There are two types of speeds you should be aware of, each of which is measured relative to 1x:
1) Write speed - the time it takes your camera to save an image to the memory card
2) Read speed - the time it takes your camera to open an image on the memory card
Care of Memory Cards
Here are some TIPS from the professionals on how to keep your memory card functioning correctly for years to come:
1) Reformat your memory cards periodically to remove residue files system information and help optimize data access and storage. Try formatting after you transfer your files, or before a major shoot. Remember, when you reformat your memory card, you will lose all images stored on it, so be sure your transferred copies are good.
2) Never remove a memory card from your camera or card reader until the processing is complete - there should be a blinking light to indicate that transfer is in progress. Cards can be damaged if you remove it during image transfer.
3) Replace or recharge batteries when the low battery light comes on so that your camera does not run out of power while writing your last shot to the memory card. You could corrupt an image or your card during an important or memorable trip otherwise.
4) Never expose your memory card to excessive heat or moisture.
Upgrading your Memory Card Firmware
The firmware on your memory card is its operating system (OS), and occasionally needs to be updated. Your memory card's manufacturer will most likely make an update available for download from the internet, directly to your camera or card reader.
But before you upgrade, be aware that the latest version of the firmware may affect the promise of speed. One article I read suggested that the Lexar 133x WA CF card had better performance after a firmware upgrade, although that only coincided with a firmware upgrade on the camera it was being tested against. So it may be worth your while to compare your current firmware version against the latest offered by your manufacturer and see if the changes in functionality or performance are important to you. Be sure you look for disclaimers or notes about side-effects. You will not likely be notified in person when memory card firmware upgrades are made available to consumers.
Jennifer Clarkson is a Canadian Photographer living in Ottawa. To browse her Photo Galleries and read more of her Photography Tips, please visit her website at www.jclarksonphotography.com
Article Submission made possible by: www.articles-submit.com
Courtesy of:ArticlesRus.Net
Hot Topics In Photography
Your Guide To The Best Rated Digital Cameras
There are many different models and types of digital cameras available just as there are lots of different styles and skill levels of photography. Which digital camera you choose will often depend on ...Photoshop Tutorial Secrets From the Trenches - Seven Essential Steps to Digital Workflow
I've been shooting with digital cameras in my portrait and wedding photography studio for about five years now, and in that time I've taken well over 50,000 exposures.Our studio has been around for...
My First Digital Camera
About a week before my son was born, I bought a digital camera. I wanted to create a baby book for him that would include not only his first year milestones, but also photos to capture his physical gr...The Difference Between DPI and PPI
Most people heard the term DPI. In most cases the term is used in the wrong context to express the number of pixels in a photo, the number of dots in a print or the maximum dots per inch a printer can...
Seven common mistakes when taking digital photos
You have probably taken photos before just to find out later that they did not come out as expected. Although digital cameras are getting smarter there are still a lot of decisions that the photograph...Is It Time YOU Thought About How You Can Make Money Taking Pictures?
If you and your camera are inseparable - if your images are really good - if YOU are the one always pressed into service when the need for pictures arises (and you love doing this) you have probably a...Tips for saving money on your online photo prints
Taking photos with your digital camera and viewing them on your computer screen is fun. Sometimes you'd like to make hardcopies of your photos. One of the easiest ways to print your photos is by using...How to Compose Landscapes
There really are no effective formulas for composing good landscapes. Nonetheless, the general suggestions that follow can probably help you get bet-ter ones.1. Every landscape should have a focal ...
How To Get The Best Results When Printing Your Own Digtal Photographs
The joy of using a digital camera and then having the ability to print out photos in the comfort of your own home is a great, empowering feeling. Usually, when you own a computer, the printer is a com...Old Film Camera Out, Digital Camera In
Digital cameras have created a revolution in the world of photography. Although this maybe a tad too expensive, the results can be absolutely marvelous. Unlike others, Digital Photography captures an ...
Most Recent Photography Supplements
- How to Choose a Digital Camera
- Scanning paper prints to digital photos on your hard disk
- Tips for scanning paper photo prints
- The Top Five Tips For Great Digital Photos
- How to Choose Photo Paper
- How To Take Better Landscape Photographs With Your Digital Camera
- Understanding Shutter Delay in Digital Cameras
- Digital Photo Printer Reviews - Which Is Best For You?
- Top 11 Tips For Photographing People
- Five Tips for Steady Cameras
- How to Choose a Digital Camera
- How Many Pixels Make A Good Print?
- Tripods - How to Avoid Blurry Photos
- Making some extra money with your digital photos
- How to Start a Fine Art Photography Business
- Capture Your Underwater Memories With An Underwater Digital Camera
- Photography, Something for Everyone
- Compact Digital Camera or Digital SLR - Which Is Best For You?
- Photography as a Fun and Interesting Hobby
- Digital or Traditional Film Photography?
Newly Popular Arts Articles
Now, Your Zodiac Compatibility
The zodiac circle has twelve signs beginning with Aries and concluding with Pisces. Each sign has traits that set it apart from the others These twelve signs are covered by four elements, fire, earth,...Do A Sporting Stag Do In Birmingham
If you're planning a stag do in Birmingham, you'd almost have to include some sporting activities. After all, Sport England has awarded Birmingham the title National City of Sport. Situated just west ...Your Guide To The Best Rated Digital Cameras
There are many different models and types of digital cameras available just as there are lots of different styles and skill levels of photography. Which digital camera you choose will often depend on ...Photoshop Tutorial Secrets From the Trenches - Seven Essential Steps to Digital Workflow
I've been shooting with digital cameras in my portrait and wedding photography studio for about five years now, and in that time I've taken well over 50,000 exposures.Our studio has been around for...
No! The Bank Doesn't Want Your House!
When faced with the threat of foreclosure it is very easy to assume that your bank or lender simply wants to foreclose on your home and it isn't worth the fight to keep the home. This defeatist attitu...
Seven common mistakes when taking digital photos
You have probably taken photos before just to find out later that they did not come out as expected. Although digital cameras are getting smarter there are still a lot of decisions that the photograph...Robotshop Creates Fun For Everyone
RobotShop's growing clientele has certainly pushed them to be more creative with their work. Not only has RobotShop been able to provide good quality service to their customers ever since they've emer...Is It Time YOU Thought About How You Can Make Money Taking Pictures?
If you and your camera are inseparable - if your images are really good - if YOU are the one always pressed into service when the need for pictures arises (and you love doing this) you have probably a...Tips for saving money on your online photo prints
Taking photos with your digital camera and viewing them on your computer screen is fun. Sometimes you'd like to make hardcopies of your photos. One of the easiest ways to print your photos is by using...How to Compose Landscapes
There really are no effective formulas for composing good landscapes. Nonetheless, the general suggestions that follow can probably help you get bet-ter ones.1. Every landscape should have a focal ...
