Accessories : Memory card

It is important to carefully choose your memory card in order to obtain the best possible price-quality ratio. An inexpensive memory card is not necessarily a good purchase for YOUR CAMERA. This is what you need to know.

CARD FORMAT
First, knowing the format of the card your camera uses is crucial. These are the choices:

CompactFlash	Secure Digital or MultiMediaCard

Mini SD	Memory Stick Pro

SmartMedia	xD Picture

RECORDING SPEED
Secondly, you need to consider what type of camera you are using: digital (beginner or professional) or digital reflex. This information will determine the required recording speed (example: 25X and more). Professional and digital reflex cameras require quick- writing memory cards to facilitate data storage. The ideal speed is 40X, but for a good price-quality ratio, 25X is also satisfactory.

For a compact digital camera, a regular speed of 10X may be sufficient. However, keep in mind that the longer it takes to record the pictures that were taken, the quicker the batteries will lose their charge due to the increased need for power. Consequently, choosing a good memory card is important for energy savings.

CAPACITY (number of megs)
Do you take pictures occasionally, on a regular basis, or every day? Your frequency of use will determine the number of megs (storage capacity) you need (32, 64, 128, 256, 512…megs). If you use your camera frequently and take several pictures at a time, the number of megs on your memory card must be higher.

We suggest that you keep more than one card on hand when you are taking pictures to avoid a last-minute lack of space. It is also better to have two 128 MB cards rather than one 256 MB card. The following table indicates the approximate number of pictures that can be stored on cards with different capacities. Data varies depending on the number of pixels your camera is able to capture because file size and picture resolution is different.

ADVANTAGES NOT TO BE MISSED
Certain memory cards are more cost-effective than others. For example, they can come with warrantees of up to 5 years or even a LIFETIME warrantee. Some cards can be used in colder temperatures while others offer quick reading and recording as previously mentioned.

The important thing is to find your ideal card! Ask your specialist!