Digital cameras
are not the only devices that require flash memory cards.
Selecting the correct memory card for your camera, gaming console or cell phone can be tricky. Each type of card has its own somewhat cryptic name and is available in a series of models that may have surprising features, such as the High Speed Series cards that Samsung guarantees can stay underwater for up to 24 hours, or certain cards SanDisk claims remain operational even after being run over by a 5-ton truck.
Technology
Memory cards contain a type of chip known as flash memory, which maintains stored data without requiring electrical power, unlike the random-access memory sticks inside your computer. Flash memory also appears in USB drives, as well as solid-state drives that transfer data faster than traditional hard drives.
Secure Digital
Since 2010, Secure Digital memory cards have become more prevalent, even among manufacturers that previously incorporated proprietary formats into their devices, such as Sony or Olympus. Frequently found in hand-held computers and digital cameras, these cards come in standard SD, miniSD and microSD sizes, and in one of three formats: the traditional format with 10GB or less of storage; high capacity, which holds up to 32GB of data; and an extended capacity format that stores a staggering 2 terabytes or approximately 2,000GB.
In terms of speed, standard SD cards send and receive data at a rate of up to 10MB per second, whereas SDHC and SDXC cards can achieve, respectively, a maximum speed of 12MB and 104MB per second. When it comes to pricing, an average 8GB SD or SDHC memory card costs less than $10, while a 64GB SDXC ranges between $60 and $90, as of 2012. These cards aren't always interchangeable, particularly when using a newer format with an older device, but you can't go wrong with the format recommended by the manufacturer.
CompactFlash
Typically larger than SD cards, CompactFlash cards come in two different formats -- CF I and II -- that have a similar appearance but aren't interchangeable. CF cards can hold several gigabytes of data and send or receive data at a rate of 167MB per second, which makes them the fastest memory cards on the market as of 2012, according to the CompactFlash Association. Even so, their large size makes them less popular as a storage medium for portable gadgets, as manufacturers attempt to pack more features into ever-shrinking devices. Most digital single-lens reflex cameras, which require high transfer speeds, still require CompactFlash cards, however. An average 8GB CF card costs $10 to $40.
SmartMedia
Developed by Toshiba in 1996, SmartMedia cards are no longer manufactured, in large part because they could store only up to 128MB. In addition, their transfer speeds were less than impressive, with a maximum rate of 2MB per second. SmartMedia cards mostly appeared in portable devices such as digital cameras and media players, but they could also serve as external storage for computers, much like modern USB flash drives.
Memory Stick
Sony developed its proprietary Memory Stick format in the late 1990s, making it the sole option for devices such as some cameras, Sony Ericsson phones and PlayStation Portable consoles. By 2010, however, Sony began adding Secure Digital ports to its devices, allowing consumers to use SD cards or Memory Sticks.
While Sony launched several Memory Stick formats over the years, the most prevalent as of 2012 are the Memory Stick PRO Duo, PRO-HG Duo and the Micro, or M2. The PRO Duo format stores up to 2TB of data and transfers it at a maximum speed of 20MB per second. The PRO-HG Duo format's specifications are similar, except for a slightly higher maximum transfer speed of 30MB per second. The Micro format's small cards bear little resemblance to traditional Memory Sticks. They hold up to 32GB of data and transfer it at 20MB per second. The average price for an 8GB card in any of the three formats ranges between $10 and $30.
MultiMediaCard
MultiMediaCards exist in standard and MMCplus formats, both of which are quite similar to SD cards and thin enough to fit in SD slots. They store up to 128GB of data, but drastically differ in transfer speeds: While MMCs move a slow 2.5MB per second, an MMCplus can transfer data at 40MB per second. Traditionally used as storage for portable devices, such as cameras or MP3 players, MultiMediaCards cost about the same as SD cards.
XD-Picture Card
Memory cards in the xD-Picture Card format appear exclusively in Olympus digital cameras. Since 2010, however, the company's new cameras also contain a standard SD slot. Priced from $10 to $15, Standard xD-Picture Cards have a relatively small maximum capacity of 1GB, and fairly low data transfer rates of 5MB per second when reading data and 3MB per second when writing it.
Tags: devices such, Memory Stick, digital cameras, memory cards, Secure Digital
