| A digital camera accessory you should | | | | your camera's fastest transfer speed (see |
| purchase is a spare memory card. Most cameras | | | | your camera's manual) and the memory card's |
| are sold with a 'starter' memory card that is | | | | speed. If your camera can transfer at 40X |
| usually a low capacity card that's enough to | | | | speed, but your memory card can only handle |
| take a few sample photos on, but not enough | | | | 12X, 12X will be the actual transfer speed. |
| for day-to-day use.What is a memory card?A | | | | Note that some cameras ignore the card's |
| memory card is the little removable piece of | | | | speed and write as fast as possible all the |
| plastic that your camera uses to store your | | | | time.How many memory cards do I need?I |
| photos. Memory cards come in different sizes | | | | recommend you have at least two memory cards |
| and names such as Compact Flash (CF), Secure | | | | for your camera. The professionals usually |
| Digital (SD), Memory Stick (MS), Smart Media | | | | carry 4-6 memory cards and when they run out |
| (SM) and xD.Running out of memory on your | | | | of memory on one they swap to the next, but |
| card is a little like running out of film in | | | | unless you're taking LOTS of photos, that's |
| a traditional camera. Rather than purchasing | | | | overkill. With two cards, you can normally |
| a new film to take more shots though, you | | | | work with one but you have a spare just in |
| move your images to your computer or a CD and | | | | case you run out of the first, or you go on a |
| re-use the same memory card.Purchasing extra | | | | long vacation and need to store more images |
| memory cards is a good idea is you're on a | | | | than you normally would.MicrodrivesA recent |
| vacation and want to ensure you can store all | | | | invention that's gaining a lot of popularity |
| your photos. Fortunately, prices of memory | | | | is the Microdrive. These are for the Type II |
| cards have come down dramatically in recent | | | | Compact Flash cards, and instead of memory |
| times.Purchasing - what do I need to | | | | inside the card, there's a tiny hard drive. |
| know?There are two pieces of information you | | | | Their advantage is they can store an enormous |
| need to know when purchasing a new memory | | | | amount of data (over 6 Gigabytes), but the |
| card. What type of card your camera takes, | | | | problem is they are a little more expensive |
| and how large a memory card you wish to | | | | than a traditional memory card, and can take |
| buy.What memory card type does my camera | | | | longer to save your image. They also aren't |
| use?The simplest way to find out the type of | | | | as shock resistant as standard cards.Care of |
| memory card your camera uses, is to take your | | | | cardsMemory cards, although they seem to be |
| existing card out of the camera and look on | | | | small and flimsy, can be quite robust. I've |
| it for one of the types listed above. If | | | | dropped one of my cards in a glass of coke |
| you're still not sure, take your existing | | | | and it has survived - although I don't |
| card into the camera store and ask the staff | | | | recommend you do this! It will also depend on |
| for a new card with the same type as what you | | | | the brand of card you purchase. More |
| have.The size of memory card you purchase | | | | expensive cards tend to withstand more |
| will depend on your photography needs as well | | | | pounding. Most memory cards will withstand a |
| as your budget. Memory cards come in sizes | | | | small amount of misuse, but like any |
| between 16 Megabytes (and will fit between 4 | | | | electronic components, take good care of them |
| and 32 images depending on your camera | | | | and they will serve you well.Other Memory |
| capabilities and image quality) and 4 | | | | Card Tips- If you transfer lots of images to |
| Gigabytes (4,000 megabytes - store thousands | | | | your computer, purchase a card reader. These |
| of images on one of these cards).My advice is | | | | will allow you to transfer the images to your |
| to purchase the largest sized card you can | | | | computer at a much faster rate than using |
| afford. This will allow you to take as many | | | | your camera's connection.- Contrary to |
| pictures as possible before needing to | | | | popular opinion, airport x-ray machines will |
| transfer to a computer or CD. On my last | | | | not damage your camera's memory cards. If |
| holiday, I took along 1 Gigabyte of memory | | | | you're really worried, remove them from your |
| card storage allowing me to take about 500 | | | | bag and ask the screeners to inspect |
| images without needing to take my computer | | | | manually.- Turn off your camera when |
| along with me to download the images | | | | inserting or removing memory cards. Taking |
| to.Memory Card SpeedAnother feature to keep | | | | the memory card out while the camera is |
| in the back of your mind when purchasing a | | | | writing to the card could wreck both your |
| new memory card is the card's speed. The | | | | card and camera.David Peterson has a great |
| faster your memory card speed, the faster | | | | love of photography and has created a series |
| your camera can write it's image to the card, | | | | of free tips at to help digital photography |
| and the quicker you can take another photo. | | | | users everywhere take better photos. |
| The actual speed will be the LOWEST of either | | | | |