Memory card

Should I consider what memory card a camera uses?

I do when purchasing a camera. CF and SD seem to be the ones to use right now and are inexpensive and availilbe nearly anywhere.
Bob

Sabrejet said:

Should I consider what memory card a camera uses?

Click to expand...

I'd go for SD card as its the most common format, not just in camera's but other devices too. Like the Beta-Max VHS war, once one start to win the others rapidly become obsolete. I think cards are going that way, with SD winning. Even Fuji have just started the move from their own format xD to SD, just as Nikon migrated to SD from CF.

Having said that, memory cards are getting so cheap now, even if you used a card once and threw it away it would be cheaper than film rolls, so if you really like a non-SD card camera, I wouldn't be put off purely because its non-SD.

--
Bob

Were does the Sony stick fit into the equation?

The Sony 'stick' fits in all Sony cameras. Come on now, take a few minutes and look around dpreview. You'll thank yourself for it.

If you're just bored go back to your regular chatrooms.

I have to rephrase my question. I am about ready to purchase my first digital camera. I have by now gained a lot of knowledge from dpr. My question should have read; "should the memory device have an influence on my decision." Thank you for your inputs.

Actually, you should consider the batteries 1st.
AA are available everywhere. Alkaline, NiMh, Lithium, etc.
However, proprietary batteries such as Li-On are much harder
to find than xD or Memory Stick.
Most SLRs dont use AA; most P&S do.

Sabrejet said:

I have to rephrase my question. I am about ready to purchase my
first digital camera. I have by now gained a lot of knowledge from
dpr. My question should have read; "should the memory device have
an influence on my decision." Thank you for your inputs.

Click to expand...

For example, I gave a friend an Olympus 520 camera as a gift. I also had one, but it was stolen. Anyway, her memory card went bad, and she has no money at all, so I decided to buy her a card as a replacement - Bad news, almost no one is selling the Smart Media format anymore, and the few who do charge BIG BUCKS. So I wound up getting her a 64 Meg card for $75!

For that kind of money I can now buy a 4 GIG CF card.

So, yes, I would be leary of things like the SONY memory stick, just as I would be leary of buying a Betamax video recorder....

Dave

Sabrejet said:

Should I consider what memory card a camera uses?

Click to expand...

Only you can answer this question, but I would advise against it. The only reason I could think it would matter is if you are buying multiple cameras, perhaps you would want them all to take the same type of card.

Memory cards are cheap, and are only getting cheaper and bigger and faster. By the time you are ready to replace your current camera, you'll want to replace the memory card, too.

I just replaced my old camera that takes xD cards with a camera that takes SD cards. I bought a 4GB SD card for the new camera, and can't think think of any good use for my old 256MB xD card. Heck, I could only fit about 20 RAW photos on the old card, anyhow.

Enjoy your new camera!