Ed Freshwater
Active member
For the S2, if storage size is not an issue which is better, 340MB Microdrive or a 128MB Smartmedia? Durability/Speed? Mainly concerned with write speed.
Thanks,
Ed F
Thanks,
Ed F
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Microdrive vs SmartMedia
- Thread starter Ed Freshwater
- Start date
Mike Flood
Senior Member
I'd say amount of storage is more important and write speed less of a factor. The S2's larger file size means you're going to want more storage space. Get a 1 gig Microdrive. I personally wouldn't waste money buying new 128 meg smart media devices.
IMHO the only thing better about the Nikon D100 is that it has two CF card slots, where the Fuji has 1 for SmartMedia and 1 for CF cards.
There's not going to be more than 128 megs available in Smartmedia.
There are readily available 512 meg CF cards, 1 Gig Microdrives and some day, affordable 1 gig CF cards.
Mike Flood
http://home.earthlink.net/~floodfoto/
http://home.earthlink.net/~floodfoto/tech/tips.htm
Donald Hutton
Leading Member
Microdrives are fast - faster than most CF cards (write time anyway). 128 is just too small. Until the 30th of June, you can buy a 1gig microdrive and apply a $50 rebate - that should bring you down to $250... It's great value. Also, they are quite robust - obviously not as robust as a SM, but I've dropped them and treated them badly, but they have never let me down (finger on the desk... quick!).
Lumia065
Active member
You can't have two microdrives in the S2 at the same time, right? You have to have a Microdrive AND a SMARTMEDIA card- Right?
Donald Hutton
Leading Member
No - the S2 has one type 2 CF clot and one SM slot... but my point is the 128mb SM is a waste of time (especially on the big RAW files that the S2 spits out).
Keith Aitken
Veteran Member
Ed,
Agree with Mike/F and others. SM use will slowly phase out as image
files get larger. 128Mb is the max forever and would probably only store
about 20 full-res images from the S2. Not sure why Fuji left the SM slot
intact. 2 years ago, the S1 had the same dual slots. Fuji was one of the
earliest adopters of the SM format and perhaps felt some loyalty to
previous customers as those Fuji-buyers upgraded to SLR's...
SM is really better-suited as a format for compact P&S cameras because
of its minimal size and lightness.
Go with a 1Gb microdrive, less expensive per-image than equivalent CF II,
or a 340 MD. The MD write-speed is not appreciably slower than that of
CF or SM, however an MD will drain slightly more battery power because
of those moving parts.
But, with that HUGE capacity, a 1Gb MD in your camera is a
VERY comfortable feeling
Good Luck,
Keith --
http://www.pbase.com/keith2
'if you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat'
Agree with Mike/F and others. SM use will slowly phase out as image
files get larger. 128Mb is the max forever and would probably only store
about 20 full-res images from the S2. Not sure why Fuji left the SM slot
intact. 2 years ago, the S1 had the same dual slots. Fuji was one of the
earliest adopters of the SM format and perhaps felt some loyalty to
previous customers as those Fuji-buyers upgraded to SLR's...
SM is really better-suited as a format for compact P&S cameras because
of its minimal size and lightness.
Go with a 1Gb microdrive, less expensive per-image than equivalent CF II,
or a 340 MD. The MD write-speed is not appreciably slower than that of
CF or SM, however an MD will drain slightly more battery power because
of those moving parts.
But, with that HUGE capacity, a 1Gb MD in your camera is a
VERY comfortable feeling
Good Luck,
Keith --
http://www.pbase.com/keith2
'if you want to walk on water, you've got to get out of the boat'
Ed Freshwater
Active member
Thanks guys for all the info. Seems I might be the rebel and squeeze 52 3000x2000 pics into the 128MB SM. I used the 64MB SM on my S1 with file size of 2304x1500. I tend to preview my pics and delete several right on the camera so 52 pics will be enogh to start with. I can always graduate up to a MicroDrive.
Thanks Again,
Ed
Thanks Again,
Ed
esther dezube
Forum Enthusiast
What is the difference between a type 1 and a type 2 cf card?
horst
Active member
Why would you spend the money to buy an S2 or even an S1 and miser on the storage media and just shoot low resolution or highly compressed images ???? Why does this not fit my logic???
Are you in this business to be a rebel or to shoot good pictures???
Horst
Anthony32599
Veteran Member
Under your premise that storage size is not an issue, then between the two choices, you'd still be better off with a microdrive.
In the microdrive, the controller chips are built into the drive itself; same for compact flash cards. However, SmartMedia utilizes a controller built into the device itself so the card can be smaller. Thus, while microdrives and compact flash memory cards can be made faster and backwards compatible, SmartMedia cannot because you're limited by the device itself.
Durability-wise, I think it's a wash between SmartMedia and the Microdrive. The Microdrive is susceptible to shock but the SmartMedia has its contacts exposed and is vulnerable to things like being folded or lost.
My own experience is that the 340 MB Microdrive will write faster than any SmartMedia card.
Ultimately, one of three things will happen: 1) SmartMedia will die a painful death; 2) SmartMedia will be increased to sizes above 128mb, which won't be used in older devices or 3) First #2, then #1.
Anthony
In the microdrive, the controller chips are built into the drive itself; same for compact flash cards. However, SmartMedia utilizes a controller built into the device itself so the card can be smaller. Thus, while microdrives and compact flash memory cards can be made faster and backwards compatible, SmartMedia cannot because you're limited by the device itself.
Durability-wise, I think it's a wash between SmartMedia and the Microdrive. The Microdrive is susceptible to shock but the SmartMedia has its contacts exposed and is vulnerable to things like being folded or lost.
My own experience is that the 340 MB Microdrive will write faster than any SmartMedia card.
Ultimately, one of three things will happen: 1) SmartMedia will die a painful death; 2) SmartMedia will be increased to sizes above 128mb, which won't be used in older devices or 3) First #2, then #1.
Anthony
Ed Freshwater
Active member
Ed Freshwater
Active member
Sorry that my logic has frustrated you Horst...
A couple of corrections to your mistatements:
As stated, I have been using my S1 for 1 year with the 64MB SM card. I use the highest compression JPEG at 2304x1536. Many threads have discussed that you don't really get a better quality image with RAW or at the higher resolution (interpolated in camera). In fact, some folks like to use 2304 and interpolate using different s/w (I forget its name) for what they think is a better image. I tend to download to my PC or laptop frequently enough that I never really run out of storage. As I mentioned I delete many pics right on the camera. So for me a SM card might be a good idea. Also, it will probably drain batteries slower.
However, for other people, a Microdrive would be great. 52 images/card (check the specs) would be very limiting for them. Maybe for me also...
Ed
A couple of corrections to your mistatements:
As stated, I have been using my S1 for 1 year with the 64MB SM card. I use the highest compression JPEG at 2304x1536. Many threads have discussed that you don't really get a better quality image with RAW or at the higher resolution (interpolated in camera). In fact, some folks like to use 2304 and interpolate using different s/w (I forget its name) for what they think is a better image. I tend to download to my PC or laptop frequently enough that I never really run out of storage. As I mentioned I delete many pics right on the camera. So for me a SM card might be a good idea. Also, it will probably drain batteries slower.
However, for other people, a Microdrive would be great. 52 images/card (check the specs) would be very limiting for them. Maybe for me also...
Ed
MVH
Senior Member
I've had my S1 in rain, snow, on the beach in a storm, on the boat (salt water) and no problems with the camera or microdrive in 1-1/2 years. Wish I could say that for my car! Dropped the camera, dropped the microdrive, I fumble around alot but try to plan ahead for accidents. Absolutely no problems with camera or microdrive. Never bumped the car!
Here's a reputable California site for IBM microdrive $262.00US: http://www.cititronics.com/
Here's a reputable California site for IBM microdrive $262.00US: http://www.cititronics.com/
Ed Freshwater
Active member
Guys,
I've heard you shouldn't reformat a MicroDrive from within the camera but do it while connected to your computer. Any comments?
EdF
I've heard you shouldn't reformat a MicroDrive from within the camera but do it while connected to your computer. Any comments?
EdF
Anthony32599
Veteran Member
You can do it either way. But an in-camera format only wipes the file allocation table and doesn't do a full format.
If you format on a computer, it has to be in FAT16 (the DOS format) and not FAT 32 or NTFS. Otherwise the camera won't be able to read the microdrive. If you do it via computer, you can do either quick or full format.
The nice thing about formatting via a reader to the computer is that a full format will also look for bad sectors. You wouldn't want data written there, and an in-camera formatting or quick formatting would miss this.
Anthony
If you format on a computer, it has to be in FAT16 (the DOS format) and not FAT 32 or NTFS. Otherwise the camera won't be able to read the microdrive. If you do it via computer, you can do either quick or full format.
The nice thing about formatting via a reader to the computer is that a full format will also look for bad sectors. You wouldn't want data written there, and an in-camera formatting or quick formatting would miss this.
Anthony
L
leon Woolf
Guest
I have recently visited Asia and took a 64 and 48 Cf card plus a wallet. Using my 2304 I was able to get 93 exposures on the 64 card and a few less on the 48. I came back with 742 exposures in my wallet. At the end of each day I would download my pics on to the wallet, charge my batteries and have a glass of wine while so doing.Next morning everything was fresh and away we went.
My wife was impressed by the common sense approach but deep within me is the desire to buy a 1Gig microdrive! Do you think the wine is softening what few brain cells are left!!
Leon
--
leon
William Carson
Veteran Member
Ed, This may or may not be a concern for you. I saw this on another post, however, if you are ever at very high altitudes where the air is thin, the microdrive works by airfriction to keep the spinning disk and write needle at the correct distance apart. Just a thought in case you will ever use it a high altitudes...
Will
Will
Ed Freshwater
Active member
Will,
The highest altitude my S2 will see is Grandfather Mountain in NC, about 5900 feet. So that won't be an issue.
Thanks,
Ed
The highest altitude my S2 will see is Grandfather Mountain in NC, about 5900 feet. So that won't be an issue.
Thanks,
Ed
Ed Freshwater
Active member
Leon,
Well its kind of a toss up. On one hand, impressing the wife is good. But there's that desire deep within!? I guess I can't help you.
Ed
Well its kind of a toss up. On one hand, impressing the wife is good. But there's that desire deep within!? I guess I can't help you.
Ed
Ed Freshwater
Active member
Anthony,
What you say makes sense to me being an old programmer. Yes identifying bad sectors is good. With a MicroDrive, what type of reader is necessary and how much $$?
Thanks,
Ed
What you say makes sense to me being an old programmer. Yes identifying bad sectors is good. With a MicroDrive, what type of reader is necessary and how much $$?
Thanks,
Ed
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