XD, microSD memory for FE-5020

[psaulm119]

I am strongly considering purchasing an FE-5020. Someone I know has had a compact Olympus for the last few years and they love it--the pictures come out much better than our current digicam. I do have one question about the memory. I read that it can take two types of memory--Olympus' own XD, and the more generic microSD.

I am wondering what difference it would make in the quality of images. Is one type of memory going to provide higher quality? Or would that simply be a matter of the company that manufactures the memory cards, etc.?
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Paul

 

[Doug Pardee]

I am wondering what difference it would make in the quality of images. Is one type of memory going to provide higher quality?

Digital images are not affected by the storage medium (unless the medium is defective). It's not like film. The image is just a data file that has to be stored in a memory.

xD is only available up to 2GB memory sizes. I suspect that the reason that Olympus began offering micro-SDHC as an option was to allow cards with more memory to be used.

xD comes in two speeds these days: M and M+. Oddly, you can sometimes get M+ memory for less than M. M speed xD is pretty slow, so it'll take longer to record your image onto the card and longer to download it. Micro-SD comes in various speeds, and probably is about as fast or faster than M+ xD.

You can usually get an SD/SDHC adaptor with your Micro-SD cards. This will let you put them into a wide variety of devices that are SD/SDHC compatible. Devices that are xD-compatible are rare.

Olympus locks out the panorama features of their cameras unless you're using an Olympus brand xD card. Also, some features of the Olympus Master software require an unlocking key from an Olympus brand xD card.

I would recommend that you plan on using Micro-SDHC for most of your storage. You might want to buy one Olympus brand M+ speed xD card to allow you to use the in-camera panorama features. M+ xD is only available in 1GB and 2GB sizes.

I wouldn't recommend buying any M speed xD cards; you can get better cards for less (M+ xD or Micro-SDHC). Nor would I recommend buying xD cards from a maker other than Olympus; they won't unlock your panorama features and you probably could do better buying Micro-SDHC.

 

[psaulm119]

Great. Thanks for the input.
--
Paul

 

[rt22306]

I own an FE-5020 (currently waiting for repair, it just sort of stuck open one day). For the price, I think it takes fairly nice photos and has a pretty good set of features. I believe you would like it. I've only used Olympus xD memory in it, not the micro SD and had no problems there.
--
The Last of the Yashicans.

 

[Henry Falkner]

I am strongly considering purchasing an FE-5020.

I own the fairly similar Stylus 7020 since October 5th.

I do have one question about the memory. I read that it can take two types of memory--Olympus' own XD, and the more generic microSD.

It can take xD type M, xD type M+, and with the adaptor microSD and microSDHC cards.

Only the xD type M+ is fast enough for movies with 640x480 (VGA) resolution at 30 frames per second.

I have not been able to find for sale in New Zealand a microSD card bigger than 2 GigaBytes - I already own five 2GB xD type M+ cards. These give me 18 minutes and 50 seconds of VGA/30fps movies.

Unless in your area microSD cards bigger than 2GB are available, there is not much point in using one. I don't normally loose or damage my memory cards. So their purchase is a one-time expense which I can absorb.

I am wondering what difference it would make in the quality of images. Is one type of memory going to provide higher quality?

The recorded image quality is not affected by the card in use.

Or would that simply be a matter of the company that manufactures the memory cards, etc.?

Non-Olympus cards do not support the panorama feature in Olympus cameras. Other than that I cannot see any problems.

In the past I have come across fake cards xD type H, which did not support VGA/30fps movies because they were in fact type M cards. But I have not seen or heard of fake M+ cards.

However, microSD cards are used in many more appliances. You may be able to to get them cheaper than xD. While I have read of fake SD cards with reliability issues, I have yet to hear about problems with microSD cards.

Henry

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Henry Falkner - SP-570UZ, Stylus 7020, Stylus 800
http://www.pbase.com/hfalkner

 

[Henry Falkner]

Just found a compatibility chart for microSDHC cards on http://www.olympus.co.au/

specifically - http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/support/imsg/digicamera/compati/microsd.cfm

The FE-5010 can take 8 GB cards. Hopefully that applies to the FE-5020 as well.

The restriction is, movie length is limited to 2GB. I cannot see any reference to VGA/30fps being supported or not supported. I am also asking myself - am I able to stick four 2GB movies on an 8GB card? Price here is now about 30$US. Might give them a try on my Stylus 7020.

Henry

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Henry Falkner - SP-570UZ, Stylus 7020, Stylus 800
http://www.pbase.com/hfalkner

 

[psaulm119]

I went ahead and got the Olympus XD memory. 20 bucks for 2 gigs--not the best deal but I was thinking that the camera and the card would be designed for each other, so what the heck. Thanks to all for posting.
--
Paul

 

[Henry Falkner]

I put the adaptor with the Sandisk microSDHC 8GB class 2 card into my Stylus 7020. In movie mode it reported 1 hour 11 minutes and 22 seconds being available. Once I started recording, I got 19 minute 18 seconds worth of VGA/30fps movies. I recorded 3 movies of 19 minutes 18 seconds each. That left me with over 17 minutes, or 326 high definition stills available.

I downloaded the 3 movies to the laptop - still on the same battery charge. Let me repeat this - I recorded 3 VGA/30fps movies, each 19 minutes 18 seconds long, and downloaded them to the laptop on the same battery charge.

They played back without any apparent corruption. The microSDHC 8GB card formatted flawlessly afterwards.

So, unless there are unexpected problems, I can record complete Morris gigs or radio club lectures on a single card and a single battery charge. I think the Stylus 7020 will do me for a year or two.

There is a catch - photo stores do not stock cards intended for cellphones. The lady at the Telecom store said they do stock them, but was stumped when I asked her what class it was. She quoted 80$NZ. 'Flashcards' delivered by courier the day after ordering at 53$NZ. The online catalogue said it would be class 4, but it was class 2 when I got it. Luckily that speed class is adequate for recording VGA/30fps movies on the Stylus 7020.

Henry

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Henry Falkner - SP-570UZ, Stylus 7020, Stylus 800
http://www.pbase.com/hfalkner

 

[rt22306]

I may have to try the microSD in my 5020 when I get it back next week. I'm getting spoiled by the 4 and 8 Gb cards in my DSLRs, and feel the need for more memory in the Oly p&s.

--
The Last of the Yashicans.

 

[psaulm119]

Harry, I do appreciate your replies to my threads. At least now I know that I can use the microSD cards with confidence, although like I said above I went ahead and got a 2 gig proprietary card from Olympus.

--
Paul

 

[Henry Falkner]

Henry, I do appreciate your replies to my threads. At least now I know that I can use the microSD cards with confidence, although like I said above I went ahead and got a 2 gig proprietary card from Olympus.

I am actually thinking of trying the Adata Class 6 microSDHC 8GB card as well, to compare write speeds on stills. It will be about 30$US.

I just booked the flight for the Canberra Folk Festival next Easter. Last time I did that I used 2 hours 40 minutes worth of DV tapes. These were very akward to transfer to the computer. With 8 GigaBytes in the Stylus 7020 I may not have to change cards on site (and risk loosing them).

I am retaining my five 2GB xD cards of course as a backup for the Stylus 7020, and for the SP-570UZ, which I will also take with me.

We will stay at the same 'Carotel' we were at last time - and there were lots of Galahs and Silvercrested Cockatoos (kinds of parrots) around, for which the 10x zoom on my then C-750UZ did not really do justice. Except for these two Galahs, even with the B-300 on the C-750 I still needed digital zoom much of the time.



Henry

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Henry Falkner - SP-570UZ, Stylus 7020, Stylus 800
http://www.pbase.com/hfalkner

 

[rt22306]

Henry, I made a note to look for this tomorrow. My FE-5020 came back today, not next week like I had thought (seems like I was told 12 days turnaround possible when authorizing the repair). If I don't wrap it to put under the tree, I've an outing planned for Sunday to check it out.
--
The Last of the Yashicans.