SDHC card

[sinder2k2]

Hi,

I've just ordered a ZS7 camera and I have a question about memory card.

Are SDHC card just about storage space and reading/writing speed? Would I get a better image/video quality with a better card?

I've ordered a 8GB Class2 card with my camera and now I'M starting to wonder if I should have paid the extra money for a Class 4 or 6.

Thanks

 

[ulfben]

It won't affect the quality of your images. But a faster card (higher class) will allow longer, faster and more consistent bursts (continuous, rapid shooting) and video.

Here's the thing: we only have a limited memory buffer in the camera body. This is very fast, temporary storage and is continually emptied to the memory card.

If the card is much slower than the buffer, you might potentially fill the buffer and the camera will force you hold off until it's flushed everything out.

I don't know about your market, but where I live the price difference is approx. $4 USD between a 16GB class 6 and 16GB class 10. SDHC cards are so cheap today that it makes no sense to buy smaller or slower cards. Recycle some cans and get a proper one is my advice.

 

[Anton A Tongue]

I've ordered a 8GB Class2 card with my camera and now I'M starting to wonder if I should have paid the extra money for a Class 4 or 6.

To be blunt, yes. The minimum speed for your camera is Class 6.
Besides waiting for longer for the camera to record your shots,
thus delaying the time to next shot, you will be waiting a lot
longer to transfer the data to computer.

The real crunch comes with video. You would be lucky
to have no problems with a Class 4 for video.

Class 2 cards are just about OK for digital audio players / recorders.
They don't belong in advanced cameras.

--



If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

 

[Radeon123]

I'm using a 16gb Sandisk Class 2 and have no issue whatsoever with burst shooting or HD recording with AVCHD on the SH setting.

Running a benchmark on my card with HD Tune I get a sustained transfer rate of 10.2 MB/s (81.6Mbps) which is far faster than AVCHD SH requirements of 17Mbps (2.1 MB/s)

And copying 510mb of data from my card takes roughly 45secs.

A higher class card may be recommended but at least for the 16gb cards is certainly isn't required.