Storage Types for Digital Cameras

Unlike the 35mm film camera which differed only in thenumber of shots and manufacturers, different digitalcameras use different storage media.

This is usually the case for different camera manufacturersas some brands prefer to have a proprietary storage mediumfor their cameras.

Aside from the different types of storage media, they alsodiffer in the amount of memory they can handle. Todayscameras eat up more memory which is why bigger memory isthe order of the day especially for professionals.

Here are some of the most popular storage media used bydigital cameras today:

1. Compact flash

- this is perhaps the most common storage device fordigital cameras, especially high-end ones like digitalSLRs.

Compact flash memory comes in two flavors: Type I and II.Most cameras accept Type I although the Type II varietieshave a higher capacity.

2. Memory Stick

- this is a proprietary storage media produced anddeveloped by Sony not only for their digital cameras butalso on their other products.

Early Memory Sticks were able to store only up to 256MBalthough Sony has already come up with the Memory Stick Prowhich has capacities up to 1GB.

3. Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia Cards

- are yet other varieties of storage media. Aside fromdigital cameras, they can also be used on a host of devicessuch as mobile phones.

These varieties are the smallest among storage mediaespecially when the micro SD memory was introduced to thepublic. The SD card and the MMC (MultiMedia Card) arebasically the same except for the fact that SD cards have awrite-protect switch to protect the data that is storedinside.