compactflash

Memory Cards

A Complete Guide to Memory Cards

If you’re a photographer, you’re likely familiar with memory cards. They’re what our photographs are stored on -- removable flash media that we insert into a slot (or slots) in our camera, take photos, and then (sometimes) remove and insert into a card reader or card slot on our computer.

R.I.P. Lexar Memory Cards

If you're a fan of using Lexar memory cards in your cameras, there's some sad news for you today: they're being discontinued. Micron, the parent company of Lexar, is announcing that the entire Lexar removable storage retail business is being shuttered.

Nikon Can Swap Out the Memory Card Slots in the D5 Between CF and XQD

The new Nikon D5 is available in 2 different versions: one with dual CompactFlash memory card slots, and one with dual XQD slots. Both cameras cost $6,497 right now, and you'll need to make a decision on which one you want when you purchase.

But there's some good news: the decision isn't permanent. If you decide you'd like to use the other format later on, Nikon will take your camera and exchange the memory card slots for you.

SanDisk’s New CFast 2.0 Card Clocks in as the World’s Fastest Memory Card

SanDisk made it clear last September that it would not be pursuing the XQD memory card format, but instead would focus its energies on CFast 2.0, the then newly-announced high-speed CompactFlash spec.

Almost a year later, SanDisk has finally debuted the fruits of that decision: a card that is both the world's first CFast 2.0 card, and the world's fastest memory card of any kind.

Upcoming CompactFlash Card to Feature RAID-Like Mirroring for Instant Backup

When it comes to data, redundancy is the best policy; backup, backup and backup again. This is doubly true where photos are involved, which is why professional photographers have gotten in the habit of keeping several external backups or using multiple cards for backup in DSLRs that support twin slots.

And now, Japanese company Amulet is hoping to add yet another layer of safety (and peace of mind) between you and the potential loss of your photos with its upcoming 'Wise CF Card Duo.'

Toshiba Unveils New CF Cards, Hopes to Capture Third of the Market by 2015

A week ago we shared some reports that Toshiba was developing a re-focusable smartphone camera, but it looks like its sights are set on bigger fish than just Lytro's market. While the photo world was focusing on the tiny re-focusing camera, Toshiba officially announced a new line of high performance CF cards that should blow the competition away and, the company hopes, secure one third of the CF market by 2015.

The new cards -- dubbed the Exceria Pro series -- are set to launch in Spring of this year and bring with them read and write speeds very near the theoretical 167MB/second max provided by the CF's UDMA 7 interface.

XQD a No-Show at Photokina, SanDisk Opts to Avoid the Format

When XQD memory cards were announced in December 2011, the CompactFlash Association touted the format as the successor to CompactFlash cards. We definitely seemed to be moving in that direction at first: one month after the unveiling, Nikon's flagship D4 DSLR was announced with XQD card support. The day after that, Sony became the first major memory card maker to announce a line of XQD cards. Six months later, Lexar also announced its intentions to join the party.

Since then, things have died down to the point where you can hear grasshoppers chirping. Not a single XQD-capable camera was announced at Photokina 2012 this past week. Despite being the first to make them, Sony strangely decided to leave the cards out of its top-of-the-line cameras as well.

Lexar Announces Plans to Join the XQD Memory Card Party In Q3 of 2012

Up until now XQD cards have had a bit of a tough time getting off the ground. With only one compatible camera option in the Nikon D4, one manufacturer in Sony, and prices as large as the speeds they offer are impressive, people may have been starting to wonder if the format is here to stay. The answer, it seems, is yes -- due in large part to Lexar's newly announced interest in producing the cards by later this year.

Insane Discounts on SanDisk Compact Flash Cards at B&H

In the market for memory cards? B&H is currently offering SanDisk Compact Flash cards at crazy prices. They're listing Extreme Pro cards at less than 50% of the price offered at other retailers. For example, a 16GB Extreme Pro card currently costs $60 (with free shipping in the US) from B&H but $130+ at most other places.

Photos Found on Memory Card Offer a Glimpse Inside B&H Photo Video

Photographer Linhbergh recently purchased a used camera from B&H Photo Video and found a Compact Flash card left inside the camera containing photographs taken from inside the store offices. They offer an interesting glimpse into the operations at the largest non-chain photo equipment store in the United States.