ONE THING IN COMMON with all digital still cameras is that they all use memory cards to store images.
The faster cards (45Mb and upwards) are appropriate for DSLRs that shoot High Definition video. Cards with speeds anywhere from 10Mb and upwards are suited to most DSLRs. Most compact cameras (or Point ’n’ Shoots as they’re often called) won’t have a problem with slower speeds.
Sandisk is the premier name in memory cards – their reputation earned from reliability and performance. So successful is Sandisk in the marketplace that you need to be careful that the Sandisk you buy online is actually a genuine product. Reputable sources (CamerasDirect.com.au is one) sell the genuine products and can identify the inferior rip-off copies sold online.
Compact Flash (CF) cards are metal-cased and almost double the size of the primarily plastic Secure Digital (SD) cards which have a recognisable “dog-eared” corner.
Memory cards come in a variety of sizes, and while 32GB and even 64GB may suit some, 2GB is a very useful size for compact cameras.
For DSLR users, 4GB is by far the most popular. Not only does 4GB make relatively quick work of transferring the contents to computer, it’s also the exact size to fill a blank DVD. If you want to add video to your still images, 8GB or 16GB would be more appealing.
A 4GB card will fit around 150 images in RAW format (the largest file sizes). Of course, you’d fit many more photos onto the same card if you change the file-size setting in your camera’s menu. Conversely, you’ll fit a lot less on your card if video footage is being stored. HD video will chew up space at a rate of about one gigabyte every three minutes.
During the course of a camera’s lifetime, the manufacturer will probably release system improvements via “firmware upgrades”. This involves downloading the upgrades to your memory card from the manufacturer’s website, which also publishes information about the process. (If this sounds too intimidating, you can always pass the buck and ask your retailer to upgrade you.)
All memory cards need to be handled with kid gloves. They rely on their electrical contact points, so you’ll probably note a severe drop in performance if you mix your drinks with your memory cards. Likewise the plastic casing is not up to a hot afternoon on the car dash. You’ll also need to keep the cards from falling into the jaws of pets or hands of younger family members who may not appreciate the value of what they might end gnawing.
Memory cards are designed to be inserted so their contact points sit nicely deep inside the camera body. If the card doesn’t slide in effortlessly, then you may be trying to insert it wrong way around. Check and try again, with care.
Something else to avoid is loading your images onto your computer with a low battery charge. If the battery dies mid-transfer, you could end up with corrupted data. That’s why memory card readers are such good investments. They also save the socket on your camera from undue wear and tear.
The real danger to longevity for memory cards, however, is their small size. You can lose one in the blink of an eye. They stand a better chance of being found if you get in the habit of using a memory card wallet or case.
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I'm eternally indebted to several banking institutions for my Canon camera and a bunch of lenses, filters, converters, tubes, and pods. But, as my icon here betrays, I am a little loco. 
Thanks for posting Peter and good advice on issues that fit
“Camera Talk”. I like the data-readers but must admit my preference of leaving the memory card in the Nikon when I am uploading to my PC.
I don’t like to pull the Sandisks out too often. I’m running 2 Sandisk 45MB/s, 8GB. That gives me 110 photos RAW+jpeg per slot for the D3x.
Happy Days, Axel
Hi Axel,
I can understand your preference for keeping memory card insertions to a minimum. If the pins inside the camera were bent, it wouldn’t be a pleasant situation. However, the guide tracks that line your CF card up as it’s inserted, facilitate safe contact. Also contributing to successful insertion is your own awareness of the delicacy of the pins. If you feel resistance, you’d inevitably regret using force to insert the card. An analogy would be forcing your right foot into your left foot’s shoe… it just wouldn’t feel right, if you’ll excuse the pun.
With that said, the contact points made by manufacturers of memory cards (cables too), are rated for many thousands of insertions (generally more than 10,000).
FWIW, the most common causes for memory card corruption include static discharge, power supply fluctuations, or any failure during the download such as opening the door while the camera is still writing to the card, or other hardware failure such as card reader failure, USB or firewire port failure, or other user errors during transfer.
As with any technology, things can and do go horribly wrong, thankfully on few occasions only.
– Peter
Hi there,
Interesting article.
I always use memory card readers after an extremely upsetting situation where my old Canon 300D was damaged because I was transferring images in the midst of a rather severe thunderstorm here in the Northern Territory (I was taking lightning shots). We had one particularly large bolt of lightning which put a surge in the power grid. Not only did it fry the power supply and main board in my computer, it also fried part of the camera!!! I was so upset, as my camera was my pride and joy and the repair was in excess of $400. Since then, following the suggestion of a helpful photographer friend, I’ve always used a memory card reader (if my camera isn’t plug in, then there’s no chance of it getting damaged by power surges…!) this has saved on my battery life too, as when I’m copying images I tend to go make a cuppa rather than sitting and waiting for them to copy – sometimes I’d forget and I’d come back to a flat battery, which was a nuisance if I wanted to keep taking photos (I’ve since bought more spare batteries…but still!).
All the best.
Hayley.
Hallo Hayley,
Thunderstorms in NT are awesome. And I must admit loving it when the windows shake after
the lightning discharge. You should take pictures of it
Writing this, however, I find it essential to advise anyone to not use equipment connected to a power-grid
(that’s your gpo, general power point) or the phone-line during electrical storms.
Spike arrestors do not always work. Years ago, I lost a modem and motherboard to the pc because of such an overload coming through the phoneline.
Usually insurance companies cover this in their policies, providing the “Confined Event” was recorded by the Bureau of Meteorology.
I got my money back for new stuff. Proving an overload caused by a energy provider is difficult. The buggers are known to deny the event.
If you have a transformer connected during a thunder storm, powering such items like an expensive camera is a very silly thing to do, unless of course you did not notice it coming. If you do, pull the plug asap.
Today, we all run very expensive equipment, from LCD TV’s, amplifiers, etc, etc.
Some suburbs here in Perth are known for power fluctuations, up or down, and that can be a big problem.
We sometimes pay for a product (electricity) that is not good enough for the money charged — my opinion.
Regards, Axel