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06/02/2004 07:03:13 AM · #1 |
| Anyone can help me to choose between Compact Flash and Microdrive please? What is the difference between them. I will get the 10D. |
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06/02/2004 07:34:09 AM · #2 |
Microdrive is just that, a mini harddrive with moving parts. A Compact Flash is solid state with no moving parts. I believe that CF is also now faster than the MD. I have a 40x 1 GB CF card and have never had an issue with it. It may cost a little more, but I like the fact that they are no moving parts to break.
-danny
Originally posted by missjune71:
Anyone can help me to choose between Compact Flash and Microdrive please? What is the difference between them. I will get the 10D. |
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06/02/2004 07:35:23 AM · #3 |
Microdrives are going to be faster than most compact flash cards. However, microdrives are mechanical which makes them more susceptible to damage from wear, bumbs and temperature change.
Cards such as Lexar 40x are faster than micro drives. I would suggest it
[edit]Message edited by author 2004-06-02 11:37:55. |
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06/02/2004 07:39:57 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by tommy_t:
Microdrives are going to be faster than most compact flash cards. However, microdrives are mechanical which makes them more susceptible to damage from wear, bumbs and temperature change. |
Actually, these days the opposite is true, good fast CF cards will leave a microdrive in the dust.
Microdrives are more sensitive to shock & vibration, but are pretty reliable.
The main thing for me is that I don't want all my storage space in one card. I use two cards, if one fails I can still shoot with the other.
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06/02/2004 08:21:45 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by missjune71:
Anyone can help me to choose between Compact Flash and Microdrive please? What is the difference between them. I will get the 10D. |
I would only buy a Microdrive if you plan on replacing it down the road with a Compact Flash. Micro is a stop gap, to a good Compact Flash card. I had a 1 gig IBM Micro and got about 5,000 photo's out of it before it bit the dust.
If you buy a Micro, chances are high it will fail down the road. I took very good care of mine, and it still has about 75 photo's on it I have never seen.
A 40x Lexar (Compact Flash) is the way to go. (if you have the funds available)
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06/02/2004 08:47:40 AM · #6 |
| The best bet for using a Microdrive is probably to leave it in the camera at all times and transfer your files off with a USB cable. These devices are sensitive to shock... much moreso than a compact flash card. |
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06/02/2004 08:48:28 AM · #7 |
Microdrives are relatively cheap for their size and equal about 30x - 40x for speed, but they're fragile critters and will eventually fail you at the worst possible time. Look for Transcend CompactFlash cards- they're very fast (45x) and durable, yet cheaper than comparable Lexar and SanDisk models. I've got several and never had a problem with them. NewEgg.com has 512Mb and 1Gb versions for $103 and $199 with free Fedex Saver shipping.
EDIT- while you're shopping, don't forget to buy a FireWire CompactFlash card reader. Transferring 512Mb+ across a USB cable is a good subject for the "Waiting" Challenge.
Message edited by author 2004-06-02 12:50:22. |
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06/02/2004 09:09:18 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
The best bet for using a Microdrive is probably to leave it in the camera at all times and transfer your files off with a USB cable. These devices are sensitive to shock... much moreso than a compact flash card. |
I agree with this. When I bought my camera I decided if I were to drop my camera, I would have far worse problems than just losing a few pictures. I planned to keep it in the camera at all times......... Now I have a bunch of the Lexar cards and I switch them around all day long. I've never had any trouble with any of them. (3 years)
DJLubaA- 40x Lexar (Compact Flash) is the way to go. (if you have the funds available)
Why settle for those archaic and slow 40X cards when you can get the 80X for only pennies more. ;)
Lexar 80 X
you could wait for the 800,000,000 X Zigabite cards? I'm sure they will be out soon.
One seems to replace another so fast in this digital race. |
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06/02/2004 09:57:32 AM · #9 |
| I have been using microdrives for years now. I origionaly started with one in my PocketPC. They are slow compared to the newer cards, but their bigest drawback for me was the used way more power than a memory card. |
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06/02/2004 11:16:16 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by Gringo:
DJLubaA- 40x Lexar (Compact Flash) is the way to go. (if you have the funds available)
Why settle for those archaic and slow 40X cards when you can get the 80X for only pennies more. ;)
Lexar 80 X |
DO'h! Ooooooooooooooooooo man. I didn't even know those were out.
I take that back, a 80X Lexar CF is the way to go. I want one now. I'm feeling slow with my 40x. cheers
Message edited by author 2004-06-02 15:18:21. |
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06/02/2004 11:23:00 AM · #11 |
I opted for a mixed approach.
I have two 256MB CompactFlash II cards and a 20 gigabyte Vosonic X's-Drive II ( VP2060 ) portable storage unit. When one of the CF cards gets full, I switch to the other and continue shooting while I offload the full card onto the X's-Drive. The Vosonic is about the size of a paperback novel and uses Li-ion rechargeable batteries and does NOT need to be hooked up to a computer when copying files to it from the memory card. The Drive accepts other cards besides CompactFlash ( SMartmedia, MemoryStick, SecureDigital, MultiMediaCard, and MicroDrive cards. It doesn't read the newer XD cards ( Fuji/Olympus ), but I bought a Fuji XD/CF adaptor that permits unloading of those using the CF slot.
For copying to the computer it uses a USB 2.0 interface, so it's pretty fast unloading ( around 1 minute for a full card, ) though nowhere near as fast loading ( around 5 minutes for a full card ). Every time you unload a card, a new folder is created. Pricewise, the Vosonic was around $200 U.S. Larger drive capacities are available - up to 60GB.
The advantages are 1) no power drain in-camera for the microdrive, 2) cheaper than a 2- or 4-gb card or microdrive, 3) larger capacity, 4) no moving parts in-camera, 5) use faster CF II cards in-camera
The disadvantage are: 1) If the 20GB drive fails, there's potentially a lot more to lose.
So far it has worked very well with the CF and XD/CF interface. Though, just to be on the safe side, I never reformat a full card until it's back in the camera and I'm ready to use it. Of course, I did the same before I got the X's-Drive, too.
Ron |
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