Compact Flash/Microdrive: What's the Difference?
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Compact Flash/Microdrive: What's the Difference?
Can anybody help out? I've invested in a new camera that will take an xD Picture Card or a Microdrive. Is a Microdrive the same as a Compact Flash?
DJT
- Pete Eeles
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In a nutshell - they're not the same.
In fact, you mention 3 storage media here:
1. xD card
2. Microdrive
3. Compact Flash card
The microdrive is not "solid state". It has moving parts and is, to all intents and purposes, a hard drive. It is an option in DLSRs - not sure about compacts.
The xD card and Compact Flash card are solid state, but are different standards.
My miniscule knowledge is:
a) Microdrives are bad news. They are slow and fail more frequently than solid state storage.
b) Compact Flash is the standard when it comes to DSLRs; xD cards are used in compact digitals.
I'm sure there's much more info on the web - but that's my take!
Cheers,
- Pete
In fact, you mention 3 storage media here:
1. xD card
2. Microdrive
3. Compact Flash card
The microdrive is not "solid state". It has moving parts and is, to all intents and purposes, a hard drive. It is an option in DLSRs - not sure about compacts.
The xD card and Compact Flash card are solid state, but are different standards.
My miniscule knowledge is:
a) Microdrives are bad news. They are slow and fail more frequently than solid state storage.
b) Compact Flash is the standard when it comes to DSLRs; xD cards are used in compact digitals.
I'm sure there's much more info on the web - but that's my take!
Cheers,
- Pete
Just a few snippets to add to what Pete said.
CF seems to be the standard for pro level DSLR cameras. I guess there has to be a reason for that.
Some "Bridge" cameras like the Fuji S7000 take CF/Microdrive
Microdrives are vulnerable due to moving parts. I know of 3 failures, and I've yet to hear of a CF card failing.
XD cards are, as far as I know, only used by Fuji & Olympus.
CF seems to be the standard for pro level DSLR cameras. I guess there has to be a reason for that.
Some "Bridge" cameras like the Fuji S7000 take CF/Microdrive
Microdrives are vulnerable due to moving parts. I know of 3 failures, and I've yet to hear of a CF card failing.
XD cards are, as far as I know, only used by Fuji & Olympus.
Take nothing but photographs. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time.
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- Posts: 243
- Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:16 am
- Location: Harrogate
Mine can do that too. Probably the best thing about the system is that when you've got yourself in position, and are getting some great shots when the card runs out of space, you don't have too do any more than push one button and turn the back wheel a notch and you can start shooting again.Oy wrote:My Nikon shoots RAW and JPG at the same time - on the same card.
Martin.