Digital Film (memory for Digital Cameras)

Instead of using film, digital cameras record their files (pictures) on some form of electronic memory (e-film).

Cameras usually use one of these memory systems:

  • Built-in memory
  • Floppy Disk or Super Disk
  • CompactFlash cards
  • SmartMedia cards 

Built-in memory is usually found only on inexpensive cameras. Until the picture files are downloaded from the camera to the computer, you can't take more pictures. Cameras with only built-in memory usually have about 2 MB of memory, enough to take perhaps 16 pictures with an image size 480x640 pixels.

Floppy disks are a popular form of removable memory. They're cheap and universally available. It's easy to transfer the pictures from the camera to the computer - just take the disk out of the camera and put it in the computer. This is why the Sony Mavica cameras are so popular. But there are some big disadvantages:

  1. The camera can't be smaller than 3 1/2" square.
  2. Floppy disks only hold 1.4 MB. That's not many shots.
  3. Floppies take longer to write their files, and use more power. That means you can't take pictures quickly.

CompactFlash and SmartMedia are small, solid-state memory cards with no moving parts. CompactFlash cards are thicker than SmartMedia because they have a metal shell. SmartMedia cards are thinner and usually a little cheaper. Currently CompactFlash cards are available in larger sizes (higher capacity) than SmartMedia. The 48 MB cards shown in the illustration will each hold as many pictures as 34 floppy disks!

I like the SmartMedia cards because they're so versatile.

The SmartMedia card is so thin it can be inserted into something called a Flash Path Adapter. The Flash Path Adapter fits right into your 3.5" floppy disk drive, making it easy to transfer image files to your computer.

 

Memory card readers like the own shown here are even better. Most plug into a USB port. For older computers card readers are available that plug into the same port used by your printer. (They have a pass-through so you can still use your printer.) With a memory card reader, you don't even need to hook the camera to the computer to transfer or access your picture files. You just slide your SmartMedia card or CompactFlash card into the reader and you can access picture files as quickly as if they were already on your hard drive! Memory card readers are made for either SmartMedia or CompactFlash, and a few can be used with either type.

Chris' Camera Center South
106 Laurens Street SW
Aiken, South Carolina
803 641-0501  e-mail us