Buying Guide For SD Cards

Memory cards have always been a bit of a mystery to most people. These small useful devices come in different shapes, sizes, and forms. Their primary use is to provide data storage in devices, such as cameras, smartphones, and MP3 players, but there are several other uses for them as well. 

Understanding what type of memory card best suits your needs can help you choose the right one.

Memory cards are one of the most ubiquitous accessories in our daily evolving world. People use them so much that with a closer look at most people’s life, you’ll find at least one memory card. These days, memory cards have evolved into several types. This article aims to identify and briefly discuss conventional memory card types we may encounter daily or need to purchase for our gadgets that may require them.

If you’re looking for SD cards for your security cameras, you might want to check out our article here. Before we start, check out our article on safely handling your SD and TF cards here. Let’s dive in.

SD Cards | Secure Digital Cards

The SD card, or Secure Digital card, is a memory card for use in digital cameras and other devices. originally created by SanDisk jointly with Japan’s Matsushita and Toshiba as a cheaper alternative to CompactFlash cards, they have become the most popular memory card format since their inception in August 1999.

SD cards come in different sizes for professional photographers or with Nintendo Switchincase you aim to store as many games as possible. They are smaller than traditional CompactFlash cards and require less power to operate than most other types of flash memory. This makes it popular in portable devices such as smartphones and tablets.

SD cards look almost similar to MMC cards based on format or size, but it’s 0.7mm thicker to create more storage capacity. Initially, the company produced SD cards with a 2GB storage capacity. SD cards were then formulated into the new SDHC, SDXC, and SDUC standards. SDHC accommodates up to 32GB, SDXC accommodates up to 2TB, while SDUC accommodates 128TB storage capacity.

Micro SD Cards | Memory Cards

MicroSD cards are the smaller version of SD cards and are the most popular. They are considered versatile due to the additional adapter, allowing you to utilize them with hardware devices that support SD cards. 

MicroSD cards are typically used for mobile phones, cameras, MP3 players, GPS devices, and other small electronics with limited storage space. They’re smaller than Mini cards making 0.43 in. x 0.59 in. x 0.039 in. and can be used in many devices supporting MicroSD cards. Micro SD, or TF cards, are commonly used in GoPro cameras. Check out their range of cameras here.

Like SD cards, MicroSD cards also have the same standards for accommodating the same storage unit. These standards include: 

• MicroSD – 2GB 
• MicroSDHC – Up to 32GB
• MicroSDXC – Up to 2TB
• MicroSDHC – Up to 128TB

Any device with one of the above standards is compatible with all the other standards. 

The definition of MiniSD cards and MicroSD cards can be confusing. MiniSD cards are 0.84 inches x 0.78 in. x 0.05 in. and are usually 1GB to 2GB maximum. The card has the same filesystem ( FAT 16) as MicroSD cards but has 11 pins. MicroSD cards are primarily utilized since they are very recent and offer the same services as SD cards.

MMC Cards | Multi-Media Cards

Multi-media card is a common memory card used in various devices, including computers, smartphones, GPS, PAD, and cameras. MMC cards are often used in devices that don’t support higher-capacity SD cards. Siemens and SanDisk partnered to produce MMC cards in 1997 to bring a new product that could compete with CF cards. 

MMC cards come in different varieties — MMC Mobile, RS-MMC, and MMC Plus. Usually, MMC cards are less expensive than SD cards, but they are slower and have less storage capacity. MMC cards are not as common as MMC Plus cards, which can transfer data at up to 48 megabytes per second. On the other hand, MMC cards transfer data at a much slower rate — about 32 megabytes per second.

TF Cards | TransFlash Memory Cards

TransFlash cards are removable memory cards that are almost identical to the size of a standard SD card. The main difference between the two is that a TF memory card has a built-in controller chip, while an SD card doesn’t. TF memory cards are primarily compatible in digital cameras but are also compatible with mobile devices. 

The advantage of using a TF Card is that it is faster than an SD card but still small enough to fit into your camera or phone. For use in cameras more often than SD cards. That’s because TF memory cards use less power than SD cards, allowing cameras to run longer with a single battery charge.

CF Cards | CompactFlash Memory Cards

At one time, CompactFlash was the most common memory card, launched in 1994 by SanDisk. Many photographers still depend on this type of memory card. CompactFlash cards have a robust foundation supported by CFA, with over 80 world-known members like LG, Nikon, Canon, Panasonic, Kodak, HP, etc.  

CompactFlash cards come in several varieties, with the most common capacities ranging from 32 GB to 1 TB. CF cards are similar to other media cards, such as SD and MMC cards. You can insert the compact flash card size into many types of digital cameras. These include point-and-shoot cameras and more advanced models such as DSLRs and mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (MILCs).

CompactFlash cards have endured the market due to their competitive advantage. These cards are built-in controller chips that one can use with a card slot on any device. They offer ample storage, come at an affordable price, and are compatible with many devices. 

However, CompactFlash cards are larger than other types of cards. They are the same size as a standard business card. This can make them challenging to use on some devices. CF cards use a different type of memory than SD cards. This means you can’t use an SD card in a device with CF card slots. You can find two varieties of this card – CF I and CF II.

MS Cards | Memory Stick

A Memory Stick is a memory card that can store data on computers, PDAs, and mobile phones.

The Memory Stick format was first introduced in 1999 by Sony.

The Memory Stick is not compatible with all devices but only with Sony digital products. 

Due to the world’s utilization of Sony products, the company upgraded the Memory Stick card. It produced different varieties like Compact Vault, MS Pro, MS Duo, MS Micro, and MS Pro Duo. MSP also offers a faster transfer speed than Memory Stick but at a larger file size cost.

XQD Cards | Memory Cards

The XQD card is a high-speed memory card that can store data at speeds of up to 400 megabits per second and supports PCIe Gen2 and USB 3.0 interfaces. Many manufacturers, including Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic, have adopted it. Sony, SanDisk, and Nikon partnered and developed it in 2010. 

XQD cards are compatible with both PC and Mac computers and cameras. The new USB 3.1 standard allows for faster data transfer and reduced power consumption, which makes the XQD card ideal for professional applications. XQD cards, aka “eXtended Capacity” cards, can store more than one terabyte of data in one physical size. This means you can transfer large video files from your camera or another device to your computer without worrying about file sizes or compression issues. XQD cards are significantly larger than CF cards. This makes them less likely to fit into devices with CF card slots.

xD Cards | Extreme Digital Card

xD- Picture cards, also known as Extreme digital card, was invented by Fuji and Olympus in partnership in 2002. These XD cards come in three categories: standard type, M type, and H type. H-type is the fastest memory card among the three and has recorded a good sale. 

Many older cameras may still be able to use xD cards, but it is usually best to check before purchasing xD cards. XD cards are available in several sizes and capacities. They are commonly available in different capacities, but the maximum capacity is 2 GB. XD cards are similar to CF cards. These cards are larger than MMC cards and can be challenging to use on some devices. This is the standard size for digital cameras and camcorders. The XD card can be found in many places, including online camera stores.

Conclusion

A memory card is an auxiliary device that stores captured information, images, and videos. They’re a valuable way to ensure you don’t lose important data if your camera’s memory is full or you can’t upload files onto your computer immediately. Depending on the number of photos and their resolution, one can use a single memory card for a few days or weeks. Given this scenario, it makes sense to know about the different types of memory cards available so that you buy the best one for your camera or any other device.