So... I read somewhere, I can't remember where, that one shouldn't purchase andthing that requires a compact flash storage type as it is the most unsecure and unreliable... True?

Many of the best digitals on the market use compact flash, such as my Nikon d70. The card has not been an issue and works fine. My little compact cam uses secure disk and that works fine, too. I have not heard warnings about using CF...I doubt it would be a memory of choice for camera makers if unreliable. It is just as secure as a secure disk if you just don't push "delete" on the cam.

I actually go for devices compatible with CF, cause they are the cheapest of cards. #:oP

serious? how much in US?

Well it all depends on the size of course. A 1GB card costs around $45 here. Ooops...i found both a 1GB MMC and SD-card that was 3 bucks cheaper....so i guess i lied. #:oD

CF cards are amongst the most reliable storage devices available right now. If you don't use the cheapest models, you should have years of reliable operations, regardless of the number of reads/writes. Once a CF card has been "burned in" they should last almost forever. I have seen a camera involved in an explosion a dumb friend of mine when I was in the Military left his gadget bag on a firing range!! The only thing left working was the compact Flash!! There are a few possible ways for failure, however: damage through static discharge when handling the cards damage through voltage fluctuations from the power supply failure of the (micro-drive)types when using cards from 1GB or larger (although there are first diskless cards with 1GB available) of course, physical damage, e.g. you drive over it with your car or truck. Maybe some brands are faster and more reliable one thing is not to format or delete images on the PC do it all on the camera.. SD cards do appear to be faster and even more reliable and may take over as they are smaller as well..

Danob: Sandisk has CF cards of 8GB that are flash, not microdrives. The chance of damage through static discharge is pretty small since CF has no external contact points like xD-Picture cards for example. Flash memory is very resiliant. Driving over one with a truck doesn't to much damage ;)

Haha Yeah 3DGuy I was thinking the best value for money without putting all ones eggs in one basket.. Whilst the chances may be small it is one of the few ways you can damage the cards.. When you drive a truck over yours be sure to let me know what happens ;-)

I thought you were saying that 1GB non microdrives were just coming available, I guess I misunderstood. I sure am curious as to how you plan to discharge your static electricity into the CF.. there's no metal to conduct the charge.... About putting all eggs in one basket: I also recommend getting multiple smaller cards instead of 1 big one to spread the risk. If one fails you don't lose everything. And last year a computer magazine drove over portable media such as CF cards, usb sticks etc.. also boiled them, put them in the washing machine. They all still worked! Granted, the casing had wear and tear, but the data was still intact. I'm not saying it's indestructable, it just can take alot :)

I have excellent results with both CF and SD cards...the SD are slightly faster write speed/read speed but much of that as "perceived" has to do with the camera. My SD cards are rated as faster read and write than my CF. The camera I use with SD is slow...not the card. Writing to the pc using a reader I see little difference that matters. Re post#9, 3Dguy, I agree to put several cards in the bag rather than try to do it all with one! Safer stroage IMO and less intimidating when downloading and editing! I use 512's most of the time and some 256's. Cameras often come with a 16mb or 32...if with any card at all! Now, that IS too small. My oldest SD's are nearly 5 years old and going strong..all get formatted in the camera.

Tx guys so I can rest easy! I just hate to by more mem when I've got SD already...

Yeah thats a good point about the static discharge as unlike Microdrives they dont have metal parts.. It has a plastic casing which I suspect would not provide very good shielding for example I have suspected other things that can do damge like my phone in the study which I know keep well away.. Yeah we had a TV show here in the UK who did much the same but the plastic case does not fill me with a lot of confidence it may just be the small flat light construction helps to protect them.. Yes I also use 512 and I meg cards as it takes no time to replace them and it helps speed up my workflow.. Yes with the drop in costs it does seem to me to be very mean to not include at least a 512 card these days on a DSLR it seems absurd and the camera is in fact useless without one..

They didn't give a free film with every camera.

Message edited on: 03/17/2006 14:01

So many people bash plastic. Plastic has come a long way and is very tough. If your concerned about electromagnetic shielding, I don't think you have any reasonable options. They are as secure as you make them. I would not hesitate to buy a CF card.

I think that it's up to the consumer to haggle the cam sellers for memory with purchase, I'm gonna haggle for 512 next time, I've haggled for 128 before but that was only a R4000 cam so for a R10000 cam I want 512MB at least!!! And trust me I'll get it. If Kodak is giving 1GB cards for a R3000 cam why can't canon and the rest give out?

"They didn't give a free film with every camera." They did every time I bought one :) Even when it was a second hand. Also got free print coupons.

I'm gonna use the R300 price diff between stores to sneak a 1GB card in...