Five tips for buying storage cards for your digital camera

Updated: January 18, 2006

Buying a new CompactFlash or Secure Digital storage card for your digital camera is a lot like ordering a pizza; it seems like an easy task until you realize the vast number of choices you have to make. Also known as storage cards, these small cards are the most common method of storing pictures on your camera.

Picture of CompactFlash (left) and Secure Digital (right) storage cards

Many digital cameras are sold with only a 16 or 32megabyte (MB) card—which is fine to start—but you'll probably find that you want a card that holds more pictures. The following table will give you a rough idea of the number of pictures different sized cards can hold, depending on the number of megapixels your camera shoots, the quality setting at which you're shooting, as well as the subject matter and colors that appear in your photos.

	32 MB	64 MB	128 MB	256 MB	512 MB	1 GB
1 megapixel camera	92	180	363	730	1460	2923
2 megapixel camera	34	70	140	283	567	1135
3 megapixel camera	25	51	105	212	424	852
4 megapixel camera	16	32	64	128	256	512
5 megapixel camera	11	25	50	101	203	407
6 megapixel camera	10	20	40	80	160	320
7 megapixel camera	9	18	38	75	150	301
8 megapixel camera	8	16	32	64	128	256

Note

The numbers in the table above are only estimates of how photos may be stored on a storage card at the listed storage card size. For more estimates specific to your digital camera, read the manual that came with your digital camera.

The good news is that storage cards have dropped in price considerably over the past few years. Storage cards are one of the most valuable and useful accessories you can buy for your digital camera.

Shopping tips for buying storage cards

The following is a list of five quick tips and considerations you should make when buying storage cards for your digital camera.

1. Making sure that the storage card is compatible with your digital camera

Storage cards come in different shapes and sizes. The first thing you need to know is which card your digital camera takes. Some common types of storage cards for digital cameras include CompactFlash, Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick, Microdrive, and xDPicture Cards. Read the manual that came with your camera or visit the manufacturer's Web site to ensure that you know what type of card is right for your camera.

2. Determining the capacity-to-price ratio of the card

The larger the memory capacity on the card, the more pictures you can store on it. Naturally, the higher the storage capacity, the higher the price will be. If you take a lot of pictures, shoot mini-movies, or have a digital camera that shoots several megapixels, then the investment in a higher capacity card will be a good one. However, if you only take a few pictures, or frequently copy your pictures to your computer and then delete them from the storage card, consider saving some money by buying a storage card with a smaller capacity.

3. Knowing the speed of the storage card

Storage cards can vary in speed. The speed refers to how fast information is written to or read from the card, such as when it is inserted into a storage card reader that is attached to your computer. Therefore, a faster storage card speed the better. For example, 40x is better than 24x, and 80x is better than 40x. Generally, the higher speed cards will cost more, too. If the card is speed rated, this information will usually be written on the card, as well as on the packaging. Storage cards with faster speeds (for example, 80x) are often labeled as a "pro series" card, as they're sought after by professional photographers who might want to hold down the shutter button to take multiple shots at once. Faster storage card speeds are also ideal for shooting video because they will capture the maximum frames-per-second for smoother motion.

4. Considering the different storage card manufacturers

Some industry experts believe there is little difference in quality between aggressively priced storage cards and those produced by the more renowned manufacturers. Others maintain there is a noticeable distinction when it comes to speed, performance, reliability, and longevity. It's always a good idea to take note of a company's warranty before you purchase a storage card. For example, some manufacturers offer a lifetime guarantee and hassle-free return policy for their storage cards. It's also a good idea to research the company's technical and customer support through their Web site before buying a storage card.

5. Learning about the extras

Some storage cards have added features that may suit your needs. Secure Digital (SD) cards, for example, allow you to engage a small switch on the side or back to secure the contents and protect them from being accidentally erased. Some cards also offer password protection for accessing the contents.

Marc Saltzman is a prolific freelance journalist, author, and radio and TV host. He specializes in video gaming, consumer electronics, computer software and hardware, portable devices, and Internet trends. Along with his weekly syndicated columns with Gannett News Service, USAToday.com, CNN.com, and CanWest Media, Marc currently contributes to more than 40 prominent publications, including USA Today, AARP The Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, National Post, Microsoft Home Magazine, PC Gamer, and Electronic Gaming Monthly. Marc has authored 12 books and is a regular on-air technology expert on Next @ CNN, an award-winning tech show seen on CNN and its affiliates.

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