Camera buffs- memory card question

[crazymomof4]

I feel like such an idiot asking this! But I am not a camera enthusiast at all- strictly a point and shoot girl here! I'm looking to replace a camera that I HATE with another. We have a "big" (I forget the MB's) ScanDisk brand memory card for the camera that we have. Here is my question: Are memory cards compatible with all digital cameras? In other words could I use this ScanDisk card that I have with any other dig camera that I pick out? Or do I have to look for one that specifically uses the ScanDisk brand (or format)?

There is nothing wrong with the memory card and I would hate to have to shell out the $$ for another memory card for the new camera.

 

[Pam]

Here is my question: Are memory cards compatible with all digital cameras? In other words could I use this ScanDisk card that I have with any other dig camera that I pick out? Or do I have to look for one that specifically uses the ScanDisk brand (or format)?

You would have to make sure that the new camera takes the same size Memory card as the camera you currently have. There are at least 4 different sizes of memory cards - (unfortunately I know this because I own cameras that all take different sizes of Memory cards. )

You don't have to specifically use the SanDisk brand -- but you need to match up the new camera you want to buy with the memory card format that you currently own if you don't want to buy another size and format memory card.

 

[crazymomof4]

Thanks!
That was what I suspected.
Nothing is ever simple when it comes to electronics, is it?

 

[ZuZugal]

I do think most Sony cameras can only use a memory stick and not a memory card. (the memory sticks are rectangle and the cards are more square)

 

[miss missy]

I bought my second camera knowing I wanted to use the cards I had. Just make sure if it is SD that you buy a new camera that uses SD for example.

 

[JR6ooo4]

With memory cards size generaly refers to the memory size not the actual shape of the card. My fisrt Digicam came with a 16MB card. I am only on my second digital camera but I now take 5 gigs of memory on any trip longer than one day. and a laptop to back them up. I burn a dvd and have them on the laptop HD.

chances are the newer camera will have a higher resolution, like 3 megapixels for the old and 6 for the new, which means the files for each picture will be double the size requiring more memory. You can get a 1 gig card for under $50 for any type of card whether it is:
PC Card PCMCIA 85.6 × 54 × 3.3 mm
CompactFlash I CF-I 43 × 36 × 3.3 mm
CompactFlash II CF-II 43 × 36 × 5.5 mm
SmartMedia SM / SMC 45 × 37 × 0.76 mm
Memory Stick MS 50.0 × 21.5 × 2.8 mm
Memory Stick Duo MSD 31.0 × 20.0 × 1.6 mm
Memory Stick Micro M2 M2 15.0 × 12.5 × 1.2 mm
Multimedia Card MMC 32 × 24 × 1.5 mm N
Reduced Size Multimedia Card RS-MMC 16 × 24 × 1.5 mm
MMCmicro Card MMCmicro 12 × 14 × 1.1 mm
Secure Digital Card SD 32 × 24 × 2.1 mm C
miniSD Card miniSD 21.5 × 20 × 1.4 mm
microSD Card microSD 11 × 15 × 1 mm
xD-Picture Card xD 20 × 25 × 1.7 mm
Intelligent Stick iStick 24 x 18 x 2.8 mm
µ card µcard 32 x 24 x 1 mm


there are a lot listed but most cameras take only a few of those styles. (and some are not even for cameras) Staying with the same type memory card is not as important now that memory prices are getting much better. I paid $90 for a 128meg stick for my first sony...

if you have any other questions about cards or cams feel free to pm me.

also check out the dis photography page for great info and pics:
http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=97

Mikeeee

 

[crazymomof4]

Thanks.
This info has helped a lot.

"With memory cards size generaly refers to the memory size not the actual shape of the card." Ya, I do get that. When I said "big" card I meant that we have a card that has more MB (in lay-terms "bigger") than the one that came w/ the camera.

The card that we have appears to be of the "compact flash" format and the camera that I'm looking at (Canon Powershot A540) takes a Secure Digital card. I don't think they are compatable (???) Are they? So I guess I'm going to have to buy a card for that. But, I was surprised to find that, like Mikeeee said, the cost of memory cards has really gone down. We paid $70 for our card 3 yrs ago. K-Mart has a rebate on a 512MB SD card that brings the price of it down to $9.99---I can handle that!

Thanks again!

 

[Muffin]

The card that we have appears to be of the "compact flash" format and the camera that I'm looking at (Canon Powershot A540) takes a Secure Digital card. I don't think they are compatable (???) Are they? So I guess I'm going to have to buy a card for that.

Compact flash and secure digital are totally different formats, not to mention different shapes. Unfortunately you will have to buy a new card. Fortunately, they are always on sale-check the sales circulars in Sunday's paper. I got my Sandisk 1GB card for $2.99 after rebate from Circuit City.

 

[safetymom]

If you new camera takes the same format you would be wise to do a format of the memory card in the new camera before you start taking pictures with the new camera.

 

[milkabum]

P.S.- We have a photography board.

 

[It's A Happy Day]

I took my existing camera & card with me when I went shopping for our new camera (bought it black Friday). Most places - Best Buy, Walmart, Staples, etc. have the cameras on display so you can "play" with them. I just made sure my card fit into the camera's we were considering (there was always a rep around when we were looking so they knew it was my existing card.)

 

[laurie31]

Most newer cameras take SD. I had compact flash, and didn't want to switch, because I have about 4 GB of memory in CF, but I really wanted a new camera, so...I switched, and wow, I love SD!!

And yes, you can pick up the cards cheap if you're not in a hurry to get them. ecost.com has great sales - I got an 8 GB SD there for about $70!

The other thing you asked about, SanDisc, is just the brand name. There are lots of brand names. I haven't really found one to be significantly better or worse than any others. The format is what you have to look for

Happy shopping!