Memory cards for digital cameras

[ugadog99]

I am giving my 14 year old a Koday 3.2 Easy Share for Christmas. She will actually receive the camera right before we leave for Disney. She has really been bitten by the scrapbooking bug and I think the digital will be great for her. This is the first digital in our house. Now, my question is what size and what kind of memory card should I get for her? Where have you found the best prices? Thanks!

Melanie

 

[JudithM]

Be sure to read the paper work that comes with the camera. The paper work with our digital camera told us what size memory cards we can use in our camera. And whatever amount of memory you think you need, buy more !

 

[Spinning]

I don't know a whole lot about digital but I do have one and can tell you what I have figured out...
First find out what card you need, once you have that I would then purchase 2 - 125 meg cards. Reason. The larger the format ( more pictures the card can hold) the longer the lag time between pictures. It takes it longer to place the image on you your card. I thought this was a bunch of hooey when someone told me. I had a 252 meg card or something like that holds a boat load of picture at 800 plus on high resolution. If the lighting or shot is activie it takes for ever to reset!
Also if you are have lots of computer stores near you check any of the big holidays or events ads Especially check out election day, many times you can find rebates for the cards and they will cost you very little.
Hope that helps.

Oh and one more thing! If it uses AA batteries you will need: RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES! This is a must! get at least a 4 pack.

I was just at Radio shack today and they now have a double bound AA recharge pack...oh how I want it! But it is $60! And since I already have a charger and batteries I couldn't justify it! But I NEED IT!

 

[ugadog99]

Thanks...anyone else?

 

[bigbabyblues]

I got my first digital camera for my birthday in July, and I'm still learning about it....it's a Kodak EasyShare DX6490, and I love it!

We have 2 256-mb cards for it, we started with one, but for our Disney trip, decided we needed another. The first one we bought was a Kodak brand, I don't know what the difference is in them; the second one, I don't remember the brand, but it's the kind DH uses at work......???? Both of them are fine.

As far as prices, the Kodak was around $75 at Walmart, the other we got on sale at Best Buy for about $50.

HTH, Steph

 

[OurDogCisco]

I buy my memory cards at Costco. I have about 8 memory cards in all different sizes. Some hold 10 pictures some hold 185 pictures. I managed to take about 800 pictures on the disney cruise (7 day). I think, with a digital you take more pictures because you can. Finally, I agree with totally buying a rechargeable batteries. I highly recommend the Rayovac 15 minute charger with the cigerette adapter. I had the overnight ones but I love the 15 minute one better. I tend to use a lot of battery because I delete all the bad pictures prior to downloading onto my PC or photo lab. I also use Costco to develop my prints, they charge 14 cents a print. That is the best deal I found so far. I also like Ofoto & Clark Color labs. Last but not least, make sure your dd reads the manual front to back. It will save a lot of headache. I learned so many tricks from actually reading the manual. GL...

 

[ksjayhawks]

I have a Kodak easy share and I use a 256 card in it with no problem. It is a LEXAR and I got it at Walmart last spring for about $60???

 

[kandmwedding]

I use the Lexar brand memory cards for my Canon A75. I have several sizes, mostly 256mb. They were just on sale at Target last week for $40 (sorry you missed on that one), but I've seen similar prices at Costco and CompUSA. Target puts the memory cards on sale regularly, so you should be able to find something there.

And definitely get rechargeable batteries. I would suggest to get twice the amount of batteries that you need for your camera. That way while one set is charging you can use the other set. I got mine at Target for about $30 for a 4-pack and the charger, and another $10 for another 4-pack (no charger).

 

[wtpclc]

1. Wal Mart has a pretty good energizer battery charger. The inital charge is a ferw hours, but after that it's only 30 minutes.

2. Make sure you use and test your new card before going. My computer does not like my 256 Mg card. Also, the easy share has internal memory. If you go to a card without downloading what's on your internal memory, you'll lose those pictures.

Have fun!

 

[OurDogCisco]

Originally posted by wtpclc
Make sure you use and test your new card before going. My computer does not like my 256 Mg card. Also, the easy share has internal memory. If you go to a card without downloading what's on your internal memory, you'll lose those pictures.

Have fun!

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. You will definitely be disappointed if you computer cannot handle the cards. And, I wouldn't even consider digital if you use a dial up for service. My aunt has a digital but has never developed a single picture because she can't upload them. She really can't use any online service. She could go to Walmart & Costco but she hasn't yet. I think, the beauty of digital is being able to have tons a pictures but not having to develop them all. So, if you can't download them to your PC it is useless. And, I wouldn't upgrade my PC for a camera just not worth it IMHO.

GL...

 

[WDWAurora]

Originally posted by wtpclc
2. Make sure you use and test your new card before going. My computer does not like my 256 Mg card. Also, the easy share has internal memory. If you go to a card without downloading what's on your internal memory, you'll lose those pictures.

Have fun!

I have a Kodak with internal memory, and I've never lost pictures by switching to a card-do you just mean she might forget to put them on her computer later, or have you really lost pictures like that? I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to happen. Like I said, I've never had it happen once.

 

[cobbler]

I got a 256mb chip and I have a Kodak easy share. I want to get myself a 512 or a 1 gig.

I got my 256 at circuit city for like 40 bucks with rebate and sale once so watch the advertisements.

And rechargable batteries - UGH!! HATE MINE SO MUCH. I bought the energizer rechargeable batters and battery charge for digital cameras - and it just sucks the life out of them sooooo fast. I get twice as much time easy, if not more, with just regular double AA's. I don't know if it depends on the brand or what.

I heard, don't know how accurate, but regular alkaline batteries aren't good for it, that it should be at a minimum NIMH batteries or lithium, naturally they are more expensive.

 

[wtpclc]

Originally posted by WDWAurora
I have a Kodak with internal memory, and I've never lost pictures by switching to a card-do you just mean she might forget to put them on her computer later, or have you really lost pictures like that? I'm pretty sure that's not supposed to happen. Like I said, I've never had it happen once.

Maybe they've changed the cameras. My parents' is 2 years old and they had that happen to them. The manual told them it would happen. I think when they formatted for the card the first time. They were torn between saving the first day or not having enough memory for the rest of the vacation.

For batteries, I make sure I have a fresh set with me. 1 charged set lasts me an entire WDW day. Then I charge them at night. They don't last as long as regular, but 2 sets will last you a LONG time. I'd rather switch out a little more frequesntly than buy, buy, buy. JMHO I think the ones I have are made for digital cameras.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Originally posted by wtpclc
Maybe they've changed the cameras. My parents' is 2 years old and they had that happen to them. The manual told them it would happen. I think when they formatted for the card the first time. They were torn between saving the first day or not having enough memory for the rest of the vacation.

Actually, this had nothing to do with their computer. Sometimes problems occur and the memory card become unreadable. When this happens you can download a patch for free and fix the problem without losing your pictures. It happened to me once when I was taking pictures and all of the sudden the camera was asking me to reformat the disk. I immediately said no and then, used the patch to fix the problem and I got my pictures back. It can happen any time so, what ever you don't say "yes" to formatting. First, figure out if the patch will fix it and get expert advice from a camera store. Sorry they loss their pictures.

 

[OurDogCisco]

Originally posted by cobbler
And rechargable batteries - UGH!! HATE MINE SO MUCH. I bought the energizer rechargeable batters and battery charge for digital cameras - and it just sucks the life out of them sooooo fast. I get twice as much time easy, if not more, with just regular double AA's. I don't know if it depends on the brand or what.

You know I hated my first set as well. I even went back to buying regular batteries. But then, that got expensive because I'd end up running out in a middle of vacation and end up having to pay resort prices for more batteries. I really like my Rayovac. I was taking about 100 pictures a day on my cruise and I went back and reviewed all the pictures and deleted the ones I didn't like. I would go through one pac of rechargeable batteries. With regular batteries I would have gone through 2. As matter fact I forgot to recharge my batteries on a quick trip to Alcatraz Island and had to buy some there. The batteries where made for cameras and only lasted 2 hours. I was mad because I paid $5 bucks for them. I could have kicked myself for not making sure I had my backup set in the camera bag. Anyways, I really can relate to the battery thing. It is one thing I don't like about digital. Good Luck!

 

[MerryPoppins]

Another vote against rechargable batteries. Maybe it's the kind I was using, but they were the ones that came with our camera. It runs much better and much longer with regular batteries.

I'm not much help on what memory cards to buy. DH does things like that. I do know that we have two and one we got new off ebay, so you might want to compare prices there.

I *highly* recommend a card reader. They are inexpensive and they sure make sucking the images off the card and into the computer much, much faster. I couldn't live without mine!

Have fun. I actually like my digital more than my regular camera now. I take more pictures, because I'm not paying for film or developing.

 

[janette]

I use a 512xd card, really like not having to worry about space.

I did have to empty it while at WDW though

For batteries I puchased the ones recommended by Zurg at All Ears really like them. I bought extras and use them for things around the house too