New A620, Memory Q?

[ArcticDiver]

While I was off playing my wife bought me a new A620. Now I have to do more than just read these threads

So a couple questions:
-Is there any practical difference between the "High Speed" and "Standard Speed" 1G SD cards other than one costs about twice as much as the other?(1G at Sam's is $57 while the High Speed at another store is $100) One guy says there is a BIG difference in shutter speed between one and the other. Another guy says that one is faster but there is no practical benefit to the extra speed. Who is correct?

-I have several 256M SD cards for my PDA. Maybe I'm just as well off to just use them for the camera and thus not put all my pictures on one card that could be damaged and cost me everything?

-Any other suggestions that will keep me from making the same mistakes as you? Then I'll have to figure out my own to make, eh?

Oh yes, the first few pictures were very good. By the time I get it figured out on land maybe the discussion on which housing to buy will have resolved itself to a single choice. Sure.....

 

[alcina]

OK, here's my personal take on it.

I don't think the higher end cards are worth it in this case. I use el cheapos and a nice Pro card that a friend gave me in my systems and I don't notice the difference in camera.

256 is not enough! At least not uw.

Download whenever you can and clear the card. Make backups of anything you aren't prepared to lose.

Have fun!

 

[ArcticDiver]

OK, here's my personal take on it.

I don't think the higher end cards are worth it in this case. I use el cheapos and a nice Pro card that a friend gave me in my systems and I don't notice the difference in camera.

256 is not enough! At least not uw.

Download whenever you can and clear the card. Make backups of anything you aren't prepared to lose.

Have fun!

Wow, that was fast!

Since we don't travel with a computer we can't download until we get home. Maybe in the future we'll buy a notebook to tote along. But, for now we choose to leave my wife's Power Laptop at home.

Oh yes, I should say that this is our first foray into the digital photography world. My film cameras are two Canon F1s. So, this is definitely going to be a learning exercise.

One more thing: She bought herself one at the same time she bought mine. Do you think she has images on her mind?

 

[alcina]

Sounds like my kind of shopper.

I would either buy one of those portable HD/storage devices (I have the Archos Mini that is my MP3 player and screen and card reader in one...you'll need an adaptor for the SD cards no matter which MP3 player you get if you go this route, I think)
or
Wherever you are, head to an internet cafe, download to disk and viola - a copy ready to go and a clean card. I would never leave images on my card for any length of time if I wasn't prepared to lose those images. That length of time will vary depending on my needs.

 

[ArcticDiver]

Sounds like my kind of shopper.

I would either buy one of those portable HD/storage devices (I have the Archos Mini that is my MP3 player and screen and card reader in one...you'll need an adaptor for the SD cards no matter which MP3 player you get if you go this route, I think)
or
Wherever you are, head to an internet cafe, download to disk and viola - a copy ready to go and a clean card. I would never leave images on my card for any length of time if I wasn't prepared to lose those images. That length of time will vary depending on my needs.

So I can use the cafe/business center computer to download to my iPod or Memory Stick then? Or, must I download to a DVD/CD that I furnish?

 

[alcina]

you can simply use the cord (or a card reader) from camera to device you are saving the images to (in my case the Archos unit). You don't need to go anywhere for that, bring it with you

Or bring some DVDs/CDs with you to burn to. They may have them available to buy if you don't mind paying a bit extra for not having to pack them on the trip out. I would always check before I go.

 

[ArcticDiver]

Oh...I think I see how to handle the downloading.

Back to the SD card speed: What do you mean by Not worth it? Does the slower card in fact slow the shutter speed? If so by about how much? I was flat impressed by how fast the shutter speed was with the included SD card. Wouldn't want to slow it from that.

 

[alcina]

The card has nothing to do with the shutter speed. Nor the focus speed. Whoever told you that is confused.

The card will dictate how long it takes to record an image. And that determines how quickly you can take another after any internal buffer is filled.

The card also dictates download time - so a faster card will, in theory, download faster. How much faster? I have no idea. Doesn't seem much different to me so it's not an issue I spend any time on.

 

[ArcticDiver]

From what you say it sure seems that the one guy sure didn't understand what he was saying. Also, since I don't expect to do any sports photography with this I'm sure not going to get much value, if any, from a faster card.

Now to wait until the shipment of cards gets to the local SAM'S.

Thanks.

 

[alcina]

I think it's easy to get confused with the terms - and many use them interchangeably, too!

I don't spend the extra on my cards YMMV