Specifications

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13) The problem is a difference in the formatting. When you format your Smart Media in your
camera, it is using an older FAT (File Allocation Table) format that goes back to the time
when floppy diskettes were the main computer storage medium. Windows XP recognizes
that format; but when XP does its own formatting, it defaults to FAT32, a newer file system
that cameras do not recognize. The solution is to do your formatting in the camera (unless
you want to try to use your computer to format in FAT16 instead of FAT32). Some newer,
high performance cameras, such as the Canon EOS-1 DS, will be using FAT 32 as the
standard format.
14) The answer has to do with the design of the Smart Media cards. In order to make them as
thin and light as possible, the controller chip that is in charge of writing data is left out of the
card and sits in the writing device. Your cameras may have different software running the
controllers in each camera, and they do not handle data the same way. You will have to
format separate Smart Media cards for use in each camera.
15) MultiMedia cards are the smallest, thinnest, and lightest of all, about the size of a postage
stamp. This is an advantage for small, hand-held devices that try to avoid extra weight.
16) Secure Digital cards are very similar to MultiMedia cards in size, but they have several
extra features: built-in copyright protection, a write/protect switch, and faster read and write
speeds. They are also a bit thicker than MultiMedia cards.
17) An SDIO (SD Input/Output) card is any mobile electronic device that performs high-speed
data transfer using the SD-type port. An SDIO card is compatible with SD in terms of
mechanical, electrical, power, signal, and software parameters and consumes very little
power from the host. Examples of SDIO cards are Wi-Fi transmitters, GPS locaters,
modems, digital tuners, and cameras.
18) Although they look almost identical, the Secure Digital card is slightly thicker. That
prevents them from sliding into MultiMedia slots, but MultiMedia cards do work in the thicker
Secure Digital slots. There are other differences in the design features.
19)
Memory Stick is a flash card designed and developed by Sony and used in many Sony
devices.
20) “Digital film” is a phrase used to describe any flash medium. It refers to their most popular
application in digital cameras.
21) X-rays can damage photographic film because they are a form of energy similar to light
energy, but we cannot see it. Film will “see” X-rays and record them. The energy is not
enough to affect flash media; so they are safe for the X-ray equipment used in airports.
Very large doses of radiation, however, such as those proposed as security for U.S. postal
letters, will destroy flash media as well as any information on them.
22) Speed in terms of photographic film refers to how fast the film will react to available light.
Faster films need less light and are better in low-light situations. “Digital film” is only an
analogy for flash cards. The speed of flash cards is unrelated to the speed of film. Flash
card speed refers to the rate of data being transferred to or from the card. The term “1X” is
equal to 150 kilobytes per second, the same rate of data transfer speed as that from a CD
audio disc as it plays. Some cards have fast controllers that will allow speeds of 12X
(1.8MB/sec) or even 16X (2.4MB/sec). Faster cards may improve the speed of a camera
taking multiple shots, but only if: a) the camera is designed for faster speeds, b) the
camera’s RAM buffer memory is large enough, and c) a flash lighting is not needed. The
recharging of the light will take the most time, and that occurs most in low-light situations.
23) Sitting on them may bend them enough to damage the circuitry on the inside, but they are
remarkably free from most environmental dangers. Even dropping them on a rug won’t
damage them, but a drop to a hard floor might---except for the rugged Compact Flash.
Keep them in temperature and humidity ranges comfortable for human beings and in
protective packaging and they should be OK. Note answer 13, though.
24) Flash media should be able to withstand at least 1 million erase/record cycles without any
problem.
25) The card is not wearing out, but the filing arrangement for data can develop errors after
time. Instead of just deleting files, it is better to reformat the entire card in the camera or