Memory cards
are the new substitute for film.
Memory cards are necessary for nearly all digital cameras. They allow you to save your pictures directly to the card instead of the internal hard drive of the camera (if it even has one). This allows more storage space, greater flexibility and easier transfer to your computer. There are several different types of cards, including SD, SDHC and XD.
A standard SD (Secure-Digital) memory card, used in most new digital cameras, is about the size of a stamp. It can store up to 2 GB of information, and has a write-protect switch located on its side to prevent accidental deletions.
The SDHC (Secure-Digital High Capacity) memory card, much like its predecessor, is commonly used in most new digital cameras. It is the same size and shape, has the same features and works in a manner similar to the SD card, but it can store up to 32 GB of information as opposed to the SD's maximum of 2 GB.
The xD memory card, primarily used and manufactured by the camera company Olympus, is very similar to the SD card in that it can also hold a maximum of 2 GB of information. Its size is slightly different, as it is about half the length of an SD card. It also comes in two styles, M and M+, the latter of which operates at 1.5 times the speed of the former.
Tags: digital cameras, memory card, Memory cards, most digital, most digital cameras