KrazyKyngeKorny

I have an older Kodak, 3Mp. It can only use up to 2Gb SD cards. Seems to me I read that if you use SDHC in such a camera, it will format 2Gb and use only that much. Is that true? I expect manufacture of SD 2Gb cards to cease at some point. If that happens, will I have to get a new camera, or, can I continue to use the 3Mp while it works?

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Some older cameras will not even accept SDHC cards. I had an old Kodak that I gave my mother that was 1.3mp and it wouldn't read them at all, only standard SD cards.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

That is what I was going to mention. The older camera may not accept the software for SDHC. What makes you think that they will stop making the 2gb cards? I know more and more people are starting to use bigger cards, but I know several people who are just snapshooters and Kodak Moment takers that use the 2gb cards and buy them and use them all the time. If they do quit making them save up and start looking at new cameras and then when your cards or camera wear out you can go out and get a new camera.

KrazyKyngeKorny

What I intend to do is get a 4Gb, and try it. If it doesn't work for that, I can put it in a card reader, and use it as a flash drive.

Terry Scott Reed Loc: Reading, PA

I know I'm gonna get beat up on this, but, why are you messing around with an "old' camera like this, other than as a hoot? "Back in the day," you could buy a (film) "camera for life." The models didn't change much. Today, that is "stinkin thinkin." I am happy to upgrade my digital equipment every few years, not only because of increased resolution but because of insane ISO's, faster write speeds, and all of the many other improvements being made with digital equipment.
It's ok if you want to play with an "oldie." I shoot film all the time, just as a hoot. But as you are finding out, the tehchnology leaves you behind and, eventually, outright hampered. I know some will disagree with my philosophy, but to me, it is a priviledge to upgrade from time to time--and I don't think (in this case at least), it is a money issue, as you have surely got your buck's worth out of this oldie!

I do have a possible solution to your dilemma, however. In 2007, I purchased a PhotoBank backup drive,, made by SmartDisk. SmartDisk was promptly sold to Verbatim, and the drive discontinued. It's 80 meg, fits in a shirt pocket, and has built in card readers. I had no issues with my compact flash cards, but when I upgraded cameras and began using SDHC, I found that the drive would not read those cards. It's a hardware issue, not software. It is a wonderful, battery operated backup drive with built in card readers for field use, and connects via USB for downloading. Incredibly, I just saw some of these old babies being offered at list price by my local Office Max! (I don't think they even sell SD cards now, just SDHC!). Troll ebay for a bargain that would be right down your alley. (Or contact me--I'll give you a great deal on mine, and it's in great shape. I love the thing, but memory is so cheap, I won't replace it with another model--I'll just buy more cards.)

thefunxtr Loc: Atlanta

You are right, Terry Scott Reed, you will get beat up on this! This is quite an insensative statement that I can imagine coming from one of the kids that I went to school with who drove a new Mercedes that daddy bought for them and made fun of me because I had to walk to school (and wore clothes that came from K-mart). I got into the DSLR world fairly recently when I bought what most people on this forum would consider an "entry level" toy (Pentax K-x) ... for me this was a major investment. And the comment "I am happy to upgrade my digital equipment every few years" ... is your perspective really skewed to the point that you think that everyone should be able to do that? (I highly suspect that you have never sat in a lawyers office trying to figure out how to keep the mortgage company from taking your house while you are waiting for a strike to end!)(and by the way ... they DID take the house!)

George H Loc: Brooklyn, New York

Tea,
As a working pro, I have cards in all sizes and multiples of them all, I have 8 2gig cards. I use each card for a designer, it they only a limited number of looks.

George

KrazyKyngeKorny

Not everyone has a lot of disposable income. Why not juist answer the question, and, not make a sales pitch? I asked a specific question, and, not for a verbal tongue lashing.

Better, yet, why don't you buy one for me? I'll take it. Can I specify what I want? 12-14 Mgpix, SDHC card, 10x optical zoom (or, better yet, a high end DSLR w/ 50-300 zoom).

I'd like to have a better camera, but, I ain't got deep pockets.

iresq Loc: Annapolis MD

I think you may be taking Terry's words too personal. His suggestion was to consider an upgrade.

As for the attempted sale of hardware? Heh. He did suggest checking ebay. If this truly were a sales pitch, he probably would not have started with suggesting a camera upgrade.

Just my 2 pennies.

Terry Scott Reed Loc: Reading, PA

Odd how everyone has constructed a "profile" for me! Would that I could only live up to your assumptions...
I have worked (hard) for every penny I ever made, welding under conditions that you would not consider working under at any price. I shoot with a one year old D3100, hardly top of the line equipment by anyone's standard, before that, a Fuji S-3 Pro, which I used for five years. I do sell my photos, some, so I can in fact deduct what I spend, but you still have to pony up the bucks. Not always easy, for you or for me. But I don't see any circumstance where I would spend one nickel whipping a camera that puts out way less resolution than most cell phones do today. have you ever seen that TV advert where the burglars break in and take everything except the couple's antiquated computer? They took that as a sign they need an upgrade. If you can't afford it, that's not my fault, and that alone is not a bad thing. I've been there, probably will be again sometime in my life. But I never asked for anything for nothing and I don't think anyone owes that to me, especially for something beyond basic necessities.
No, I'm not poor at the moment, but you probably wouldn't trade places with me either. Even when I've been peniless, I never felt poor. I apologize if you are offended by my bluntness and candor. Some are, others prefer it.
And by the way, just for the record, a good photographer with a bad camera will take a better picture than a bad photographer will with a good camera. You can go wrong making value judgements about someone based on whats hanging around their neck.

I guess my original post was meant to convey that I consider upgrading a priviledge. You get better equipment. If you plan to do that, it encourages you to save ahead. And btw, there's no shame in buying used equipment. I've done it and I'll do it again.
Best (really)
Terry

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

If you have several 2GB cards now what difference does it make if they stop making them? You should be able to use your memory cards over and over for years. So just keep doing that until you feel like getting another camera at some point.
Plus if that Kodak is a 3MP camera, what's the largest image file size it even makes? Probably less then 1MB per image. So you could fit tons of images one a card.

One other thought...
You are not using these cards for permanent storage of your images are you?

KrazyKyngeKorny

If you have several 2GB cards now what difference does it make if they stop making them? You should be able to use your memory cards over and over for years. So just keep doing that until you feel like getting another camera at some point.
Plus if that Kodak is a 3MP camera, what's the largest image file size it even makes? Probably less then 1MB per image. So you could fit tons of images one a card.

One other thought...
You are not using these cards for permanent storage of your images are you?[/quote]

At this time, I have exactly one card for it. I just want to know if more cards will be available, if that one craps.

I don't use the card for storage. I put them in my computer, and burn to CD.

Pricing on all things is rapidly dropping. I don't need more cards now, so, want to wait until they are cheap as rocks before buying more. I am on VERY limited income- not a wealthy Democrat, like Obama and Michelle.

I repeat, can the older cameras use the SDHC cards, and only format part of them, as I have heard?

thefunxtr Loc: Atlanta

[quote=KrazyKyngeKorny][I repeat, can the older cameras use the SDHC cards, and only format part of them, as I have heard?[/quote]

Hi KrazyK.K. I found this on another forum ... I can't confirm the statements made, but the poster seems pretty knowledgeable on the subject;

SD cards are up to 2GB only. To read and write above that capacity, the standards were updated, SDHC was born, & certain h/w revisions have to be in place, such that older equipment (that includes, but is not limited to digital cameras, video camcorders, & card readers) that specifically only catered for SD WILL NOT read or write to SDHC cards. NO firmware or s/w patch can undo or repair this one little inconvenience because the changes are in the h/w (electronics), meaning they are physical and can't be undone or revised by ANY s/w you can introduce. A similar case would be that of legacy USB and USB2.0. Of course newer equipment will necessarily read and write to both SD and SDHC.
Plugging an SDHC card to SD only-equipment might even damage one or both.

KrazyKyngeKorny

I found it can only use 256Mb. They do sell them, but, yeek! the price!

I still have the same question. Is there a way to make a larger card look to the camera like 256Mb?