Memory cards: I seen a head line entitled "Why not to use micro sd cards in a digital camera" is that correct or is it OK. My current camera uses CF cards, however I am purchasing one...

LowellR

I seen a head line entitled "Why not to use micro sd cards in a digital camera" is that correct or is it OK. My current camera uses CF cards, however I am purchasing one that uses sd cards

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

LowellR wrote:

I seen a head line entitled "Why not to use micro sd cards in a digital camera" is that correct or is it OK. My current camera uses CF cards, however I am purchasing one that uses sd cards

You can do it and it will work OK. I don't prefer having the additional connection between the card and the adaptor, but that is mostly personal choice. I have found that some adaptors can slow the interface below the actual capability of the MicroSD card.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

LowellR wrote:

I seen a head line entitled "Why not to use micro sd cards in a digital camera" is that correct or is it OK. My current camera uses CF cards, however I am purchasing one that uses sd cards

CF cards are being obsoleted due to issues with read/write speed and with inserting/removing and bending a pin. The new CF Fast memory card is in an XQD style case.

James R. Kyle Loc: Saint Louis, Missouri (A Suburb of Ferguson)

larryepage wrote:

You can do it and it will work OK. I don't prefer having the additional connection between the card and the adaptor, but that is mostly personal choice. I have found that some adaptors can slow the interface below the actual capability of the MicroSD card.

==============

I agree with this.

As a retired electrician and lineman = I know that EVERY point of contact is a weak point. Oxidation and just plain dirt and "crud" can (might) will cause a weak contact point. So - The fewer points of contact the better for best performance.

:-)

=0=

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

CF cards are being obsoleted due to issues with read/write speed and with inserting/removing and bending a pin. The new CF Fast memory card is in an XQD style case.

The interesting thing to me is that the oldest readers had a sliding insert which encased each pin and prevented them from bending while the card was inserted. Those protectors fell by the wayside...victims of cost reduction.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Only my personal experience, Lowell, but I use both sizes alternatingly in all my cameras and all work just fine.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

rgrenaderphoto wrote:

CF cards are being obsoleted due to issues with read/write speed and with inserting/removing and bending a pin. The new CF Fast memory card is in an XQD style case.

Absolutely NOT. CFast is the next generation SATA card introduced in 2012 and almost identical in size and shape to the CF card which is PATA interface. CFast cards are not compatible with CF card slots due to minor changes to the case slides and different pin connectors.
XQD cards are PCIe interface and are little more than half the size of CF or CFast cards. They have an all new connector system which relies on slides rather than pins much in the same way as SD cards do. The next generation of cards using the XQD case style will be CFExpress cards which will fit XQD slots and will be usable in most XQD equipped cameras via a firmware update.

Brokenland

1st: Always consult your owners manual for a list of best possible options when selecting SD cards. However, your title suggest that you're wanting to use a micro card in your camera etc. Most if not all cameras today do not allow for micro cards as the slots have been designed for the full size sd card. Thus one would need a sd card reader which the micro card fits into. this can cause a number of connection, card reading & image storage issues as the camera was not designed for the smaller micro card.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

My camera used standard size SD cards, and I have a few micros in adapters.
Absolutely no problem.
If they were using micros without an adapter, I'd only be afraid of dropping a card when changing.

(Too many times people's opinons erroneously become gospel.)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

James R wrote:

==============

I agree with this.

As a retired electrician and lineman = I know that EVERY point of contact is a weak point. Oxidation and just plain dirt and "crud" can (might) will cause a weak contact point. So - The fewer points of contact the better for best performance.

:-)

=0=

True, but I'm not worried in the least as the memory card (and camera) contacts are gold plated.
Gold doesn't oxidize, but can become dirty with mishandling (oily/dirty fingers).

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

As mentioned previously, the C-Fast memory cards read and write faster than its CF card predecessor. When I first bought my SD card around 2009, it was a 4gb. And I remember seeing 4gb CF cards on display. Both were expensive at the time. C-fast memory cards are also more expensive. A micro SD card can work as a standard sized SD card with an adapter. And there are some Compact Flash Adapters where you install a standard sized SD card inside. Many have said this combination works just as well as installing a micro SD card in a standard sized SD card adapter. I have used the micro SD inside the standard sized adapter with no problems. The only complaint I've heard about CF cards, is that the contact pins get bent sometimes. And some cameras have needed a repair because of it.

norman1312 Loc: London, UK

LowellR wrote:

I seen a head line entitled "Why not to use micro sd cards in a digital camera" is that correct or is it OK. My current camera uses CF cards, however I am purchasing one that uses sd cards

On my 7200, I tried a micro SD card in the adaptor supplied with it, and all I got was a blank rectangle without a "2" in it. (Number 1 slot is a full size SD card). So it doesn't seem to like that combination.

John Gavin

FWIW, I used a 128g micro sd with an adapter in a d3400 without a problem. I then traded that camera for a used d810 this Christmas. It has a Cf slot and an sd slot. I set the sd slot for just jpegs and the CF slot for raw. Turned the camera on and found out it would not read the micro sd. Put in a regular size sd and no problem. Tried the micro again and same incompatible issue. It's probably somewhere in the manual what I can and can't use and I know the d3400 is newer by a few years but it is what it is.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I hate those tiny cards. I find them difficult to handle, and it's always a challenge getting them inserted - and staying inserted. I can understand the need to use them in small devices, but not in a DSLR. As others have said, having an adapter in the chain certainly doesn't help the situation.

rdubreuil Loc: Dummer, NH USA

MT Shooter wrote:

Absolutely NOT. CFast is the next generation SATA ... (show quote)

MT,

Do you think this spells the obsolescence of XQD in lieu of CFE cards for those with XQD equipped cameras? With the advent of Lexar no longer producing XQD cards and leaving really only Sony and rumored production by Nikon that I'm aware of.