Camera Memory

[Himrich]

I am new to the digital world and just bought a Canon S400. I want to buy some additional memory to supplement the 32mb compact flash that came with it. Several things confuse me. One is the difference between Type I and Type II and the other is the advertised speeds of 16X, 52X, ultra, etc. I think my camera is capable of both Type I and II but is one a better technology than the other? And how can static memory have a speed rating?
Help please and thanks in advance.

Rick


 

[Paddy]

Rick, this is from the Kodak website:

What is the difference between Type I, Type II, and Type III PC Cards?
 
Type I - First standard defined by PC Card Association. Dimensions: 85.6 mm x 54.0 mm x 3.3 mm.
 
Type II - Second standard form factor defined by PC Card Association. Dimensions: 85.6 mm x 54.0 mm x 5.0 mm. The KODAK Picture Card with Adapter fit into a Type II slot.
 
Type III - Third standard form factor defined by PC Card Association. Dimensions: 85.6 mm x 54.0 mm x 10.5 mm. An example of this is the PCMCIA hard drive in a KODAK PROFESSIONAL DCS Digital Camera.
 
One of the differences is physical size. A Type I card fits into a Type II slot. A Type I and Type II cards fit into a Type III slot. Due to the larger physical size, the Type III card does not fit into a Type II or Type I slot. Similarly, a Type II card does not fit into a Type I slot.

The ONLY  difference between the card types is the size - and the fact that IBM Microdrives (for instance) are Type II cards. I have yet to see a regular CF card that wasn't a Type I card.

For yet more info:

http://www.digital-camera-online.com/compactflash.html

And for information on the card speed etc., see:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/mediacompare/