Why Buy a Camera That Uses Flash Cards?

Ever witness the perfect photo opportunity, scramble for your camera, frame the shot, push the shutter release, then realize, "I'm out of film!" Or maybe you're at the processing counter, sorting through prints of little Johnny's first steps when you discover half are out of focus. If so, you might want to consider a digital camera.

Digital cameras don't store images on film. They store them electronically. That means you can capture an image, view it, delete it, or save it then transfer it to a computer and print it, manipulate it, or send it by e-mail to whomever you want. Basically, digital cameras can save you time, money, and the misery of losing the "perfect" shot.

How digital cameras work
Digital cameras convert light into electronic information. This information (your picture) is then compressed and saved on an internal or removable storage device. The number of pictures you can take depends on several things, such as image resolution and compression, but most important is your camera's storage device.

If your camera stores images internally, once the storage is full, you must delete the images or transfer them to a computer before you can take more. If it stores them on a removable device, such as a flash memory card, you can pop out the card and slide in a new one at any time. The card is essentially "digital film."

The benefits of flash memory cards
Flash memory cards allow you to store anywhere from one to 1191 images at a time, depending on the image resolution, compression, and size of the card. They come in much higher densities than some types of removable flash memory, allowing you to store more images on a single card. And because you can easily swap cards and continue shooting without having to transfer images to a computer, you gain a lot of flexibility. You can even erase and reuse flash memory cards indefinitely with no impact on quality.

Another nice thing about flash is its versatility. When you're not using the card in your camera, you may be able to use it in your personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld, or digital music player. Plus, flash is much more durable than some types of removable memory.

In addition, flash memory cards are not affected by the new, high-security X-ray machines used in airports today.

In other words, using a camera that takes flash cards offers a number of advantages.

  • Check your shots immediately Snap a photo and see it right away. Do you like it? If not, delete it and make room for more.
  • Relish in flexibility — Not ready to transfer images to your computer? Prefer to organize pictures on cards by category? Need to hand over large image files to your boss in a hurry? Flash gives you that flexibility.
  • Save money — No more film or processing expenses. Your flash cards can be reused indefinitely. Just print the images or transfer them to your computer. Use that card again and again.
  • Save time — Forget one-hour processing shops — digital images are ready immediately! Transfer them to your computer, put them on a Web site, or send them by e-mail to friends across the globe.
  • Travel worry-free — The safest and most convenient way to protect your photos is to use a digital camera. X-ray machines do not affect them.
  • Make work easier — Use your digital camera to simplify tasks on the job. Document progress at a work site. E-mail product photos to potential buyers. Keep records for insurance or inspections. Digital cameras do it faster and easier.
  • Duplicate to your heart's content — Make copies of your digital images again and again without any degradation of picture quality.
To find Crucial flash cards for your digital camera, look for your camera's manufacturer and model in Crucial's Memory Selector.