SD memory cards for digital camera, does speed matter?

[daveybrat]

I need to get some more 2GB secure digital cards for my parents camera. There's a lot of different speed cards out there ranging from the vanilla to 50-150x cards.

Do i need to spend extra money on the 'fast' cards for my parents fujifilm camera or will a standard card be fine?

 

[pontifex]

I'm no expert by any means but i doubt it would matter for your parents. i think the only time it would really matter is if you are taking many shots in succession.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I would get something in between for a 2GB. The camera probably won't be able to fully utilize high speed cards, but it'll take less time downloading the 2GB worth of pictures to your computer. If you go higher like 8GB I would say get the fastest, because it would be a pain in the ass to wait all that time for 8GB to download.

 

[jpeyton]

Nope, doesn't matter.

 

[daveybrat]

alright, thanks guys, i think i'll just get the cheaper ones then, they don't shoot continuous pictures or videos so i guess they'll be fine with the slower ones.

 

[shortylickens]

I have what is supposed to be a very slow 16GB card, and I can take constant RAWS without any issue.

 

[Shimmishim]

SD/CF whatever cards have two important components... read speed and write speed...

read speed becomes important when you download
write speed becomes important in camera when you start filling the buffer.
the faster the write speed, the faster the camera will recover its buffer.

 

[LordSnailz]

Originally posted by: Shimmishim
SD/CF whatever cards have two important components... read speed and write speed...

read speed becomes important when you download
write speed becomes important in camera when you start filling the buffer.
the faster the write speed, the faster the camera will recover its buffer.

I take it the speeds quoted on the packaging is the read speed then? Guess I should pay more attention to what the write speeds are

 

[akugami]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I have what is supposed to be a very slow 16GB card, and I can take constant RAWS without any issue.

Likely a CF card I'm assuming. If that's the case you're using a DSLR with a nice sized buffer. The buffer is helping relieve the need for a faster card. You can take a few shots that sill is stored in the buffer and as you pause to set up your next shot it writes to the card and frees up the buffer for more shots.

Faster write speeds are important as noted by Shimmishim for cases such as point and shoot cameras which have small buffers so it can clear the buffer ASAP and make room for more shots.

For general consumer use, I don't think it really matters much what speed card you get. Most should work fine.

 

[shortylickens]

The buffer isnt 16GB, and thats what it would need to be to write continually if I wanted to fill up my 16GB card without stopping.
I suspect the card is fast enough to tackle my RAWS without issue.

When I say "constant", I mean "continuous shooting mode". You hold down the button and it just goes until the battery dies or the card gets filled.