what's the big difference between smartmedia and compactflash memory sticks? looking for a digital camera and i'm finding models with either or... which would you recommend for quality? price?
Smartmedia vs. CompactFlast memory sticks
- Thread starter fjorner
- Start date
what's the big difference between smartmedia and compactflash memory sticks? looking for a digital camera and i'm finding models with either or... which would you recommend for quality? price?
About the only difference I've seen between the two is that CompactFlash comes in bigger sizes (512mb...maybe 1gb not sure though). They both cost about the same to buy (assuming that both chips are the same size) and I don't really know if one is faster than the other. Personally I like compactflash better just because they come in larger sizes.
Smartmedia does have one thing going for it though, it's tiny...real tiny. These things are almost wafer thin. I used to see alot of mp3 players using smartmedia too (along with compact flash), but it seems like alot of the newer/cheaper/smaller players are using SD and MMC cards.
If I were to recommend one I'd pick CompactFlash, but I guess what it really should come down to is the camera. Find a camera that has the features/quality that you like and go with it. I believe Smart Media sticks top out at 128mb so if you get a camera that takes Smart Media you can always just load up on 128mb sticks 'cause they're so cheap nowadays. 2 years ago I paid $120 for a 64mb compactflash disc....today it costs ~$50 for a 128mb compactflash/smartmedia stick.
Smartmedia does have one thing going for it though, it's tiny...real tiny. These things are almost wafer thin. I used to see alot of mp3 players using smartmedia too (along with compact flash), but it seems like alot of the newer/cheaper/smaller players are using SD and MMC cards.
If I were to recommend one I'd pick CompactFlash, but I guess what it really should come down to is the camera. Find a camera that has the features/quality that you like and go with it. I believe Smart Media sticks top out at 128mb so if you get a camera that takes Smart Media you can always just load up on 128mb sticks 'cause they're so cheap nowadays. 2 years ago I paid $120 for a 64mb compactflash disc....today it costs ~$50 for a 128mb compactflash/smartmedia stick.
I have a olympus D-510 that uses Smartmedia. I have heard that Compact Flash has speeds to it, like a CD burner. I don't know?
But when I download Pic's off my Camera through the USB port it takes no time at all. I thought Smartmedia was faster and have seen it used in MP3 players and other stuff. I think there is so much media out there, that what ever the camera uses is to small to take into account. So if you see a good camera with Smart get it, or if you find a better one that uses Compact get it. Just try to stay away from sony media. Get a camera with Compact or Smart and you should be OK.
But when I download Pic's off my Camera through the USB port it takes no time at all. I thought Smartmedia was faster and have seen it used in MP3 players and other stuff. I think there is so much media out there, that what ever the camera uses is to small to take into account. So if you see a good camera with Smart get it, or if you find a better one that uses Compact get it. Just try to stay away from sony media. Get a camera with Compact or Smart and you should be OK.
Something Sony came up with to make more money. Kinda like what Rambus did with Ram. They own the rights and make it cost more.
I stick with Compact Flash personally. I always thought the SmartMedia cards looked flimsy. With Compact Flash you also get access to the IBM MicroDrives which get you to the 1GB capacity barrier, if you really need that much storage. Lastly, if you have a laptop, you can plug a CF card (you need an adapter) right into a PCMCIA slot to download your pictures. You can buy a SmartMedia reader to do this as well, but if you have the laptop you don't need an expensive reader, just a $7 adapter and you are good to go.
If you are really worried, you can find cameras now that support both formats, but they tend to be in the higher price range. Also, as far as the Memory Stick goes, boybott Sony for creating a proprietary memory standard instead of sticking with what was already out there.
It's another one of Sony's retarded proprietary technologies. They can only be used in Sony products and nothing else. I vow never to buy a Sony camera just becuase I have to use their stupid memory stick. It's bad enough that there were 2 competing standards, but Sony had to come along and make up their own stick. Now with MMC and SD there are 5 types of Memory Sticks (although only CompactFlash, Smart Media and Sony's stick seem to get used in cameras).
If you find a Sony camera that you like then by all means go for it, but just be aware that the memory sticks you buy for that camera won't work in anything but a Sony device.
What? I thought Nomad II took Compactflash? I could have sworn I was looking at a Creative Nomad II that took CF......hmmmm, now I have to go and double check.
Edit:
Boy do I feel stupid now
The Nomads do take Smart Media. I thought for sure that the Nomads I was looking at took CF but I guess not. I must need to get my eyes checked, or maybe go back to school and learn how to read TRENDING THREADS
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