The SD, CF, microSD question

One of the great things about technology is that it continually gets smaller and smaller. It’s as true with computers as it is with cameras and the accessories that go with them.

Take for example memory cards. Not that long ago, we were storing images in mini-hard drives that plugged into cameras. These shrunk a bit and became micro-drives using a type II CF card slot – basically a larger Type I CF slot to accommodate the extra size of a microdrive. The CF type I slot gave us the now ubiquitous CF cards that are still in use today (and you will find that cameras like the EOS 7D actually still have a CF type II slot – so you could use a microdrive if you wanted to!) However, there has been a bit of a change in recent times – SD cards have made a mark, appearing as they do in many consumer and professional cameras alike. These are smaller and in actual fact better sealed against the elements. However, not everyone likes them. So it will be interesting to see what becomes of the microSD standard.

This has so far been confined to consumer electronics, most notably mobile phones and tablets, but with SanDisk launching the an Extreme Pro range of micro SD cards, with capacities of 32GB in a card barely bigger than your little finger nail, it could be interesting times.Like the SD cards, these are waterproof, drop proof, x-ray proof and temperature proof so there is no fear of them losing data, however much it seems that a smaller card is more vulnerable!

Canon have already jumped on to microSD for a couple of compact cameras – the IXUS 500HS being one such model – but as yet no DSLR has made the switch. What are your views? Would you be willing to switch to microSD in a DSLR if it came along, or would you prefer to stick with the CF format we know and love?