Camera Storage

I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to
shell out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can break
to not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?

Thanks,

Steve G.

Steven Green wrote:
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to
shell out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards
last?

At least 1 million writes, I understand, perhaps more...

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can break
to not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?

Thanks,

Steve G.

Flash here exclusively, and now SD exclusively as well. I think you will
find flash more reliable than microdrives today.

David

Steven Green wrote:
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to
shell out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards
last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can
break
to not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?

CF cards typically use memory types rated for 10,000-100,000 writes
per cell, and levelling algorithms that can increase that to
300,000-3,000,000 for the card as a whole.

The shutters in digital cameras are typically rated for
100,000-300,000 actuations.

The bottom line is that unless she's a pro shooting all day every day
she's not likely to wear out a CF card, and she'll wear out the camera
before she wears out a good quality CF card.

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to shell
out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can break to
not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?


Sorry but that's nonsense. There is nothing mechanical, so there's no wear.
Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap). So you see there really is no worries!
And: go for the D300. I've got one and I wouldn't change it for anything
else. But expect to put quite some time in to learn how it works. Once you
do, you'll never look back.


--
Focus

Focus wrote:
"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to shell
out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can break to
not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?


Sorry but that's nonsense. There is nothing mechanical, so there's no wear.
Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap). So you see there really is no worries!
And: go for the D300. I've got one and I wouldn't change it for anything
else. But expect to put quite some time in to learn how it works. Once you
do, you'll never look back.


Just because something is solid state does not make it wearproof.

"Like all flash memory devices, flash drives can sustain only a limited
number of write and erase cycles before failure",

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_fla...#Disadvantages

All be they a large number of writes. I have never had a USB or other
device fail, but I generally only save stuff to them, resume etc. With a
camera I would expect to erase much more data and rewrite more.

Steve G.

Steven Green wrote:
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to
shell out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can break
to not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microdrive lists three advantages
(actually, two, since one was valid only until 2006) of the Microdrive
over the flash cards, and thirteen disadvantages (granted, some may not
apply here, but that still leaves a lot).

For the price of an 8GB microdrive, how much flash card memory can you
get? Assuming you find a microdrive these days, that is...


--
Bertrand

"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
Focus wrote:
"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with
the number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not
want to shell out money for new memory cards. How long do the
memory cards last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can
break to not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more
power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?


Sorry but that's nonsense. There is nothing mechanical, so there's
no wear.
Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap). So you see there really is no
worries!
And: go for the D300. I've got one and I wouldn't change it for
anything else. But expect to put quite some time in to learn how it
works. Once you do, you'll never look back.


Just because something is solid state does not make it wearproof.

"Like all flash memory devices, flash drives can sustain only a
limited number of write and erase cycles before failure",

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_fla...#Disadvantages

All be they a large number of writes. I have never had a USB or
other device fail, but I generally only save stuff to them, resume
etc. With a camera I would expect to erase much more data and
rewrite more.

Steve G.

If you enjoy living in fear or worrying is a hobby of yours then media
cards is a good choice for you. There is always the possibility of
something going wrong with any media card. Some wise people take along
an extra. There is more likely though that your camera will fail. The
shutter, exposure or other electronic failures happen too. Like your
automobile. The battery may suddenly die or a tire may go flat. Always
keep in mind the worst is yet to come. Be safe. Don't buy a camera.
Don't buy media cards.

"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
Focus wrote:
"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to
shell out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can break
to not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?


Sorry but that's nonsense. There is nothing mechanical, so there's no
wear.
Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap). So you see there really is no worries!
And: go for the D300. I've got one and I wouldn't change it for anything
else. But expect to put quite some time in to learn how it works. Once
you do, you'll never look back.


Just because something is solid state does not make it wearproof.

"Like all flash memory devices, flash drives can sustain only a limited
number of write and erase cycles before failure",

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_fla...#Disadvantages

All be they a large number of writes. I have never had a USB or other
device fail, but I generally only save stuff to them, resume etc. With a
camera I would expect to erase much more data and rewrite more.

So if you know everything already, why do you post this question? Are you
bored or something?
And read where I stated:
"Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap)."
So again: what is your point, if you even have one.


--
Focus

Focus wrote:
"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
Focus wrote:
"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to
shell out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can break
to not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?

Sorry but that's nonsense. There is nothing mechanical, so there's no
wear.
Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap). So you see there really is no worries!
And: go for the D300. I've got one and I wouldn't change it for anything
else. But expect to put quite some time in to learn how it works. Once
you do, you'll never look back.


Just because something is solid state does not make it wearproof.

"Like all flash memory devices, flash drives can sustain only a limited
number of write and erase cycles before failure",

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_fla...#Disadvantages

All be they a large number of writes. I have never had a USB or other
device fail, but I generally only save stuff to them, resume etc. With a
camera I would expect to erase much more data and rewrite more.

So if you know everything already, why do you post this question? Are you
bored or something?
And read where I stated:
"Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap)."
So again: what is your point, if you even have one.


Wow, don't get all in a huff ...

I did a search on them before posting this question.
Most comparisons were from 2004 and before, not exactly current.
I was trying to figure out what people really use and how long they last.

They are cheap enough that they can be replaced.
I couldn't care less about a warrentee. I just don't want to loose a lot
of data.

Steve G.

"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
Focus wrote:
"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
Focus wrote:
"Steven Green" wrote in message
...
I am considering the D90 and D300, leaning toward the D300.
But I have a question about memory types.

It is my understanding that flash memory degrades over time with the
number of writes. I want to take pictures freely but do not want to
shell out money for new memory cards. How long do the memory cards
last?

The D300 accepts Microdrives and these, while mechanical and can break
to not have this same limit. Additionally these eat up more power.

Anyone using the Microdrive or is everyone using flash?

Sorry but that's nonsense. There is nothing mechanical, so there's no
wear.
Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap). So you see there really is no
worries!
And: go for the D300. I've got one and I wouldn't change it for
anything else. But expect to put quite some time in to learn how it
works. Once you do, you'll never look back.


Just because something is solid state does not make it wearproof.

"Like all flash memory devices, flash drives can sustain only a limited
number of write and erase cycles before failure",

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_fla...#Disadvantages

All be they a large number of writes. I have never had a USB or other
device fail, but I generally only save stuff to them, resume etc. With a
camera I would expect to erase much more data and rewrite more.

So if you know everything already, why do you post this question? Are you
bored or something?
And read where I stated:
"Besides, many companies offer lifetime warranty, among them Sandisk
(expensive) and Transcend (cheap)."
So again: what is your point, if you even have one.


Wow, don't get all in a huff ...

I did a search on them before posting this question.
Most comparisons were from 2004 and before, not exactly current.
I was trying to figure out what people really use and how long they last.

They are cheap enough that they can be replaced.
I couldn't care less about a warrentee. I just don't want to loose a lot
of data.

In that case: buy an image tank. You can copy the data to it in-the-field,
so the chance you loose something is extremely rare.


--
Focus