Removable
storage The first digital cameras used fixed storage.
However, there were disadvantages, such as limited space, no upgradability
and lack of portability. Removable storage, the current trend,
is reusable, removable, portable and replaceable with larger capacity
units. There are a number of major types of removable storage.
Magnetic disks, both floppy and hard, are used by some manufacturers.
Sony uses a type of optical disk. The most frequently used type
of removable storage includes all the flash cards. There is a
detailed explanation below.
Explanation of Storage
Types
Flash Cards Flash cards are probably the most popular
image storage devices currently on the market.They
look like PCM/CIA cards used in a laptop and are classified in
two types. The Type I cards are passive in nature as they have
no moving parts. This category includes most of the flash memory
cards and have a maximum storage capacity of 256 Mb and more.
The Type II devices are active in nature. An example of this type
is the IBM Microdrive which is a hard drive (up to 1 GB) in a
flash card.
Smart Media
Cards These cards have recently presented a
problem to the digital photographer. They are not backwardly compatible
with older cameras that may need to be upgraded.
Sony Memory
Sticks Sony memory sticks are proprietary and
as a result, are not compatible with other brands of photographic
equipment. Some adapters are being made, but they are limited
in number.
Magnetic
Disks Regular floppy disks have been used very
successfully in the Sony Mavica line of digital cameras. The major
drawback is that they have limited capacity (1.44 MB).
Optical
Disks Sony also uses optical storage media on
its newer lines. They now have a line of cameras using a 3 inch
recordable CD (see Home Page photo link) for storage. This rivals
the storage capacity of the compact flash cards.
market.They
look like PCM/CIA cards used in a laptop and are classified in
two types. The Type I cards are passive in nature as they have
no moving parts. This category includes most of the flash memory
cards and have a maximum storage capacity of 256 Mb and more.
The Type II devices are active in nature. An example of this type
is the IBM Microdrive which is a hard drive (up to 1 GB) in a
flash card.