[Photo-SIG] 2GB SD cards & USB Flash Drives

[Dave Lundy]

Micro Center is selling generic 2GB SD cards and USB Flash Drives for 
$29.99 each as long as supplies last.  I got one of each Sunday afternoon 
at the Cincinnati store.  They're available at the check-out counter.

<www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=250133>
<www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=250132>

I tried the SD card in my Canon S2 IS today.  The cheap card is not nearly 
as fast as the 1GB Kingmax card I got last year, but unless you frequently 
shoot long VGA resolution 30fps video clips or long batches of RAW or high 
resolution minimally compressed JPG photos in burst mode, it might be fast 
enough for most users.  In my S2 IS, I could shoot 17 full resolution (5 
megapixel) minimally compressed JPGs in high-speed burst mode before I 
exhausted the camera's internal buffer and had to wait to write to the 
card.  With my Kingmax card, I can shoot until I fill the card or the 
battery dies - whichever comes first.  I was able to shoot 22 seconds of 
VGA resolution 30fps video before it exhausted the camera's buffer.  With 
the Kingmax card, I can shoot until I fill the 1GB card or the battery 
dies.  There's a 1GB limit (about 8 minutes 48 seconds) per video clip 
with the S2 IS, and I think also with the S3 IS.  I just shot over 3 
minutes of 30fps VGA video with the Kingmax card without a hiccup.  With a 
slow card, you will see a warning indicator when the S2 IS buffer is 
nearly full when shooting video.
-- 
Dave Lundy   <http://www.dma.org/~lundyd/>