Compact flash vs. SD card

EJRPhotos · Nov 27, 2012

Is there an operational difference between the two or is it more of a personal prefference. I have the Nikon D50 dslr now and it takes no bigger than a 2GB sd and i am starting to look into Canon line and i have noticed some of them only take Compact flash cards.

KmH · Nov 27, 2012

Yes. CF cards tend to be somewhat faster and today's cameras that use them are usually UDMA capable.

The Ultra DMA interface is the fastest method used to transfer data between the computer using a parallel ATA controller and the card.

EJRPhotos · Nov 27, 2012

I have not noticed any where (in culpeper va) to buy Compact flash cards even at wallmart where they sell canon who takes cf cards. is there an significant price difference between cf and sd?

KmH · Nov 27, 2012

You could compare prices online, like at Amazon.com, or even Walmart.com. Just be sure you compare equal speed and capacity cards.

That's one of the huge consumer benefits of the Internet.

Village Idiot · Nov 28, 2012

Don't buy CF cards from a brick and mortar. You're going to pay a lot more than ordering online. Also, if the price online is too good to be true, you're probably buying a fake. Even Amazon lets some of their market place merchants sell conterfeit CF cards. Places like B&H and Adorama are good places to buy cards.

The only time I've ever purchased a CF card at a brick and mortar is when I went on a trip and for some reason left all of mine sitting on my desk. How I left 6 or so CF cards sitting on my desk is beyond me though...

jrizal · Nov 29, 2012

If you have lots of SD cards lying around, then you may want to consider this.

Amazon.com: SD-CF II: SD to CF Type II Adapter (Supports SDHC MMC): Computers & Accessories

TATTRAT · Nov 29, 2012

I know this is steering away from your question, but I shot with a D50 for years, and used 4g and 8g cards. I am 99% sure that you can use a larger card.

A lot of the other main differences have been covered, CF cards write faster than an sd card.

I am surprised that in Culpepper you can't find anything. I have found CF cards in places as obscure as Walgreens. There is a Walmart with a photo center, I don't know if they deal with products besides taking photos, but it might be worth a shot. Even their electronic dept may have them.

I will also echo the statement that you WILL pay more in a brick and mortar. Online is the way to go, provided you can wait a few days.

EJRPhotos · Nov 29, 2012

This is the second attempt to reply with my phone so if it posts twice I do apologize.

With my D50 I have bought a 4gb sd and my camera didn't even recognize that there was even a card in. As soon as I used my 2gb card it worked. I read my owners manual for the camera and it even states no larger than 2gb cards can be used.

I have not really been looking for cf cards until very recently and at walmart in Culpeper at least in the photo and electronics section they do not have cf cards. Like I said it is strange they don't considering they sell cameras that take cf cards.

jrizal · Nov 29, 2012

EJRPhotos said:
I have not really been looking for cf cards until very recently and at walmart in Culpeper at least in the photo and electronics section they do not have cf cards. Like I said it is strange they don't considering they sell cameras that take cf cards.

CF cards in general are being slowly replaced by SD cards due the form factor, hence the difficulty in finding them in brick and mortar stores. Performance wise is a debatable issue but as gadgets get smaller, hence the storage media. If it does not sell well as fewer devices use them, brick and mortar stores will not carry them.