Picture Cards and Memory

Memory is the storage space for pictures measured in megabytes (MB). Digital cameras can store pictures internally or on a picture card, like a computer stores files on a hard drive or floppy disk. Not all cameras have internal storage, but most cameras have a slot for a memory card, or a picture card.

Think of the picture card as a floppy disk onto which you can record pictures. A picture card can be quickly inserted into your camera. You can take pictures until the card is filled, then quickly remove it and replace it with a fresh card.

Like a roll of film, picture cards hold different numbers of pictures and are available in different storage capacities, indicated by the number of megabytes on the card. Picture cards are available in several storage capacities or sizes, such as 8 MB, 16 MB, 32 MB, 64 MB, 96 MB, 128 MB, and 256 MB. The larger the storage capacity of the card, the more pictures you can store on it. A typical picture is 0.25 to 0.5 MB in size.

You can delete any or all of the pictures on the card just like you erase files on a floppy disk. The blank picture card can then be reused to hold new pictures.

Format a Picture Card

Formatting erases all the pictures on the card. You may need to format a picture card if it becomes corrupted or if it was used in a different camera. Some signs that your picture card is corrupted are:

• Your camera does not recognize your picture card even though it is the correct type for the camera.

• Your camera cannot read some pictures on the card even though it does read others.

If your picture card needs to be formatted, place it in your camera and follow the instructions in your user’s guide.

Types of Picture Cards

Each digital camera model is designed to work with a specific kind of picture card. It's important to determine which kind your camera uses. The different types of cards are not interchangeable.

• COMPACTFLASH Cards – these cards are about the size of a matchbook and come in a range of storage sizes, from 8 MB to 256 MB.

• Secure Digital Cards – these cards offer an incredible mixture of high storage capacity, fast data transfer, great flexibility, and excellent security.

• MultiMedia Cards – these small and durable cards have a high storage capacity and can be used with a variety of digital products.

• SMARTMEDIA Cards – these incredibly small cards weigh only 2 grams. You can use these cards in a variety of electronic devices, such as digital cameras, MP3 players, cellular phones, pagers, picture card readers, and more.