[mr soft]

I've been looking at Micro SD memory cards and had no idea what the difference was between them. I thought I'd post up some details for anyone looking at purchasing their first, or next Micro SD card, hope it helps.

HC - high capacity
XC - eXtended capacity

Micro SD is 2 GB and below.
Micro SD - HC is between 4 and 32 GB.
Micro SD - XC is 32 GB to 2 TB

Here's an article on the future 2TB Micro SD - XC, as of now the highest capacity is 256GB
http://www.micro-sdxc.com/

The micro SD - HC also has classifications relating to its data transfer rate

Class 2 - 2MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate

Class 4- 4MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate

Class 6- 6MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate

Class 10 - 10MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate

UHS - Ultra high speed

UHS 1 - 10 MB/s

UHS 3 - 30 MB/s

What are the applications for Speed Class?

Class 2 : H.264 video recording, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 video recording
Class 4: MEPG-2 (HDTV) video recording, DSC consecutive shooting
Class 6: Mega-pixel DSC consecutive shooting, professional video camera
Class 10 ; Full HD Video Recording, HD Still Image Continuous Shooting

UHS 1 ; Full HD Video Recording, HD Still Image Continuous Shooting

UHS 3 ; 4K/2K Video Recording

From The SD Association

https://www.sdcard.org/consumers/speed/speed_class/index.html

Micro SD Cards are also backward compatible with SD card devices. by using an appropriate adapter.

 

[k0rnh0li0]

Great stuff. Now how does this apply to when someone takes a picture or is this just transfering files from the SD card?

 

[eflyguy]

Depending on the camera, a faster card means less time before you can snap a second picture.
..a

 

[k0rnh0li0]

ah so you can do a frame my frame picture taken without i guess losing clarity of the file because of it being stored fast.

yeah its always depends on the end-user but great explanation.

 

[mr soft]

Good points + rep

Original post updated with applications for Speed Class.
Also added class 6

 

[Chunky_Chimp]

Never heard of SD-XC before... awesome.

 

[DuckieHo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by eflyguy Depending on the camera, a faster card means less time before you can snap a second picture. ..a

Don't most cameras have an internal memory buffer?

 

[the_beast]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieHo Don't most cameras have an internal memory buffer?

yes, but if shooting in continuous it will fill up faster if the images are being written out to a slower card. You might be able to shoot 20 frames continuous with a fast card as the buffer becomes available again quicker, but if your card is slow you might only make it to 15 frames before the buffer is filled and you have to drop some frames.

(hope this makes sense...)

 

[eflyguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieHo Don't most cameras have an internal memory buffer?

Yup, but unless you're in continuous mode, it won't allow another pic to be taken unless it's finished writing from that buffer out to storage - at least with the 2 Sony's, 1 Fuji, 1 Pentax, and finally 4 different Canon's I've owned.
..a

 

[jbird2383]

Great Post!! helpful, clear, concise, and organized. Reason why I am looking because I am purchasing a new card at 32GB and HC is limited to 32GB and will be eventually replaced by XC.

 

[nleksan]

I believe SD-XC means Secure Digital - eXtended Capacity...

 

[mr soft]

Quote:

Originally Posted by nleksan

I believe SD-XC means Secure Digital - eXtended Capacity...

Yes mate, not sure what I was thinking of , maybe batteries, either way good spot and thanks for the flashback.