Canon's smart move to SD memory cards

Canon's EOS Rebel XSi goes on sale in April.

(Credit: Canon)

Canon faced some modest compatibility risks when it chose to design its new EOS Rebel XSi camera with SD flash-memory cards rather than the CompactFlash cards it's used for all its SLR cameras until this point, but I think the move is smart overall.

It's a drag for consumers that there's such a profusion of flash card formats. Customers often must pay extra when moving from one camera maker to another just to replace flash cards. And indeed, owners of Canon's existing Rebel, Rebel XT, or XTi cameras will find their CompactFlash cards useless if they upgraded to an XSi.

But the reality is that Rebel XSi (also called the 450D and Kiss X2 in various parts of the world) customers are more likely to be upgrading from a compact camera, a market where SD dominates. And from a technical perspective, SD performs fine, takes up less critical room in the camera, and in the newer SDHC incarnation can match CompactFlash's 32GB capacity.

CompactFlash memory has been a mainstay in the SLR (single-lens reflex) camera market, but SD has gained a foothold. Nikon's entry-level SLRs use SD cards, as do all from Pentax, Panasonic, and Samsung. And Canon's top-end 1Ds Mark III accepts both SD and CompactFlash.

Now if we could just get rid of xD Picture Card from Olympus and Fujifilm and Memory Stick from Sony, we'd all be better off. Fujifilm wisely has started selling compact cameras with a dual-use adapter that can accept SD as well as xD, and I'm hoping that's a harbinger of things to come.

[Travis Ernst]

Stick speeds

I noted on Sony sticks from the low end (purple sticks) to high
end (game sticks) there was a HUGE read/write speed variable
between the models. You get what you pay for.

Same with the CF sticks. I insisted on going with units that can
write at 20meg at the slowest (the CF3's). When you are
shooting bursts of photos you need a stick that can handle
speed transfer.

What is the speed on the SD's Their big advantage is size
compared to lugging around the CF's. Most of us using Canon's
however are more worried about speed for read/write. If we are
burst shooting up to 9 pictures a second we can't be held back
by the memory. We'd be ahead to go wireless transmitter if it's
slower.

[ewilts]

Canon's done this before

The S1 IS used Compact Flash cards. The S2 uses SD as do the subsequent S3 and S5 versions of the camera.

I own both an S1 and an S5. With the price of flash memory being so inexpensive these days, re-buying a couple of cards isn't all that bad compared to the price of the camera and I didn't mind buying a new card. A pair of 2GB cards will only set you back about $25, probably less than the price of a decent case for the camera.

I do wonder why camera manufacturers even bother to ship a small card at all - the S5 only came with a 32MB card. Add $10 to the camera and ship a 2GB card.

[hawkeyeaz1]

It's a demo card

When a custoemr calls in with memory card issues, the demo card is more or less guaranteed to work if it is not the camera. It shows where the problem lies, and if the camera works. Customers are free to choose the size that suites them.

Some retailers change out the 16 or 32 Mb card for you anyway--which can be a problem for troubleshooting.