question re. 2 gig sd cards

[back alley]

is there a real possibility that the plain old 2 gig card might become unavailable in the near future?

do we need to stock up?
is anyone currently stocking up?

 

[back alley]

no, no rumours...just harder to find locally (but not really hard) and fewer cameras around that use these.

 

[batterytypehah!]

Very real possibility, I'd say. Just like everything else in PC hardware, as specs and standards move on, you're eventually left out in the cold. I would stock up, and more importantly, I wouldn't rely on them for longer term storage in the first place. Move your pics to a HD, more reliable and better chance of retrieval when it does go south.

 

[sevo]

They'll be gone very much sooner than any currently available film format. The entire computer industry revolves around strategies obsoleting technologies within much less than a decade, and by that standard, SD is ancient - they are already at the point of superseding SDHC with yet another incompatible followup standard...

 

[batterytypehah!]

On what are basing this?

You are just making it up.

I think I have already explained why.

My sister-in-law was stuck exactly like this recently. Her digicam can do 2 gig max and she couldn't find any in the usual mall-type stores. I helped out with a 1 gig card I wasn't using anymore.

Not saying it'll be impossible but you won't be able to just pick them up while you're out shopping. Chip factories move on, inventory gets sold, eventually you're looking at used ones on ebay as your only source. Has happened with many other formats.

 

[Ezzie]

They are increasingly difficult to buy at retail stores over here. So much so that I need to get them from some internet shops instead. Even there they are getring more scarce and often need to be ordered. I'd say they are on the way out. Regular SD replaced MMC, don't see them about anymore. Long time since SDHC came out, meant to superscede SD, I'd say its a matter of time before SD gets chopped.

 

[back alley]

just the rd1...

 

[back alley]

don't know, but if they do, i'll bet they can use bigger than 2 gig size and the newer cards, not the plain sd.

the rd1 is limited.

 

[back alley]

the newer rd1x can take the newer sdhc cards, yes.
so far...no firmware updates for the old rd1.

i'm not too worried, yet. i have tons of sd cards and keep buying more when i find them at good prices. all my pics are backed up on an external hd and many on flickr too.

and yes, the rd1 is one funky camera.

 

[swoop]

They will eventually stop making them I'm sure. it's hard finding a 1 GB card.

 

[Doug]

Originally, when the Leica M8 was introduced, it took SD cards only. Just a matter of firmware, and when that was updated the cameras became able to support SDHC.

 

[back alley]

we need to call epson...oh wait, they never answer!

 

[Keith]

If it comes to the worst I'm sure someone in the 'mad gearhead scientist forum' can hack something together for you Joe! 😀

 

[amateriat]

My old Casio EX850 got a downloadable FW update for cards up to 8GB, including (I think) SDHC. Since it only utilizes JPEG, and can hold about 450-500 images at maximum resolution (sensor is 8.1MP), I haven't felt a strong need for an SD card above 2GB.

My Olympus C-8080, on the other hand, uses CF cards, plus their silly (and moribund) XD card format.



- Barrett

 

[back alley]

Joe, try Costco. They are selling four 2 GB cards in a pack (San Disk) for about 39 bucks Canadian. Ultra II's, I think.

thanks, i'll take a look.

 

[LCT]

I just looked on ebuy, and have 790 hits for SD cards, 2GB, new, buy it now.

Yes good idea and good thread indeed. Thanks mod.

 

[back alley]

Yes good idea and good thread indeed. Thanks mod.

you can call me joe...😉

 

[LCT]

I dared not. Thanks Joe! 🙂

 

[djonesii]

The new micro sd format + converter works just fine in my RD-1, and those are current technology .... MicroCenter also sells them. The first ones that I got for the RD were from Walgreens. I would guess that Best Buy/CompUSA et al cannot be bothered to carry a low margin item like this.

Dave

 

[umcelinho]

I think as long as 128MB cards are still available (and well, they still are), 2GB cards are free from extinction. Yep, it will be harder to find, but probably when those are discontinued the R-D1 will be extremely outdated, if still working (thus a looong time).