Best of the Rest

SanDisk and Lexar also dominate the market for Best Value memory cards. However, I recommend SanDisk over Lexar in the Best Value category. SanDisk has an optimum combination of price, features and value. When selecting your memory cards, look for ones that have a good capacity, fast operation, and possibility the ability to operate under extreme conditions. When looking for memory cards, you need to consider these options along with selecting the correct type of memory card.

Memory cards come in three main types CFII (compact flash II), SD (secure digital), and XD (extreme digital) and one minor type, Sony Memory Sticks. The majority of digital cameras on the market use either the CFII or SD while the XD cards are only used by Fuji and Olympus. All of the memory cards reviewed in the Best Value section will be CFII and SD cards. Also, CFII cards are used exclusively in medium format and professional DSLR cameras. I recommend you purchase your memory cards separately and never in a kit with your camera. The ‘kit’ memory cards have a lower capacity, are slower and might be an older model.

A good way to think about the intended size of your memory card is to consider which types of images you store, RAW, TIFF, or JPEG. All DSLRs and a few specialty consumer based digital cameras store RAW and JPEG. TIFF is also an option on some DSLRs too. The RAW and TIFF files take up more room and thus a larger memory card is needed. JPEG takes up anywhere from 2-4MB per file, so a smaller card is ideal for these types of files.

In addition, you want to purchase the memory card with the appropriate speed for your camera. The fastest memory cards (266x – 300x) measured in read/write speed or in a factor of ‘x’ are ideal for medium format cameras or professional DSLRs. Medium speed cards (133x) are best for mid-level DSLRs and the slower speed cards (67x – 133x) are good for entry-level DSLRs or consumer based digital cameras.

The winner for Best Value memory card in the CFII format is the SanDisk Extreme Ultra III 2 GB model. It has a speed of 20mb/second for both read and write capacity (133x) and can operate in temperatures ranging from -13 to +185 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 C to +85 C). The winner for Best Value memory card in the SD format is the SanDisk 2GB Ultra II SD (twin-pack). The cards are ideal for consumer-based applications and have a 10mb read speed and a 9mb write speed (67x).