Probably a foolish question, but are there different quality SD memory cards for digital cameras? I only have a 256 MB card now and want to get a 1 GB card. I see a variety in prices and was just wondering if there are different qualities and what effect it might have on picture quality.
Thanks,
Ron.

I know some features on Olympus Cameras will only work when you use a OEM memory card. Other than that, I look for the cheapest one from a reputable name.

That's what I was gonna do originally, but then I noticed that one company sells a couple different brands. Each brand has a standard quality and a higher quality. Prices for a 1GB card range from $15 - $35 in a given brand, like Kodak. After doing some reading, it appears that the higher end card will store images faster, which looks like it means less lag time between photos, but I can't tell if there's any effect on photo quality.
Ron.

I use the plain jane Sandisk card in my camera. the pictures look good. but then again too I have not purchased a super expensive card so I have no comparison

There can't be an effect on photo quality, digital information is the same regardless of where you store it, hard drive, cd, flash card or different brands of flash cards. Some flash cards market themselves as being faster than others. If there is a difference it doesn't mean anything to me, because the first thing I do is download from the card to the pc and work with the images there.

There can't be an effect on photo quality, digital information is the same regardless of where you store it, hard drive, cd, flash card or different brands of flash cards. Some flash cards market themselves as being faster than others. If there is a difference it doesn't mean anything to me, because the first thing I do is download from the card to the pc and work with the images there.

If I was reading correctly, the claim is that a higher end card stores the information from the camera more quickly, so the recycle time while you're shooting is shorter. Not sure I got it right though.

What is recycle time? The interval between shots? How fast you can shoot anohter pic? That doesn't have to do with the card. All point and shoot cameras take too long between shots no matter what card you get. If you want a fast shooting digital camera get an SLR. This is just my observation so take it for what it's worth but the stuff you're talking about sounds like marketing to me.

What is recycle time? The interval between shots? How fast you can shoot anohter pic? That doesn't have to do with the card. All point and shoot cameras take too long between shots no matter what card you get. If you want a fast shooting digital camera get an SLR. This is just my observation so take it for what it's worth but the stuff you're talking about sounds like marketing to me.

There you go talking out of your ass again. It has everything to do with recycle time. The better cards have a faster write speed therefore giving you less time between shots. For example, the SD cards can range from 100mhz to 200mhz in write speed.
Wiki or CNET will tell you all you want to know about memory cards, but I would consult the memory card mauf. website for more technical details.

I think you're talking out of your ass, have you ever used a digital slr? Have you ever taken your point and shoot olympus and tried it with one card, measured the recycle time then measured again with a supposedly faster card?

I think you're talking out of your ass, have you ever used a digital slr? Have you ever taken your point and shoot olympus and tried it with one card, measured the recycle time then measured again with a supposedly faster card?

You're comparing Ferraris(SLR) and Yugos(PnS). If you put a slower write speed card in either camera, the recycle time will suffer. Plain and simple.

The difference in write time even for a 1mb file, that's in case you're shooting with max resolution, between these cards would be milliseconds. Faster in theory and a good marketing pitch but in reality it makes no difference.

And you still didn't answer my questions :2gunsfiring_v1:

And you still didn't answer my questions :2gunsfiring_v1:

Yes and No.

Gee guys, I didn't mean to start a war. I was just wondering if I should spend $15 for a card or if I'd be losing picture quality by not spending $30. As far as speed, when your breath hold time is as short as mine, even "milliseconds" count for alot...
Thanks,
Ron.

Gee guys, I didn't mean to start a war. I was just wondering if I should spend $15 for a card or if I'd be losing picture quality by not spending $30. As far as speed, when your breath hold time is as short as mine, even "milliseconds" count for alot...
Thanks,
Ron.

Buy them both and return the expensive one if you don't see any improvement over the cheaper one.
Personally, I would get the cheaper one.

Buy them both and return the expensive one if you don't see any improvement over the cheaper one.
Personally, I would get the cheaper one.

Hmm, that makes sense. Thanks!
Ron.