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2 - Flash Memory Cards

Flash memory cards store the zeros and ones of your photographs in memory cells.

The cards get their name because a flash of voltage changes the memory cells.

They're said to be solid state because they have no moving parts.

There are several types of flash memory cards.

There are two sizes, thickness-wise, of compact flash cards:

• CompactFlash Type I (CFI) are 3.3mm thick.

This size is the most commonly used.

• CompactFlash Type II (CFII) cards are 5.0mm thick.

If your camera uses the physically larger cards Type II cards, you can probably use the smaller Type I cards.

If your camera uses CompactFlash Type II cards, you can also use micro drive cards (described in the next section).

SD cards are used in smaller cameras.

Most SD cards have a write protection switch.

When switched on, files can't be overwritten or deleted.

The switch is located on the side of the card.

MultiMedia cards (MMC) are similar to SD cards, but are thinner.

MMC cards fit into SD card slots, but SD cards don't fit into MMC card slots.

RS-MMC cards are smaller than MMC cards.

The RS in their name means reduced size.

Memory sticks only work in Sony cameras and other Sony devices.

Memory sticks have a write protection switch.

When switched on, files can't be overwritten or deleted.

The switch is located on the back of the stick.

Here are examples of the cards.

The photographs are not the actual size of the memory cards.

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