Which is better: Microdrive or flash memory?

The conclusion seems to be that if you want physically robust memory, use a flash memory card but if you want inexpensive memory in larger quantities and can protect it, use microdrives.

We've got both with our cameras (our is used loosely, of course). We've got a 4GB Hitachi microdrive and a 2.2 GB MicroStor drive. The 4GB works well in both the Canon Digital Rebel (aka 300D) and the Canon 20D. The 2.2GB works only in the 20D. And by works, I mean they both shoot until they decide they're done. On the 2.2GB, we rarely get over about 1.3GB before some error occurs. On the 4GB, it has sometimes gone beyond 2GB, but rarely. And this happens on both the 20D and the Digital Rebel.

For flash memory, we have a 1GB card and a couple of 256MB fast cards. They always work perfectly.

However, even with the microdrives getting less than 100% storage, they still get more storage than the flash cards -- and at a lower cost.

Hopefully the article is correct in that flash memory will be forced to get cheaper at a faster than anticipated rate.

Posted by Shane on November 9, 2004 10:37 AM | Permalink