Are microdrives good choice?

[PekkaM]

I looked at the prices of CF's in 512/1024 megabyte range and in comparision to 1 gig microdrives they are realtively expensive. Still I don't see many people using microdrives anymore. Is there a reason to not buy one (for 300D)?

A follow up question: does the brand and quality of a CF card really matter. The prices of 1024 megabyte models range from 200-350 euros and I see no difference. Speed obviously is one factor but judging from the reviews here the camera often seems to be the real bottleneck. The CF->PC speed is not important to me.

[timmyquest]

as i understand they are just a bit slower

[hawg]

I have been using 1GB Microdrives for years. I had a 1 problem in 4 years using 4 microdrives. The problem was easily resolved and I have not lost data. I sure others will have horror stories but that is my experience. :lol:

[Morden]

I have also used multiple 1 GB Microdrives for several years without any problems. I recently bought a Sandisk 1 GB "ultra" card and found that my 10D can not write data to it much faster than to my Microdrives, although it is faster when transfering files to my PC via a firewire card reader.

[evilenglishman]

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[Andrea_T]

I used a Microdrive for just over a year without any trouble but then it suddenly died with no warning, despite never having been dropped or mistreated in any way. I didn't lose anything important and fortunately had a spare CF card as backup, but I replaced it with a CF card rather than another MD.

I'm told that they drain the camera batteries a little too, but I can't say I ever noticed a difference in battery life.

[Jim Larson]

Flash cards do not have mechanical bits.

Micro drives do have mechanical bits.

That's about as far as the analysis has to go in my mind.

[emklap]

I have use a IBM 512MB and IBM 340MB micro drive for three years now without any problems.

I am very happy with them

[Phil Hall]

I have been using IBM Microdrives for about 3 years, without problems. I have dropped them and lugged them around. I recently bought 2 Lexar 1 gig 40x flashcards. They seem to be a LOT faster. I will time them and post the results

[Jim_T]

I've got a 340MB Microdrive I've been using for 3 years.. It's served in two cameras and in my pocket PC. It's been banged around a lot.

As far as speed, microdrives are a bit below the middle.. They aren't as fast as the 40X cards, but beat the 1X cards.. Of course it all varies.. There are no standard speeds for CF cards.. There are speed tests for them on the net.. Check dpreview or robgalbraiths..

The big advantage to microdrives (and probably the reason for their existance), is that they are cheaper than CF.. For sizes under 1 Gig the price difference isn't that great any more. For 2 Gig and over, then there is a *substantial* savings.

As far as the moving parts argument goes.. Yes there is a risk. But if you are going to embrace the solid state philosophy, then you can't use a digital wallet, Ipod, laptop etc.. They all have hard drives that can be bumped and jostled... If you need a lot of memory to carry on the road, then just dig out a few thousand bucks for lots of high capacity CF.

[CoolToolGuy]

I'm told that they drain the camera batteries a little too, but I can't say I ever noticed a difference in battery life.

The MicroDrives use the 5v feed of the CF socket, which will cause a little more drain than a CF card, which uses the 3v feed.
I wouldn't let that stop me on the DSLRs, since the battery is not used as much as on the G3/G5, where you need it to zoom the lens.

I have a 340mb and a 1gb, and the largest CF card I have is 512mb. If I want more storage in the 1gb range in the near future I will probably go with the MicroDrive, since the price per megabyte is lower right now with the MD than with the faster 1gb cards. I suspect the prices of the 1gb CF cards will drop over time and they will become the better choice.

Mechanical issues generally are a concern, but I think the MD has a pretty solid reputation. I have heard of some horror stories with the larger (2.2gb) MicroDrives, but not much with the 1gbs.

Hope This Helps
Have Fun
Rick

[2new]

I have had similar experiences as the ones stated above; 18 months with an IBM 1Gb drive no problems.

From what I can tell the 10D & 300D cannot take advantage of the 'high Speed' CF cards, to the extent where the 1D can, due to issues with the camera not the cards.

The only real limitation with the micro drive would be high altitude shooting. The MD requires air circulation which only becomes an issue above several thousand feet. I beleive I read of a specific problem above 7 or 10K. Again not really an issue for me.

With all of that being said, I have seen the older 'slower speed' CF cards at for under $170 on the internet deal sites from time to time; slickdeals.net & techbargains.com

[CyberDyneSystems]

The cheapest Microdrive I have found is an IBM/Hitachi 1 gig new for $145.00

This IS a VERY good price.

But I just got a Viking 1 gig (which is pretty quick in the 10D) for $169.00.

Tome,. I would rather pay that little extra for the flash card. Having once dropped a falsh card into a lake,. (and still got the pictures off of it!) I trust the flash card a little more! :)

That said,. If I can get my hands on a Hitachi 4 gig MD for $250.00 I will buy it in a second! :)

[Morden]

That said,. If I can get my hands on a Hitachi 4 gig MD for $250.00 I will buy it in a second! :)
A recent thread in this very forum may interest you! Here in the UK I just obtained such an MD for 240 pounds - a miracle price over here!

[CyberDyneSystems]

Oh,. I'm aware of the Muvo hack! :mrgreen:

I just can't find one (Creative said at least a week before they have more,. besides I may wait for the $250.00 Ipod mini... neever know it could work too....

Somone will keep us posted!

[arthurb]

Flash cards do not have mechanical bits.
Micro drives do have mechanical bits.
That's about as far as the analysis has to go in my mind.

Not just Mechanical bits but the mechanical bits spinning at a very high speed, that require tight tollerances to operate properly.

A spinning device will fail, its just a matter of when.

The solid state device may fail, but the failure rate is much lower.

Besides, a 1gb Flash Card is cheaper than a 1GB microdrive from what I have seen.

There is no benifit to buying the microdrive, unless it is a lot cheaper.

[defordphoto]

Besides, a 1gb Flash Card is cheaper than a 1GB microdrive from what I have seen.

Where?

[Morden]

There is no benifit to buying the microdrive, unless it is a lot cheaper.

I agree; I consider getting a brand new 4 GB Microdrive for £240 here in the UK certainly "cheaper".

[EoSD30fReAk]

Got my microdrive about 18 months ago and no problems yet! but when it dies i will defenitly buy a 1GB flashcard, because i trust them a bit more. the MD was included with my D30 Pro kit

[fwhitesides]

Regarding cheap prices for microdrives, Computer Geeks has a 1GB IBM/Hitachi for $144.50 and a 2.2GB Magicstor for $189.99:

http://www.compgeeks.com/products.asp?cat=RAM

I know everyone says that Magicstor is total ****, but at such a price it's still very tempting. And sub-$150 for a 1GB drive is really cheap.

[RichardSimon]

I used a 1Gbyte IBM microdrive for 2.6 years, and ~75,000 images. When I purchased it in 2001 there was a substantial advantage (size, cost) over CF cards. I had little trouble until last week when it died :cry: . In the past, it worked well one time at 16,500 feet, and also worked at temperatures below freezing on other occasions. I could not relate its recent failure to any particular event - it was working fine in my 10D, then a few minutes later it failed in my PC, making plaintive clicking sounds.

I was lucky - when it died, I only had 3 images on the disk, which I was able to reshoot. What if it had been my vacation, or someone's wedding, or whatever?

At any rate, even though new microdrives still have a price advantage, I am replacing it with a CF card - a little faster, and a lot safer.

[Pekka]

I could not relate its recent failure to any particular event - it was working fine in my 10D, then a few minutes later it failed in my PC, making plaintive clicking sounds.

I was lucky - when it died, I only had 3 images on the disk, which I was able to reshoot. What if it had been my vacation, or someone's wedding, or whatever?

At any rate, even though new microdrives still have a price advantage, I am replacing it with a CF card - a little faster, and a lot safer.

I had this "click of death" on my oldest IBM microdrive (about 20000 shots taken) and I got all but one photos out from it. After that I deep-formatted it in XP to FAT32 and bad sectors were mapped out. Then after formatting it in camera it was all usable again. No clicks. Of course I'll keep an eye and ear on it but it has performed withour errors since.

But in any case I'll get normal cards next. Much easier when you don't have to think about handling so much.

[morenoar]

OK, you guys are scaring me now. I am headed to Japan on Tuesday and will be in Tokyo at the end of the month for vacation. I was just loaned a 1GB microdrive. Used it this past weekend, took over 400 shots with it. I like the ability to take lots of shots with out having to download a full card constantly. I am planning on taking my 64mb and 256mb CF. Should I just take pictures with my CF cards and forget the microdrive? I am taking with me my I-Pad which I can download the PICS from the CF cards ASAP. I was trying to avoid gettting another 256mb for this trip, but if the microdrive is going to give me problems, then maybe I should get another card. Any advise would be helpfull.

[Pekka]

In my case the drive has been in extensive use during 3 years, many times in extremely cold, humid or warm conditions, on 4 different cameras. So if you have a brand new one I don't see anything to worry about as long as you don't drop it and treat it nicely.

Best investment for travel storage is X's Drive II or similar mass storage device.

[neil_r]

2 x 1 gig MDs for over a year, only one desaster, lost about 30 pics, photorecovery got back 27 of them, and you can probably guess the 3 it didn't were the three I really wanted.

No further problems. Will eventually be swapping out for solid state but the credit card is currently maxed out.

Anyway it gives me something else to worry about !

Neil

[Canuck]

Here's my take on this, for what it is worth in regards to the microdrive...
I don't know if you have ever dropped a CF card and then a MD. The CF card you can drop from about 11 ft (rated at about 4000G). I would guess that it would survive, but is not recommended. I know I have fumbled both CF cards I have from about 3-4 ft off the ground and is no problem at all, pick it up, inspect it for damage/dirt/etc and then go shoot again. Try that with a MD! You will have the clicks of death. I know, that the MDs are cheaper than CF cards of the same size. That gap may not be there much longer (speculation). I am not saying that MDs are bad, but being mechanical; not solid state you need to be more careful with them! The other consideration, is that MDs are mini hard drives, running on air bearings they might not work in rareified air (high altitude). I don't know how high up you plan on going but that is along with the problem of shooting in extremely cold weather, it may freeze up on you. CF has no moving parts so the chances of moving parts freezing in a CF card are 0. There aren't any. That said, the cold could cause a CF to not work for other reasons. Whilst mentioning cold, the batteries die mcuh faster and then MDs take much more juice than CFs so that is another point to ponder.

[RichardSimon]

I had this "click of death" on my oldest IBM microdrive (about 20000 shots taken) and I got all but one photos out from it. After that I deep-formatted it in XP to FAT32 and bad sectors were mapped out. Then after formatting it in camera it was all usable again. No clicks. Of course I'll keep an eye and ear on it but it has performed withour errors since.

Thanks for the suggestion, Pekka - but no luck :cry: I am unable to access the device, even on a physical level. It might have been making some clicking sounds that I ignored before total failure, but I can't be sure. At this point, PhotoRescue, Norton DiskDoctor, and DOS all give errors and fail to do anything witht he drive. I've lost a trusty friend!

I think there may be a lesson: microdrives have a useful life (usually measured in years?), but one should be cautious in handling and maintenance. Knowing what I know now, I would have done more regular maintenance (e.g., formatting and surface scans), to either stay ahead of problems, or perhaps catch the rapidly increasing failures indicative of impending catastrophe.

Morenoar - don't let these stories scare you too much. If your livelihood depends on the pictures you take, maybe you want something more reliable than a microdrive; otherwise, just take your pictures and back them up. If I were in your situation, I would think about using the 256Mb card as the primary card, and do frequent backups to the I-Pad. In situations where you can't unload the CF, just use the microdrive. As I said above, I used mine for years before it failed. Good luck, and don't forget to enjoy your trip!