Are CF cards on the way out?

[FlyingPete]

IMHO, there are only two card formats the world needs, Compact Flash and its compatible variants (Microdrives etc), and SD and its compatible variants (mini SD etc), both fulfil the requirements of portable storage. Stupid propriety formats such as Memory stick and its at least 5 variants and XD are just adding to incompatibility and complexity.

Anyway, I have noted an interesting trend from those manufactures smart enough to stick to ‘industry standards’. There is a move from Compact Flash to the smaller SD cards, initially it was just the small cameras, but now the Powershot S2 IS has gone that way, and N*kon with their D50, with this trend I wouldn’t have been that surprised if the 350D has a SD slot instead of a CF slot given its size, fortunately not though. I would say that if Canon did release a lower entry version of the 350D, it would probably be a SD camera.

I think we will see CF around for quite some time yet at the high end (advanced P&S’s like the Pro1 and G6, and DSLR’s), but what will happen longer term?

Just a though starter :D

[elbirth]

I actually hope CompactFlash sticks around for much longer. The cards are small, but not TOO small. Secure Digital just seems to be a bit too small for my liking (could more easily be dropped/lost while swapping cards out in the field).

I hope everything doesn't go towards miniaturization. The smaller size of the 350D is much too small for my liking. The 20D feels about right, I haven't had the pleasure of holding a 1D or the like yet, so I can't comment on them.

[FlyingPete]

I actually hope CompactFlash sticks around for much longer. The cards are small, but not TOO small. Secure Digital just seems to be a bit too small for my liking (could more easily be dropped/lost while swapping cards out in the field).

I hope everything doesn't go towards miniaturization. The smaller size of the 350D is much too small for my liking. The 20D feels about right, I haven't had the pleasure of holding a 1D or the like yet, so I can't comment on them.

Actually physical size is a good point, one of the guys here has recently bought one of the new Ixus cams with SD, he hates it, says the cards are too fiddly, and easy to lose in pockets etc. He has also pointed out that the physical insertion mechanism of SD is far more complicated and more prone to failure.

[VegasGeorge]

I have large hands. That's one reason that I bought the 20D. It fits me. I hate having to deal with items like the SD card that are too small for me to comfortably manipulate. It seems to me that people (at least in the U.S.) are getting bigger, not smaller. The ergonomics of the situation should limit the market for miniaturized objects. Just because you can make something smaller, doesn't mean you should. Smaller is not necessarily better.

[DocFrankenstein]

Why do then we have cell phone buttons the size of a fly's eye? :confused:

[Moses]

I had the opportunity to compare CF and SD side by side with the purchase of a 1D MKII and I'm inclined to prefer the CF over the SD because of the size. The SD is just too much like a postage stamp. I will however, buy a 2-gig SD so I'll have 4 gigs when paired with a 2-gig CF.

[tim]

I hope they don't get rid of CF, I have a reasonable amount of money invested in those things.

[Redbird_xo]

My understanding is that CF will be replaced by SD.

With memory price dropping, smaller size and less material will certainly benefit the bottom line.

On the side, I still remember a 20mb Sandisk CF cost about US$230 in 1997.

[Moses]

My understanding is that CF will be replaced by SD...............Where did you get this understanding from?

[symes]

I don't see how they can make those little SD cards durable enough to withstand the beating they have to endure for us to be happy...I used them with my old P & S and though I faced no problems the miniscule size made them easy to misplace...

[Carzee]

I have 2 digicams - one Sony with Memory Pro Duo (miniscule) and the Canon with CF.

I'd rather handle and load the CF size - its easier.