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>>This is part of the Cyberwalker FAQ: How to buy a digital camera
Data Cards : Unlimited film
One of the nicest features of digital cameras is the absence of film. Because a digicam captures light with a chip the image is stored in digital form as a data file, just like you would store a letter in a Microsoft Word file.
These files are stored in a removale data card that are postage stamp sizes (some bigger, some smaller).
This data card is known as flash memory. It is the reusable digital film on which photographs are saved. The most common flash card formats are:
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CompactFlash (CF) Types I & II
* Secure Digital (SD),
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Smart Media,
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XD Memory Card and
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Memory Stick.
The type of memory used in the camera is determined by the manufacturer and there are different strengths to each format.
When choosing a digital camera, take a moment to understand the memory card format. The first additional accessory you will want to buy for your new camera will be a larger memory card. Although, it is likely that the new camera will come with a memory card, it is unlikely to have a very high capacity. The last thing you will want to do is run out of digital film (memory) when away on holiday
Here's a break down of the different types of data cards on the market today.
CompactFlash Card
The most established format for flash memory cards is the CompactFlash cards. Introduced in 1994, it is the most widely used flash memory card. It comes in two thicknesses, type I and type II. If the camera accepts type II CF cards, it will also accept type I cards. Type I are currently being sold in sizes commonly found up to 2 Gigabytes (200 Mega Bytes). At about 860 KB for a 4MP resolution photograph, you can capture up to 230 highest resolution pictures on a 2 Gig card and even more at a lower resolution setting. That is a lot of holiday snaps!
The price per MB of memory is the least expensive in the CompactFlash format, however, it is also the largest format (in actually physical size) and therefore will affect the size of the camera engineered around it.
Secure Digital (SD)
An increasingly common format for digital film is the postage stamp size Secure Digital (SD) card. These cards are often found in Palm Pilots and other Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). On a per Megabyte of storage basis, the SD cards are also very inexpensive and can be found in capacities up to 1 Gigabyte (Gig for short).
Proprietary Memory Cards
The nice thing about the above cards is the popularity and the interchangeability between devices. It is possible that you will have or own in the future, a MP3 music player or persoanl handheld computer (like a Palm Pilot) that supports either the CF or SD formats and therefore you can purchase a large capacity card for use with both the camera and the other devices. There are some formats, however, that are used only in certain brands of devices.
xD Picture Card
The xD Picture Card flash memory cards are currently used in Olympus and Fuji digital cameras. They are tiny little cards that have enabled digital cameras to be built in smaller and smaller sizes while still be able to offer tremendous memory capacities. Currently, xD cards are available in sizes up to 512 MB.
Memory Stick
The Memory Stick is used primarily in Sony products, including Sony PDAs, Sony Camcorders, Sony Televisions and Sony digital cameras. But the Memory Stick is now found in some Samsung and Konica digital cameras also. Capacities range up to 1 Gig – which is equivalent to up to 116 photos at 4MP resolution on one card.
Smart Media
Smart Media flash memory cards are thin and light weight. They are found in several different types of digital devices; including digital cameras, digital music players and digital voice recorders. Although they have been around for a while now, they are not that common and the largest capacities available are relatively low at up to 128 MB.
Next >> Lens - it's all about the glass
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Hey ladies ! You're going to need more RAM. 
