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Flash Card Comparison
| CompactFlash |
| Physical Size: |
36.3mm x 42.9mm x 3.3mm |
| Number of pins: |
50 |
| Most common uses: |
Digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players |
| Distinguishing Characteristics: |
CompactFlash cards have the highest capacity and are the most rugged
of the flash cards. |
| Cross-Compatibility: |
CompactFlash cards can be used in a PCMCIA slot if you have an adaptor.
Also, some devices have slots for both CompactFlash and SmartMedia.
Otherwise, you need to have a device with a CompactFlash Type I slot
in order to use a CompactFlash card |
| SmartMedia |
| Physical Size: |
37mm x 45mm x .76mm |
| Number of pins: |
22 |
| Most common uses: |
Digital cameras, PDAs, MP3 players |
| Distinguishing Characteristics: |
SmartMedia cards have a flat contact surface that is different from
the pins used on other flash cards. This is part of the reason why
they can be so thin. |
| Cross-Compatibility: |
Some devices have slots for both SmartMedia and CompactFlash. Otherwise,
you need to have a SmartMedia slot in order to use a SmartMedia card |
| MultiMediaCard (MMC) |
| Physical Size: |
24mm x 32mm x 1.4mm |
| Number of pins: |
7 |
| Most common uses: |
PDAs, MP3 players, cell phones, digital video cameras |
| Distinguishing Characteristics: |
MultiMediaCards are just like SD cards, except that they lack some
of the SD file protection and encryption abilities. |
| Cross-Compatibility: |
Devices that use Secure Digital cards will also accept MultiMediaCards.
Devices that use MultiMediaCards may also accept Secure Digital cards. |
| Reduced Size MultiMediaCard (RS-MMC) |
| Physical Size: |
18mm x 24mm x 1.4mm |
| Number of pins: |
7 |
| Most common uses: |
PDAs, MP3 players, mobile phones, digital cameras |
| Distinguishing Characteristics: |
Smaller and thinner than a standard MultiMediaCard card, has the
same features of regular MultiMediaCard |
| Secure Digital (SD) |
| Physical Size: |
24mm x 32mm x 1.4mm |
| Number of pins: |
9 |
| Most common uses: |
PDAs, MP3 players, cell phones, digital video cameras |
| Distinguishing Characteristics: |
SD cards are MultiMediaCards with special encryption capabilities
to prevent unauthorized copying of data. SD cards also have a write
protection feature similar to what you would find on a floppy disk. |
| Cross-Compatibility: |
Devices that use Secure Digital cards will also accept MultiMediaCards.
Devices that use MultiMediaCards may also accept Secure Digital cards. |
| Mini Secure Digital (miniSD) |
| Physical Size: |
20mm x 21.5mm x 1.4mm |
| Number of pins: |
9 |
| Most common uses: |
PDAs, MP3 players, cell phones, digital video cameras |
| Distinguishing Characteristics: |
miniSD are smaller in size than regular SD cards (about 40 percent
of the size of a regular SD card) |
| Cross-Compatibility: |
Devices that use Secure Digital cards will also accept miniSD with
adapter. |
| xD-Picture Cards |
| Physical Size: |
20mm x 25mm x 1.7mm |
| Most common uses: |
Fujifilm and Olympus digital cameras, xD-compatible devices, non-xD
devices with adapter |
| Cross-Compatibility: |
xD-compatible devices, non-xD devices with adapter |
Note: Most electronic devices accept only one type of flash card. The
right type of card for you is the type your device accepts.
See also:
Flash Card Buying Guide
How Many Pictures Can You Fit on a
Flash Card
How to Care for Your Flash Card
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