> http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/a80/specs.html#shooting
> I've got an older Kodak digital camera and it's time to upgrade to one
with more pixels for printing.
> I'm caught between sticking with the devil I know (CF cards) or moving to
new memory types.
> One of the aggravating things about the Kodak is the write time between
pictures.
> Is this because there's no extra buffer memory to hold the image while
writing to CF?
>
> The Canon above seems to indicate that I can take multiple pictures per
second:
> Continuous Shooting Approx. 2.4 shots/ sec. (Large/ Fine Mode and LCD
monitor is Off)
> Is there significant differences in the write speed of newer CF cards or
is the camera more sophisticated?

CF performance is greatly affected by the camera. Having a buffer helps
substantially. My Minolta 7Hi has 64 MB internal RAM buffer. Size of saved
image will of course have a major impact on recycle time. In the mode I
usually use files are typically 1.2 MB or so and 14 MB is possible in the
largest file mode (TIFs). RAW gives slightly smaller files than TIF!

Using the 7Hi, card brand and card size both also have a significant impact.
Google for Steve's Digicam's compact flash comparison. Speeds of ?4:1? are
possible between brands.

BUT I found that a 256 MB Kingston was almost twice as fast as a 512 MB
Kingston of the same nominal spec !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A Sandisk 512 MB was about the same performance as the 512 Kingston. They
have standard and "high performance" cards which had very little difference
in practice. I tried a number of Sandisk and Kingston variations plus the 16
MB card that came with the camera (brand forgotten) and the 256 MB Kingston
was vastly faster in practice. I don't know why and it may be camera
specific. Local agents and memory suppliers were not overly helpful. I
determined write time by shooting multiple shots until buffer was full and
then measuring time for camera to allow next shot to be taken. Results were
consistent enough to allow above conclusion.

I took the 7Hi "around the world" and took 40,000+ pictures in 9 weeks (work
out the average time between shots :-) ) so recycle time was a major issue
at times. Having the fastest possible write time makes quite a difference
when you want multiple shots at a time. The 64 MB buffer is a good idea.

I think that the only way to be SURE of performance is to try (or read
tests) of the actual camera/card combination you will be using. While this
shouldn't be necessary it certainly was the case for me.



            Russell McMahon

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