Musing on 'The Need for Speed'
Steve,
I've just conducted my own non-scientific comparison between a Sandisk and a Lexar card. No discernable difference on copy to PC via USB reader or on cycle time in camera. (old camera)
FWIW, I suspect that bottlenecks in camera and/or USB reader or PC far outweigh any differences in raw write time to the cards.
I have also noticed that many newer digital cameras come with a fast write buffer that enables very rapid picture taking (2 or 3 usually) and then copy to CF 'behind the scenes'. If this becomes standard, then write time for digicam (which is where you'd really notice it making a difference) would be unaffected even if your CF card had instantaneous write time.
However, I have no arguments that there may be an issue in some consumers minds over the apparently faster cards, but I suspect this may balanced by the higher cost of Lexar cards, I have seen a few comments along the lines of 'is it worth paying $x extra for the faster speed of Lexar'.
I havent done any price comparisons myself recently to know how much, if at all, of a difference there is. Again, natural variation in price between difefrent retailers may swamp any generic difference (but not the cost of manufacture).
Bottom line, as far as I can see, higher speed is a marketing not a reality issue. Though it could still make a difference. Some years ago, a UK PC vendor put fans in its PC's in order to quell a rumour (and falling sales) that they were overheating because they didnt have fans. They weren't but perception overrode reality and they shipped them with fans.
Tw |
