New flash memory cards speed up photo performance

 Three of the biggest players in the photography market today announced that they would work together to standardise the high-speed memory card format.

 

SanDisk, Sony and Nikon said they would be working together to develop a set of specifications with the aim of addressing “the future requirements of professional photography and video markets.”

 

The three firms have proposed the new specifications to the CompactFlash Association, the international organisation responsible for standards in the industry.

 

“Professional photography and High Definition (HD) video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files,” the three companies said in a press release.

 

“To address the imaging industry’s future speed and capacity demands, SanDisk, Sony and Nikon proposed a new card specification whose performance and storage capabilities surpass those of existing memory cards. Once accepted, the new format will enable exciting new possibilities in the professional imaging and video markets.”

 

The new specifications are based around use of the “highly versatile” PCI Express interface and will achieve data transfer rates of up to 500mb a second.

 

The faster speeds of the memory card specifications will enable both amateur and professional photographers to shoot continuous bursts of huge RAW images. Another bonus is that they will also allow for quick transfer of high-resolution pictures and videos from card to computer.

 

Shigeto Kanda, chairman of the CompactFlash Association said “This ultra high-speed media format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers.”

 

“This next generation format is expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those other than high-end DSLRs.”

 

Speaking for the three manufacturers, Kazuyuki Kazami vice president of Nikon’s imaging business said “The ultra high-speed media, which will be realized by this new card format, will expand the capability of digital SLR cameras and other professional digital imaging equipment.”