Micro SD, SD-HC, SD-XC Differences Explained.

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mr soft M I've been looking at Micro SD memory cards and had no idea what the difference was between them. I thought I'd post up some details for anyone looking at purchasing their first, or next Micro SD card, hope it helps. HC - high capacity XC - eXtended capacity Micro SD is 2 GB and below. Micro SD - HC is between 4 and 32 GB. Micro SD - XC is 32 GB to 2 TB Here's an article on the future 2TB Micro SD - XC, as of now the highest capacity is 256GB http://www.micro-sdxc.com/ The micro SD - HC also has classifications relating to its data transfer rate Class 2 - 2MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate Class 4- 4MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate Class 6- 6MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate Class 10 - 10MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate UHS - Ultra high speed UHS 1 - 10 MB/s UHS 3 - 30 MB/s What are the applications for Speed Class? Class 2 : H.264 video recording, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 video recording Class 4: MEPG-2 (HDTV) video recording, DSC consecutive shooting Class 6: Mega-pixel DSC consecutive shooting, professional video camera Class 10 ; Full HD Video Recording, HD Still Image Continuous Shooting UHS 1 ; Full HD Video Recording, HD Still Image Continuous Shooting UHS 3 ; 4K/2K Video Recording From The SD Association https://www.sdcard.org/consumers/speed/speed_class/index.html Micro SD Cards are also backward compatible with SD card devices. by using an appropriate adapter. #1 · May 24, 2010 I've been looking at Micro SD memory cards and had no idea what the difference was between them. I thought I'd post up some details for anyone looking at purchasing their first, or next Micro SD card, hope it helps. HC - high capacity XC - eXtended capacity Micro SD is 2 GB and below. Micro SD - HC is between 4 and 32 GB. Micro SD - XC is 32 GB to 2 TB Here's an article on the future 2TB Micro SD - XC, as of now the highest capacity is 256GB http://www.micro-sdxc.com/ The micro SD - HC also has classifications relating to its data transfer rate Class 2 - 2MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate Class 4- 4MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate Class 6- 6MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate Class 10 - 10MB/sec. minimum data transfer rate UHS - Ultra high speed UHS 1 - 10 MB/s UHS 3 - 30 MB/s What are the applications for Speed Class? Class 2 : H.264 video recording, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 video recording Class 4: MEPG-2 (HDTV) video recording, DSC consecutive shooting Class 6: Mega-pixel DSC consecutive shooting, professional video camera Class 10 ; Full HD Video Recording, HD Still Image Continuous Shooting UHS 1 ; Full HD Video Recording, HD Still Image Continuous Shooting UHS 3 ; 4K/2K Video Recording From The SD Association https://www.sdcard.org/consumers/speed/speed_class/index.html Micro SD Cards are also backward compatible with SD card devices. by using an appropriate adapter. See less See more 6 Sort by Oldest first Oldest first Newest first Most reactions #2 · May 24, 2010 Great stuff. Now how does this apply to when someone takes a picture or is this just transfering files from the SD card? #3 · May 24, 2010 Depending on the camera, a faster card means less time before you can snap a second picture. ..a #4 · May 24, 2010 ah so you can do a frame my frame picture taken without i guess losing clarity of the file because of it being stored fast. yeah its always depends on the end-user but great explanation. #5 · May 24, 2010 Good points + rep Original post updated with applications for Speed Class. Also added class 6 #6 · May 24, 2010 Never heard of SD-XC before... awesome. #7 · May 24, 2010 Quote:

Originally Posted by eflyguy Depending on the camera, a faster card means less time before you can snap a second picture. ..a

Don't most cameras have an internal memory buffer? #8 · May 24, 2010 Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieHo Don't most cameras have an internal memory buffer?

yes, but if shooting in continuous it will fill up faster if the images are being written out to a slower card. You might be able to shoot 20 frames continuous with a fast card as the buffer becomes available again quicker, but if your card is slow you might only make it to 15 frames before the buffer is filled and you have to drop some frames. (hope this makes sense...) #9 · May 24, 2010 Quote:

Originally Posted by DuckieHo Don't most cameras have an internal memory buffer?

Yup, but unless you're in continuous mode, it won't allow another pic to be taken unless it's finished writing from that buffer out to storage - at least with the 2 Sony's, 1 Fuji, 1 Pentax, and finally 4 different Canon's I've owned. ..a #10 · Mar 2, 2013 Great Post!! helpful, clear, concise, and organized. Reason why I am looking because I am purchasing a new card at 32GB and HC is limited to 32GB and will be eventually replaced by XC. #11 · Mar 3, 2013 I believe SD-XC means Secure Digital - eXtended Capacity... #12 · Mar 4, 2013 Quote:

Originally Posted by nleksan I believe SD-XC means Secure Digital - eXtended Capacity... Click to expand...

Yes mate, not sure what I was thinking of , maybe batteries, either way good spot and thanks for the flashback. Insert Quotes Post Reply

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