How to Pick an SD Memory Card

SD cards are a compact and inexpensive storage medium that come in a variety of types, brands, and storage sizes.

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Up next in Data Management & Storage (25 videos)

Organize your online information with the data management and storage tips in this Howcast video series.

 
How to Use a Zip Drive
1
How to Use a Zip Drive
How to Back Up Your Hard Drive
2
How to Back Up Your Hard Drive
How to Use a Flash Drive or Memory Stick
3
How to Use a Flash Drive or Memory Stick
How to Use a Jump Drive
4
How to Use a Jump Drive
How to Burn a DVD
5
How to Burn a DVD
How to Make a Pink-Eraser Casing for Your USB Drive
6
How to Make a Pink-Eraser Casing for Your USB Drive
How to Choose the Right Data Recovery Tools
7
How to Choose the Right Data Recovery Tools
How to Use NCBI Blast
8
How to Use NCBI Blast
How to Use PNY attache
9
How to Use PNY attache
How to Normalize Data
10
How to Normalize Data
How to Zip Files on a PC
11
How to Zip Files on a PC
How to Use an SD Card Reader
12
How to Use an SD Card Reader
How to Format an SD Card
13
How to Format an SD Card
How to Pick an SD Memory Card
14
How to Pick an SD Memory Card
How to Partition a Hard Drive on a Windows PC
15
How to Partition a Hard Drive on a Windows PC
How to Partition a Hard Drive on a Mac
16
How to Partition a Hard Drive on a Mac
How to Erase Your Hard Drive
17
How to Erase Your Hard Drive
How to Back Up Your iTunes Library
18
How to Back Up Your iTunes Library
How to Use NCBI Database
19
How to Use NCBI Database
How to Replace Your Hard Drive
20
How to Replace Your Hard Drive
How to Choose the Best Online Backup Provider
21
How to Choose the Best Online Backup Provider
How to Create a Table with Factual
22
How to Create a Table with Factual
How to Publish a Factual Table
23
How to Publish a Factual Table
How to Erase a CD
24
How to Erase a CD
How to Get a VHS Tape out of a VCR
25
How to Get a VHS Tape out of a VCR
 

You Will Need

  • Compatibility
  • Storage space
  • Features

Steps

  1. Step 1

    Check compatibility

    Check the compatibility of older digital cameras or camcorders to the newer SDHC that have become the standard over the old SD cards.

  2. Step 2

    Determine size

    Determine how much storage space you need. If you are buying an SD card for a still camera, a 4 GB card is sufficient. For video, 8 or 16 GB is needed.

  3. Step 3

    Pick a speed

    Assess your need for speed. Stated speed is how fast still images are written to a card, whereas Class ratings are how fast video is written. Check the specifications of your product.

  4. Digital SLRs often need cards with faster speeds than other digital cameras.

  5. Step 4

    Choose the right features

    Choose the extras that are right for you. For example, SD+ cards have a built in USB connect so that when flipped down they can double as a thumb drive.

  6. Developed by SanDisk, Toshiba, and Panasonic as a joint effort, the SD card was first released in 1999.

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