The next-generation SDXC (eXtended Capacity) memory card specification has been announced at CES and promises to further seal the demise of videotape as the preferred storage medium for consumer and professional video acquisition as media card capacities rise and prices drop.
The new SDXC specification provides up to 2TB (2 terabytes) storage capacity and accelerates SD interface read/write speeds to 104MB/s (megabytes per second) this year, with a road map to ultimately deliver 300MB/s.
The SDXC specification, developed by the SD Association leapfrogs memory card interface speeds while retaining the world-leading SD interface.
SDXC is also the first memory card specification to provide 2TB storage without hindering the high-speed performance necessary for high-end photography and HD video recording.
The SDXC specification uses Microsoft’s exFAT file system to support its large capacity and interoperability in a broad range of PCs, consumer electronics and mobile phones. The exFAT system was designed for increased compatibility with flash media, from portability of data to interoperability with multiple platforms and devices on removable media.
Be clear. 2TB is the POTENTIAL size.
CF has a POTENTIAL size of up to 128GB and SDHC has a POTENTIAL size of up to 32GB.
SDHC has hit the wall. Again. This will be the second crop of SD devices that become worthless due to a shift to a non-compatible memory card standard.
I can still use my 32GB CF without troubles in my Acer n10 and my Fujitsu LOOX 720. Too bad CF manufacturers are so stupid that they keep hanging on to the long defunct Type II spec. Foolish.
However, as a guy with a 7D and 6 grand US in lenses, I’m really glad that my camera doesn’t use SD. And I’ll be happy with 128GB cards that work in all my devices for quite some time.
I can also say that HD video records just fine at 233x which is only 35MB/s. Only pro level cameras record raw video, so things are a long ways off of that.
The 7D drops to 720p (still an HD format) at 60 fps, but the problem is not card throughput speed. The problem is processor power. 8FPS at 18mb 14 bit RAW files is a lot more throughput to the card.
Don’t be fooled. HD video is cool, but you should be able to shoot 120 fps at 1080p quite easily on a 600x card. CF cards with 600X are currently available. They just aren’t as large yet.
I’d wager that 64GB 600X CF cards come available around the same time as SDXC.
But I won’t have to buy a whole new camera just to use it.