How Useful is an SD-CF Convertor?

Here's the dilemma: you've already got a bridge camera, or an entry-level digital SLR, and you're thinking about upgrading to something a little more powerful--but what do you do with your memory cards?

Most simple digital cameras use Secure Digital (SD) cards, but manufacturers tend to prefer the Compact Flash (CF) format for more advanced models.

If the idea of having to swap all of your memory cards when you change camera fills you with dread, then this nifty little convertor from Delkin may solve your problems.

For around thirty euros (38 USD / 24 GBP), it allows you to read and write to SD cards on devices with CF slots.

It's not as simple as that, though.  There are two complications.

The first is that data transfer rates fall to a painfully slow 3 MB/s when using the convertor.

To put this in perspective, that means it will take around two seconds to save an image to your memory card, and, given that today's dSLRs can capture up to six images per second in burst mode, it's easy to see how problematic this could become.

The second complication is down to the technicalities of the CF specification.

Delkin's convertor uses the 5 mm Type II standard, originally designed for portable hard drives.

Nikon, however, have decided that Type II cards have had their day, and their D700 only supports Type I cards -- which are just 3 mm thick.

Now, we don't think this means you should avoid the D700--in this case, a change in memory card is definitely worth it--but it would be great if other manufacturers followed Canon's lead and supported both CF Type I and Type II.

> Product Survey: SDHC Cards