The new XQD memory card format will replace CompactFlash in pro SLR and video cameras

The CompactFlash Association announced a new media card format last month, and now Sony and Nikon have introduced the first media and digital cameras, respectively. But what exactly is an XQD memory card? Read on for the details.

A Different Type of Media for Different Type of Camera

XQD falls between SD and CompactFlash in physical size

Most consumers have grown used to the standard SD card for digital media. It is become ubiquitous in consumer and even semi-pro digital cameras, computers, and other devices from phones to game machines. SD (short for Secure Digital) is the descendent of the basic MultiMediaCard (MMC) format introduced in the mid-90′s. Like MMC, SD uses a simple and basic transfer mechanism rooted in the interface of flash memory chips themselves.

The SD card format has been continually updated and refined, culminating in the current SDHC and future SDXC formats used by the most advanced consumer cameras today. But SD has many limitations, and even the highest speed SD cards cannot meet the demands of fast shooting many-megapixel and pro video cameras.

Professional cameras, including full-frame digital SLR and high definition video cameras, typically use higher bandwidth formats like CompactFlash or P2. These cards may not seem all that impressive on paper, but their real-world performance justifies their extreme pricing. CompactFlash is based on now-outdated computer standards, including PCMCIA (16-bit ISA bus) and ATA, though in a smaller form factor. P2, the Panasonic format, also uses the 16-bit PCMCIA interface as well as its form factor.

XQD: A Next-Generation Memory Card Format

The new XQD card format is philosophically similar to CompactFlash in that it uses a high-speed computer bus rather than a flash interface. XQD adopts PCI Express version 2 for 2.5 Gbps throughput, with 5 Gbps promised in the future. The physical form factor falls in between CompactFlash and SD, and the CompactFlash Association suggests we will see terabyte-sized cards in the not so distant future.

Sony is first up with XQD card media, though Nikon has the first camera

XQD will likely see rapid adoption from CompactFlash adherents like Nikon and Canon. Sony appears to be getting on the XQD bandwagon as well, at least on the media side, and I expect that their future full frame cameras and pro video equipment we use the format. One expects Olympus, Fujifilm, and niche players like Sigma, Leica, and Hasselblad to join the XQD team as well. The big question is Panasonic, which seems satisfied with P2.

Although SDXC appears promising, implementation details have caused it to stumble out of the gate. The use of MBR partitioning limits capacity to “just” 2 TB, and not everyone loves the appointed exFAT filesystem. Plus, initial SDXC cards poke along even slower than conventional (and far cheaper) SDHC alternatives.

In contrast, Sony’s first batch of XQD cards are 4 times faster, allowing them to keep up with the punishing data rates generated by the new 16 megapixel Nikon D4 DSLR. With Sony set to introduce a 24 megapixel A99 and 36 megapixel hybrid mount full frame camera, it is very likely that this performance will come in handy!

Stephen’s Stance

XQD is complementary to SDXC, a high-bandwidth, high-capacity alternative for professional cameras. It is likely to be adopted by makers of professional or full frame digital SLR cameras, and one expects it to make a big splash in the digital video market as well. Future high megapixel prosumer cameras may feature both XQD and SDXC slots, giving consumers an alternative for maximum performance.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2012. | What Is an XQD Card? The New Media for Pro Cameras!
This post was categorized as Computer History, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

The Sony NEX-5 packs the optics and sensor of a digital SLR into a compact body

The world of photography is like so many others: A vast gulf separates the amateurs and enthusiasts, from equipment to nomenclature to skills. I am decidedly in the amateur camp when it comes to photography, but I recently upgraded to a new compact interchangeable-lense camera, the Sony alpha NEX-5. It is an excellent match for my needs, allowing me to expand my skills and explore more advanced photographic techniques without sacrificing portability and ease of use.

Exploring Photography, Exploring the World

I have become increasingly dissatisfied with the photographs I’ve taken. Much of the blame rests on my meagre skills as a photographer, of course, but these have been improving to the point that I’ve touched some limits of point-and-shoot digital cameras. They lack the image processing, customizability, and shot-to-shot performance of larger cameras, but it was poor low-light capability that really hampered my photos.

A photographer friend explains that a camera is like a funnel in the rain, only collecting light (photons) instead of raindrops (water). The skill of photography is matching the size of the opening to the varying conditions encountered while exploring the world. Compact point-and-shoot cameras use tiny sensors and poor optics: Skill and trickery can extract decent photos from them, but the bigger sensors and better optics found on larger cameras make them far more flexible and adaptable.

The art of photography is another matter entirely. The world we live in is full of beauty, leading to the wonderful truism that the best camera is the one you have at hand. Some people are happy to carry a large camera and a variety of lenses and accessories wherever they go, others are content with snapshots from a pocket camera or cell phone, and many don’t care to take photographs at all. The unfortunate remainder regret not having an appropriate camera whenever and wherever they find themselves.

In my travels for work and pleasure, I have always tried to capture what I see using whatever camera I had at hand. I progressed from a cheap but tiny HP Photosmart camera to a Nikon PowerShot E4300, a Canon SD850, and a Canon SD1100 over the past decade. I carefully researched and selected the Canons based on their usability, optical image stabilization, and above-average sensors and optics, but portability was critical. I am not a camera bag guy, and a camera I can’t slip into a jacket pocket would sit at home.

I am proud of a few of the tens thousands of photos that resulted, but too many are grainy, dim, blurry, or washed out. The tiny sensors and basic lenses of these cameras simply couldn’t match my growing aspirations. This left me in a quandry: I wanted a larger sensor and better optics but knew I wouldn’t lug a huge D-SLR wherever I went.

Sony alpha NEX: Portablility and Quality

I was introduced to the nascent world of prosumer cameras by my friends Simon Seagrave and Greg Ferro. Simon’s Canon PowerShot G11 impressed me with its build quality, flexible manual controls, and fine optics, though the tiny sensor lacks low-light sensitivity. Greg’g Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 opened my eyes to the possibility of large SLR-like sensors and interchangeable lenses in a compact camera. I strongly considered the Olympus PEN E-PL1 before hearing about Sony’s NEX-3 and NEX-5.

The Sony NEX, like the Panasonic/Olympus Micro Four-Thirds system and the Samsung NX10, omit the mirror and pentaprism viewfinder of a true SLR in favor of compact dimensions. The resulting cameras can be as small as some point-and-shoot models when equipped with a reasonably-sized lense, and fitting one with a non-zoom lense (a prime or “pancake” in the vernacular) results in an eminently-pocketable camera without sacrificing image quality. Some call these “Mirrorless Interchangeable Lense Cameras“, but there are many other names besides.

The APS-C image sensor used in the Sony NEX cameras is 50% larger than the one used in Four Thirds cameras, and 13 times larger than the 1/2.5" sensors used in compact point-and-shoot cameras like my Canon PowerShots

Sony went one step further than their competitors, designing a compact digital camera from the ground up. The DSLR-standard APS-C image sensor is the only holdover. It’s 50% larger than a Micro Four/Thirds sensor and an amazing 13 times larger than the sensors used in typical point-and-shoot cameras like my Canons. Although 14.2 megapixels is impressive, Sony’s latest “Exmor” sensor is more about quality and sensitivity than pixel count. The rest of the camera was designed around this sensor, with an emphasis placed on minimizing the physical size of the camera while preserving the critical lense-to-sensor corridor.

The NEX-3 is small and light, but the NEX-5 is even more compact. Its magnesium body seems shrink-wrapped around the optics, with bulk chisled out around the standard tripod nut and lense mount. The NEX-5 would be almost as tiny as my old SD1100 without the lense and flash, but a realistic configuration is larger. Attach the 16 mm pancake and flash and it matches the E4300 – pocketable for jacket if not trousers. It is amazingly light as well, though quite a bit heavier than most compacts. Equipped with the 18-55 mm zoom, a NEX camera is much smaller than an equivalent SLR, but solidly in the “camera bag” class.

Purchasing the NEX-5

My first hands-on experience with the NEX line came in early September at Microcenter in Sunnyvale, CA. Although the staff wasn’t much help, they let me take my time exploring their NEX-5 demo unit. I was immediately taken buy the little camera, and was surprised by how small it was relative to the Nikon and Canon D-SLRs and even the Olympus and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras.

They had just received their initial shipment, and I purchased their sole NEX-5 kit: A silver body with the 18-55 mm zoom lense. I also picked up the 16 mm “pancake” lense, happy for a $150 package discount, though I skipped the shotgun microphone, optical viewfinder, and weird Sony “body wrap” cases. The total cost was $798 plus tax, matching just about every online retailer I could find. I’m using a 16 GB Class-6 SDHC card I purchased previously.

Since this is an on-the-go portable camera, cases and straps are important. Most camera bags are take-it-all duffels designed with D-SLRs in mind or point-and-shoot slip cases. I wanted something that would protect the camera and both lenses but still fit in my laptop backpack or suitcase. I located the small hard-sided Case Logic MSEC-4 EVA Molded Camcorder Case that just fits, and the NEX-5 and 16 mm pancake will also slip into an old leather pouch I used for the Nikon E4300. I am currently using a Canon hand strap rather than the bulky neck strap included in the box.

My Experiences

Image quality is superb, with reviews gushing about low-light/high-ISO sensitivity, color accuracy, and good (if not pro) optics. I’m not really able to judge these things, but I can definitely state that it’s night-and-day better than any camera I’ve used. The big sensor and optics allow me to skip the flash in most cases, eliminating the too-bright snapshot look of so many of my photos. For the first time I have a camera with real depth of field flexibility and manual focus, and I’m loving my up-close photos.

Sony’s automation really improves my shooting as well, with Intelligent Auto mode adding quality to quick shots. If I want more control I can use Program Auto, or the shutter- or aperature-priority modes. The in-camera high dynamic range (HDR) and bracketing functions are only moderately effective, but the “Hand-held Twilight” feature is really impressive, combining six images to eliminate low-light noise. I’ve only begun to explore the various shooting modes but feel that Sony was wise to include consumer-oriented features and automatic operation with quality components.

The NEX menus leave something to be desired, however. Basic functions like ISO and white balance are buried in menus and seem haphazardly scattered, and button functions change in a way that isn’t always logical. I wish the camera included manual knobs or even consistent shortcuts for basic shooting parameters. Although Sony’s shooting tips are context-sensitive and genuinely helpful, the hard button taken up could be reassigned to a more-useful function.

Battery life is good if not great, and I am not as bothered by some reviewers with the long-ish time it take to power on the camera. Responsiveness is excellent, as is continuous-shot performance, and everything feels solid and ergonomic. I love how the camera body, lense zoom and focus rings, and control buttons fall to hand, and the tilting LCD is sharp and bright.

The NEX-5 has only basic video controls, but it shoots both 1440×1080 MPEG4 and 1920×1080/60i AVCHD. Video quality is remarkable – it’s a different world from my Canon SD1100, Kodak Zi8, or iPhone 4, and better than most consumer camcorders I’ve tried. It is comparable to the Canon Mark II footage shot by the video team hired for Tech Field Day, though their pro three-CCD Panasonic camera leaves it in the dust. Shooting with the 18-55 mm zoom is particularly nice, retaining autofocus and stabilization.

Sony Style Lock-In?

I’m not really a Sony fan, but the NEX cameras are thankfully free of many of their foolish lock-in “ecosystem” hobby horses. I never considered buying a Memory Stick-only camera, and was glad to see Sony (finally) add support for standard SD memory cards. In fact, the dual-purpose slot on the NEX-5 fits an SD card better than Sony’s own Memory Stick PRO Duo media! The NEX cameras use standard Mini USB and HDMI cables, reducing travel weight, and are fully supported by the Apple software I use: iPhoto is compatible with NEX RAW photos, the MPEG4 videos work everywhere, and Final Cut Pro reads the AVCHD video without a plug-in.

The new E-mount lenses are found only on three Sony cameras, but this is to be expected for an entirely new lense/image system. Third-party E-mount lenses are already appearing, and Sony just released an expensive 200 mm zoom. An adapter is available to mount the wide world of Sony/Minolta A-mount lenses, though stabilization and auto-focus are disabled.

My biggest “ecosystem” complaint is the proprietary flash/microphone mount. The included flash is better than that on most compact cameras and small enough to leave attached, but it’s no powerhouse. It would have been nice to have compatibility with the wide world of third-party flash units, but a standard hotshoe just wouldn’t fit in the slim NEX body.

That the same mount also includes a proprietary microphone connector is a much bigger issue for me. Indeed, the lack of a conventional microphone jack was almost deal-breaking. The secret to great video is often the quality of the audio, and even the very good in-body microphones on the NEX-5 leave much to be desired. I am hopeful that the connector will be reverse-engineered and an 8 mm mic adapter accessory will appear.

Stephen’s Stance

The NEX-5 is a winner, combining excellent hardware, good (if sometimes-frustrating) software, and amazing portability. I just can’t get over that I can pack the camera and two lenses in a case smaller than an equivalent D-SLR body! Foregoing the zoom in favor of the 16 mm pancake transforms the camera into a pocketable companion for many occasions, relegating the iPhone 4 camera for emergency use only.

I expected to love the 16 mm “pancake” lense and leave the zoom behind, but am finding myself doing the opposite so far. The versatility and quality of the zoom makes it worth its weight and bulk, and I expect the prime will only see “snapshot” and macro use. I also find myself leaving the flash attached “just in case” though I rarely use it.

Overall, the NEX-5 is well worth the money for an enthusiastic amateur like me. Photo and video quality are a world better than any compact camera and rival the D-SLR world. I preferred the Sony’s smaller size and imaging performance to the “mirrorless” competitors from Olympus, Panasonic, and Samsung, though their controls and standard hotshoes are better. Solid construction, better “feel”, and AVCHD video in the NEX-5 was worth the $100 premium over the NEX-3. All things considered, there isn’t a better camera on the market for someone like me.

Note: Some of these links include affiliate codes that help pay for this blog. For example, buying an Amazon Kindle with this link sends a few bucks my way! But I don't write this blog to make money, and am happy to link to sites and stores that don't pay anything. I like Amazon and buy tons from them, but you're free to buy whatever and wherever you want.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2010. | Sony NEX-5 Camera Review
This post was categorized as Features, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

This post is part of my series focused on the MacBook Pro.

• Don’t Be Jealous Of The New MacBook Pros!
• Upgraded! 320 GB in a MacBook Pro!
• SanDisk ExpressCard Flash Media Adapter: Nifty MacBook Pro Accessory!
• How I Get 7 Hours of MacBook Pro Battery Life
• Panic! Green Light and MacBook Pro Keyboard is Half Dead!
• Low-Power USB Ports Haunt My MacBook Pro

Card Slot In Card Slot

Apple has equipped the MacBook Pro line with an integrated ExpressCard slot since the very first post-PowerBook model back in 2006. This new expansion card form factor has never been as popular as PCMCIA/CardBus was on the laptops of the early part of the decade. So, for mid-2009, Apple decided to drop the slot altogether for all models but the massive 17″ MacBook Pro. In its place is an SD card slot, popular with the digital camera set.

Part of the blame lies in the increasing integration of features in modern machines: Users no longer need the slot to add a network adapter, Wi-Fi, audio, or optical drive since they’re all built in! Another huge factor is USB 2.0: It’s fast enough for just about any remaining peripheral.

There are only three urgent uses for an ExpressCard slot in a modern laptop:

1. Adding 3G wireless networking capability to systems (like Apple’s) that lack built-in 3G cards. Of course, many folks choose a USB 3G modem, and I’m in love with my Cradlepoint 3G wireless router.
2. Adding a second video adapter and external monitor. Modern MacBooks work great out of the box with two monitors, though, if you count the built-in LCD! And the new USB video adapters seem to work fairly well, too.
3. Adding more high-speed ports like e-SATA or FireWire 800. Although the MacBook Pro has two USB 2.0 ports, both are compromised in terms of speed or power. All of the new Pro models (even the new 13″) now include FireWire 800, but e-SATA is still AWOL.

The ExpressCard flash media adapter snaps in place and is flush with the edge of the MacBook Pro - very clean!

I didn’t need any of these features with my MacBook Pro: My Sprint 3G card is connected to the Cradlepoint router, I am happy to use the built-in LCD for multi-monitor desktop use, and I don’t need more FireWire or e-SATA storage. But, as I noted back in October, I did find a great use for the ExpressCard slot: An SD media card reader! That’s right: My now-old Mac features the exact same function that Apple just added!

I love having the convenience of an SD slot when it comes to importing photos from my Canon PowerShot cameras: It’s quick, the cards open right up in iPhoto, and I don’t have to carry any cables with me. Adding an SD card reader was cheap and easy, too! Amazon sells the exact same Sandisk SDAD109A11 adapter I bought for around $40. They’ve also got a Sonnet SD adapter (which I haven’t tried) for under $30!

I Have The Power!

Massive battery life is another solid addition to the mid-2009 MacBook Pro line. Apple integrates a huge battery right into the laptop, and reports indicate it really does deliver 7 or 8 hours of runtime. This is the first laptop I can think of without an easily replaceable battery, and follows Apple’s similar moves with the iPod and iPhone lines. Expect this to be copied by other manufacturers in the future!

My secret to long (battery) life and happiness!

Although my MacBook Pro lasts three to four hours on a charge, I purchased a second battery from the Apple store to help me work on the go. This has proven an excellent investment, and I have come to rely on battery power more than I thought I would. I have spent entire trans-Atlantic flights with the computer up and running, and have touched 8 hours of run time with two fully-charged batteries. Although extra batteries are not cheap (Amazon lists mine at $120), they’re much less expensive than they used to be!

If you do decide to get an extra battery for your older MacBook, here are some tips:

1. Get the original equipment Apple battery, not a third-party workalike. I’ve always had bad luck with off-brand batteries, and they’re not that much cheaper.
2. Download a copy of SmartSleep, the awesome and free sleep/hibernate utility. I have mine set to hibernate below 5% charge so I can swap batteries without losing data.
3. If you don’t want to wait for hibernation, just leave the Mac plugged in when you swap batteries. You can do this while it’s running or while it’s plugged in but asleep.

Sure, the cool unibody case and faster performance is tempting. But I’m still pretty happy with my good old MacBook Pro!

Note: Some of these links include affiliate codes that help pay for this blog. For example, buying an Amazon Kindle with this link sends a few bucks my way! But I don't write this blog to make money, and am happy to link to sites and stores that don't pay anything. I like Amazon and buy tons from them, but you're free to buy whatever and wherever you want.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2009. | Don’t Be Jealous Of The New MacBook Pros!
This post was categorized as Apple. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

Why can't digital cameras come with a useful memory card?

Over the last year, I have purchased two Canon digital cameras. Both are excellent, and I would recommend them to anyone. But each came with a worthless 32 MB SD flash card. So did the (now broken) HP point-and-shoot I picked up last year. And the Nikon that preceded the Canon. In fact, it appears that just about every digital camera comes with a tiny, mostly-useless “starter” memory card.

I understand the reasoning of including a memory card – the camera won’t function without one, and people like to be able to play with their new electronics right out of the box.

But who thought it was a good idea to include such a tiny card? We’ve been stick at 32 MB for at least five years! Because of the megapixel wars, what was once a small-but-usable card is now little more than e-waste. Out of the box, my 8 megapixel Canons would fill up the included card with just 14 shots. And who makes these things? Are the 256 Mbit flash chips they use even still in production?

I’m sure the rationalization is that adding a reasonably-sized card would ratchet up the price of the camera. But big cards are cheap! They’re down to $10 or less per GB, and that’s retail pricing. I’m sure Canon could include a 2 GB card instead of the four printed manuals they put in the box and come out ahead.

But the camera makers don’t deserve all the blame. While picking up my new SD1100 IS at J&R in New York, every customer bought a 2 or 4 GB memory card to go with their new camera. It’s an easy upsell for the store, along with their ill-fitting and laughably expensive cases and unnecessary extra batteries. I doubt accessory-happy camera stores would be too happy to have a reasonably-sized card included with every camera!

So I guess we’re stuck with piles of worthless memory cards.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2008. | E-Waste: 32 MB Flash Cards
This post was categorized as Personal. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.