SanDisk, Sony and Nikon Propose New Memory Card Format

New memory card formats are a mixed bag. On one hand, the potential offered by new formats is exciting. Increased speeds and capacities are always welcome. On the other hand though, your old gear usually isn't able to take advantage of it.

The latest standard proposed by SanDisk, Sony and Nikon to the CompactFlash Association (CFA) would enable data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second. That means you could clear off a 16 gigabyte card in half of a minute.

The proposed cards would use the PCI Express interface, allowing for faster speeds and higher capacities, both of which are essential for the growing HD video market. The CFA hopes the market for CF cards to grow thanks to the new cards. "This next generation format is expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those other than high-end DSLRs," says CFA chairman Shigeto Kanda.