Memory cards (SD, CF, etc) are pretty reliable and rugged. I've not heard of many reports about them failing, even for the cheapo ones. It's only when you're a pro, shooting thousands of pictures a day with dozens of cards that you may come upon issues once in a while.

And one thing many people don't do, and <b>they should</b> is to format the card <b>with that particular camera</b> before each use. This means format after you've downloaded the files to your computer; and if time allows, right after you put that empty card into your camera before shooting.

On the other hand, CDs can break or not burned properly; and if you read a few photo-oriented forums, you'll read lots of problems with the HD drives, especially the cheap no-name brands.

<i>In fact, all camera memory cards are made in a handful of factories, and they're all about equally prone to failure.</i>

I'd have to disagree with this. Cards are made all over the world from Taiwan to Mexico, India, China, Japan, New Zealand...even some camera manufacturers make cards.

The biggest cause of failure with cheap cards is their contacts, which are easily dislodged and bent...sometimes damaging the camera in the process.

That said, card failure is not very common. But, like anything, you get what you pay for.

Stick to Lexar or SanDisk cards, or cards from known companies like Panasonic or Sony.

Amazon.com has some of the best prices I've seen for these cards. I just bought a 2gb SanDisk Ultra II for $36.00.

Re-formatting your card is good advice.

Well, I didn't see that anyone used this as an alternative, but it works great...

Buy a USB card reader, you can get one from WalMart for about $20. Carry it and the USB cable with you. Have a couple of blank CDr disks (real cheap). You can then go into an internet cafe (unless you bring your own laptop) and burn the photos directly from card to disk.

Having a backup is a good idea. You don't need to get wacky like some have suggested and have a bazillion backups.

An SD card can be erased, sometimes by accident. I carry my laptop, so I always backup each night, takes just a couple of minutes.

dave

&quot;Stick to...cards from known companies like...Sony.&quot;

More on this &quot;known company&quot;: http://www.hardwareanalysis.com/content/topic/5449 (note: this thread goes on for 86 pages and over 1700 posts.)

Very disturbing for those Sony laptop owners.

Fortunately, this discussion is about cameras.

You're the one who turned it into a discussion of manufacturers.

No problem, Robespierre. Actually, you're partially correct when you say all the cards are made from a handful of producers.

It's the actual chip inside the card that's produced by a few makers. The fall-off comes when the card is assembled &amp; formatted, and those steps are performed all over the world.

I have a few &quot;Kingston&quot; cards. These are cheaper than Lexar &amp; SanDisk and I've never had a problem with them.

It's the $6.00 or $7.00 &quot;bargin&quot; card that I'd stay away from.

Apologies to Lesliemomof6 for twisting her thread around.

There was a place on Rue Cler in Paris next to our hotel that I put my card into the computer and they downloaded it onto a CD for me. It was pretty inexpensive. Hope this helps.

If you have an iPod Apple sells a camera connector. You simply plug the connector into the iPod and your camera into the connector and your pictures download to your iPod and your card is ready for more pictures.

Wellll...I didn't want to start a whole new thread, so I though I'd post my question about digital cameras here.

What about charging it while I'm overseas? I thought about getting some rechargeable batteries, but then I heard that if you plug them up to a European outlet, even with an adapter, it will fry the batteries. Now, the person who told me this could have been way off base, but I just wanted to see what you guys had to say about it.

Are the rechargeable batteries worth it? I guess I wouldn't really have any other choice but to buy AA batteries in bulk and lug them in my suitcase. HA! :D Good plan, right?

ttt

There is no reason a battery charger can't be used in Europe.

Buy one like this:
o Input voltage 100-220VAC (you will need a plug adapter)
o Space to charge two (or more) sets of batteries simultaneously

Get new batteries having the highest mAh rating you can find (2700 is good). Charge and test them before you leave, but don't use them much. They do have a service life that is depleted every time you discharge and recharge them.

In Europe, recharge overnight any that you've used during the day.