Nikon, Sony and Sandisk Announce Development of New Memory Card Technology

Isn't teamwork wonderful? It it's not everyday that you see Nikon and Sony in the same product announcement, but a new proposed memory format developed by The Sandisk Corperation could change that. In a press release from Tuesday, all three companies announced the development of a new memory card format designed specifically for professional level photography and shooting HD video. What does this mean to underwater photographers?

I cannot even begin to count how many times I have filled up a card in the middle of the dive with the perfect subject coming just around the corner: but no more. The proposed technology will be a vast improvement over the top Compact Flash Technology that as of November 2010 only operates at 167MB/sec. According to the press release, “the proposed specifications achieve data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second,” while also hoping to expand the “theoretical maximum capacities beyond 2 terabytes.”

For those of you counting along at home, this new card would hold approximately the same amount of data as 512 8GB cards, as well as over one-hundred thousand RAW photos (depending on the camera). Perhaps even more significant is the implication of the storage space and transfer speed for those divers interested in the emerging market of D-SLR video shooting.

“The new specifications’ faster speeds enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images. The enhanced performance also allows users to quickly transfer storage-intensive high-resolution photos and videos from the card to a computer. The specifications combine high-speed data transfer with low power consumption via a power scaling system to extend battery life.”

 While these numbers are only theoretical, I think it's safe to say that this new technology will greatly lessen the amount of time spent by underwater photographers frantically deleting images one at a time, on a three inch LCD screen, 100 feet below the surface. You will really be able to shoot away!

Below is the official Press Release from Nikon, Sandisk, and Sony:

Press Release

Nikon Corporation and Sony Corporation today announced the joint development of a set of specifications that addresses the future requirements of professional photography and video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to the CompactFlash® Association (CFA)1, the international standards organization, with the intent to standardize the format.

Professional photography and High Definition (HD)2 video applications require a new generation of memory cards capable of processing significantly larger files. To address the imaging industry's future speed and capacity demands, SanDisk, Nikon and Sony proposed a new card specification whose performance and storage capabilities surpass those of existing memory cards. Once accepted, the new format will enable exciting new possibilities in the professional imaging and video markets.

The proposed specifications achieve data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/sec)3 (theoretical maximum interface speed) using the highly versatile PCI Express4 interface. The increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash specification's Parallel ATA (PATA)5 interface. CF6.0, released in November 2010, offers maximum performance of up to 167MB/sec.

The new specifications' faster speeds enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images. The enhanced performance also allows users to quickly transfer storage-intensive high-resolution photos and videos from the card to a computer. The specifications combine high-speed data transfer with low power consumption via a power scaling system to extend battery life.

In addition to industry-leading performance capabilities, the new memory card specifications also meet the future capacity and durability requirements of professional imaging applications. The proposed new format has the potential to extend theoretical maximum capacities beyond two terabytes (TB)6, making it especially useful for high resolution images and HD video applications. Similar in size to a CompactFlash® card, the new format's access control function and highly durable form factor produce a combination of physical ruggedness and reliability that is indispensable for professional usage models.

"This ultra high-speed media format will enable further evolution of hardware and imaging applications, and widen the memory card options available to CompactFlash users such as professional photographers," said Mr. Shigeto Kanda, Canon, and chairman of the board, CFA. "This next generation format is expected to be widely adapted to various products, including those other than high-end DSLRs."

"The ultra high-speed media, which will be realized by this new card format, will expand the capability of digital SLR cameras and other professional digital imaging equipment," said Mr. Kazuyuki Kazami, operating officer, vice president and general manager, development headquarters, imaging company, Nikon Corporation.