general SDHC info available

[ho_co]

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There is what seems to me to be a decent definition in layman's terms of SD vs SDHC at e-Photographia.com.

 

The page is a reprint of a press release from ATP Electronics describing one of its classes of SDHC chips.

 

Not covered there is how there can be such a thing as a 4GB card that is not SDHC. M8s format cards as FAT32 (part of the definition of SDHC) and can therefore address cards larger than 2GB, so I'm still at a loss how those cards differ from both SD and SDHC.

 

In other words, the press release describes SD and SDHC cards, but doesn't show the possibility of something combining traits of both.

 

Anyone with further information (preferably in layman's terms), please point me that way!

 

--HC

[rosuna]

SDHC can be implemented on the M8 by means of a firmware update?

[ho_co]

Yes, so say our friends at Leica.

 

The M8 formats 4GB cards as FAT32 (necessary to address more than 2GB). (I assume that the M8 also formats cards smaller than 2GB with FAT32, but haven't tried it.)

 

The question I was raising is, since the M8 already formats SD cards as FAT32, what about it is currently incompatible with SDHC? If I read the ATP press release correctly, the FAT16 vs FAT32 formatting is the only difference shown.

 

That also leaves the question, when I use Transcend 4GB SD cards on the M8, what about them is not SDHC compatible?

 

My guess is that there must be some very specific formatting details that ATP didn't see fit to mention. And if that's the case, I probably wouldn't understand them anyway.

 

--HC

[geoff]

The question I was raising is, since the M8 already formats SD cards as FAT32, what about it is currently incompatible with SDHC? If I read the ATP press release correctly, the FAT16 vs FAT32 formatting is the only difference shown.

 

That also leaves the question, when I use Transcend 4GB SD cards on the M8, what about them is not SDHC compatible?

 

Asides from officially supporting FAT32, which enables recognition of capacities beyond 2GB, the main significant functional difference between SD and SDHC memory cards is that true SDHC cards use sector addressing as opposed to the traditional byte addressing of previous SD cards. I could be corrected, but I believe this has a direct baring on performance with regards to higher capacities.

 

Other memory cards of 4GB capacity adhere to neither true SDHC nor true Secure Digital specifications as set forth by the SD Card Association (SDA), the governing body charged with setting industry-wide standards and ratifying specifications for Secure Digital products including cards and host devices.

 

Even before the existence of SDHC memory cards, there has long been a history of many popular memory card manufacturers skirting SDA standards and creatively labeling and marketing product for their own advantage. In many cases this has been the root cause of consumer confusion, failed expectations and subsequent incompatibility issues.

 

Previously, Secure Digital memory card manufacturers were left to label their own claims of speed performance denoted by an X factor. Adherence to the SDHC specification abolishes this practice and requires a speed performance rating based on true minimum write speeds rather than potential maximum peak read speeds. Additionally, all compliant SDHC cards are denoted by both the SDHC and SD Speed Class logos as illustrated on the SDA’s “About SDHC Memory Card” web page.

 

Smart consumers need to educate themselves and look beyond mass appeal garnered by brand recognition and the pull that advertising dollars play on product reviews.

 

Unfortunately, Leica inadvertently added to the confusion by originally mentioning that the M8 would support SDHC memory cards prior to its release. Although, to Leica’s credit, no reference is made in any M8 labeling or documentation. However, it still does not help when, even to this date, the much regarded Digital Photography Review website still list the Leica M8 as currently supporting SDHC memory cards. None-the-less, there has been mention of a future firmware update intended to provide SDHC support as stated to me directly by Robert Fisk, of Leica Camera Inc., in Allendale, NJ.

 

ATP Electronics is one of the few memory card manufacturers that strictly adheres to industry standards, sometimes to their own short-term financial detriment. ATP waited over one year for the ratification of the industry standard SD 2.0 spec by the SDA, while several memory cards manufacturers introduced 4GB SD type memory cards to market.

 

Additionally, ATP Electronics is rather strict in their selection top quality components and manufacturing techniques. All of their memory cards are rated for extreme temperature use in addition to being water, dust and static discharge proof.

 

I neither work for or represent ATP Electronics but have conducted beta testing on their products and observed their consumer openness and customer service, which is often directly handled or overseen by top company personnel themselves.

 

However, I for one could not wait for Leica to provide Leica M8 SDHC support and have been using non-industry standard 4GB “SD Compatible” memory cards from Transcend.

 

Once Leica provides SDHC support for the Leica M8, I will most likely migrate to ATP ProMax 8GB SDHC memory cards as my needs are ever expanding and I seek utmost reliability and quick no nonsense resolution if a problem should occur.

 

 

Geoff

MySpace.com -  g e o f f  - 100 - Männlich - PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - www.myspace.com/geoffotos

[ho_co]

Geoff--

Thanks for responding. I actually had you in mind when I said I hoped someone would come forward with better information than mine on the topic.

 

Item 2.1 of Leica's newest FAQ also says that firmware will be the solution:

The SDHC standard is an extended type of SD standard. This takes very extensive updating of the camera’s SD driver to accommodate them. Leica is working on such updates and will supply them in future firmware versions.

 

And I greatly appreciate hearing your opinion of ATP. Their press release certainly shows more information than one would expect from an ordinary marketing department.

 

--HC

[Guest rubidium]

Excellent summary by Geoff !!