"Rick S." wrote in message ...
I'm shopping for a high capacity (512MB or 1 gig) for my new canon S1
IS, (I want to use its 640x480 movie capability, necessitating high
capacity). I see a few types on the market, I'm asking for info from
those that have experience or knowledge. I'm leaving brand name
considerations out, so as not to muddy the issue. So far, it looks
like the only significant difference between type I and type II is
the physical size; so if I get a type II it won't fit in my old canon

Absolutely correct. Type II cards are thicker than Type I cards. A slot
that can take Type II cards can also take Type I cards, but a Type I
slot CANNOT use Type II cards.

SD110. No biggy, really, I've resigned myself to get a type II. The S1
IS takes either one. So my concern is that I believe that taking
movies may REQUIRE a 'high speed' CF card, and the best I can deduce

Require means "without significant number of dropped frames".

is that the regular type will write maybe 6MB/sec, 'ultra' will write
at 9MB/sec, the 'extreme' claims 16MB/sec, but also has internal
recovery s/w if the card fails.

I doubt that the S1 IS can write more than 4MB/sec, but you should
check the specs.

A 512Mb CF card, roughly, goes for: regular type II, 100-125$. Ultra
type II, 175$. Extreme type II, 250$ !!!

Are you also checking the prices on Type I cards? You can use them,
after all.

Obviously, I'd rather not spend more money for speed I don't need, I
would think there's a memory buffer in the camera that acts as a
reservoir while it's filming, writing to the flash card as the flash
card can take it. But if there's any risk at all that the card is the
week point, I'm willing to spend the extra money for the 'ultra'. The

I'm sure the camera has a RAM write buffer as you suppose. However,
when capturing a video, it is sure to overflow (even at the little 0.25 MP
frame size) so the camera processor or the memory card becomes the
bottle neck. I'd bet the camera cannot write anywhere as fast as the
fastest CF cards. Still, check the camera specs.

....

Of course, if you really want to take videos (of good quality), use a video
camera. A cheap video camera will do a better job than an expensive
still camera. Similarly, a cheap still camera will take better photos than
an expensive video camera. Until the two worlds converge, choose the
right tool for the job. }
--
Dan (Woj...) dmaster at lucent dot com
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"What can you see / On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea / A pale moon rises.
The ships have come / To carry you home.
And all will turn to silver glass.
A light on the water / All souls pass."