Max Memory Size for SD Card? at DVinfo.net

Tony Busto · June 30th, 2009, 06:21 PM

My 16 gig SD card isn't recognized by my camera. I'm trying to format it to solve any issues... but the "card operations" menu isn't even showing (I did switch to card function, so I'm not trying to find this option in the mini-DV mode).

What am I doing wrong?

Tony

Michael Hutson · July 1st, 2009, 07:44 PM

Tony,
Refer to the manual. It's in there, I just don't know it off the top of my head. I want to say it is 4 gig that has been tested with the camera. You may also want to try initializing the card and try again.

Tony Busto · July 2nd, 2009, 06:08 AM

I can't even re-initialize the card because my cam won't (apparently) recognize it. Which was my original question... is there a limit to the size card the camera will tolerate?

Chris Hurd · July 2nd, 2009, 06:34 AM

Hi Tony,

I think you should try a different card. A 16GB card is wasted in a Canon XH, since it can take only 2MP still images. Use a 1GB or 2GB card instead, and put the 16GB card in a camera that can actually leverage all of its capacity.

Marty Hudzik · July 2nd, 2009, 08:03 AM

The biggest SD card is 2 GB. Anything larger falls under the category of SDHC which was developed to get us up and beyond the 2gb limit. The cards are physically the same size, but are not the same electrically inside. SDHC cards require an SDHC card slot. These slots are backwards compatible with original SD cards too....but SD slots are not compatible with SDHC cards.

Unless the A1 specifically has an SDHC logo on the box or near the card slot, this is likely what is behind this issue. I have seen it at my office where people get new SDHC cameras and then can't read the cards in their laptop with the SD card reader slot. Newer laptops and readers should alleviate this issue, along with newer cameras with SDHC slots instead of just SD.

If this is accurate you are going to be limited to 2gb with you A1.

Good Luck

Chris Hurd · July 2nd, 2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty Hudzik

Unless the A1 specifically has an SDHC logo on the box or near the card slot...

It does though. See attached pic.

Jack Walker · July 2nd, 2009, 11:05 AM

I just read the manual, and I did not see any limitation in SDHC card size.

I just tried an 8GB SDHC card in my camera, and it works fine. (If using an SD card, the limit is 2GB)

Two things to check:
1. The lock on the SDHC card has to be "OFF."
2. The card may have to be "initialized."

Also, the switch on the right side of the camera needs to be in the SDHC card position.

The manual also has a note that "Performance cannot be guaranteed for all memory cards" -- whatever that means in practice.

Marty Hudzik · July 2nd, 2009, 12:17 PM

Didn't realize the A1 supported SDHC cards. Sorry....just out of curiosity is this the A1S?

Tony Busto · July 2nd, 2009, 04:36 PM

Nope. My cam is the XH-A1. I can't even initialize the card bc the "card operations" option isn't available.

Yes, the switch is switched to "card" on the side. No, the card's protective switch is not "on."

My computer's card reader reads it fine. So it's prolly not a defective issue. Maybe my camera is??

Jack Walker · July 2nd, 2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Busto

Nope. My cam is the XH-A1. I can't even initialize the card bc the "card operations" option isn't available.

Yes, the switch is switched to "card" on the side. No, the card's protective switch is not "on."

My computer's card reader reads it fine. So it's prolly not a defective issue. Maybe my camera is??

Does the card that came with the camera work? Do you have a different and smaller card to try?

Tony Busto · July 2nd, 2009, 06:28 PM

Yes, original 16mb card works. I believe my 2 gig card works, too. I guess I'll go back to that. Thx for all your input!

Jack Walker · July 2nd, 2009, 08:31 PM

Apparently, the line in the manual that I quoted in another post applies to your situation....

"Performance cannot be guaranteed for all memory cards."

Chris Hurd · July 2nd, 2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Busto

I believe my 2 gig card works, too. I guess I'll go back to that.

That really is your best option, because the capacity of a 16GB card is wasted on the Canon XH. There's just no point in using a card with that much memory; it has no advantage in the XH. Your 2GB card really is the most appropriate size to use. It will hold 1,400 still images at the largest size and best quality that the XH can produce. It'll take you a long time to fill up a 2GB card in the XH.

June 30th, 2009, 06:21 PM	#1
Tony Busto New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17	Max Memory Size for SD Card? My 16 gig SD card isn't recognized by my camera. I'm trying to format it to solve any issues... but the "card operations" menu isn't even showing (I did switch to card function, so I'm not trying to find this option in the mini-DV mode). What am I doing wrong? Tony

July 2nd, 2009, 06:08 AM	#3
Tony Busto New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17	Can't... I can't even re-initialize the card because my cam won't (apparently) recognize it. Which was my original question... is there a limit to the size card the camera will tolerate?

July 2nd, 2009, 06:34 AM	#4
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,368 Images: 513	Hi Tony, I think you should try a different card. A 16GB card is wasted in a Canon XH, since it can take only 2MP still images. Use a 1GB or 2GB card instead, and put the 16GB card in a camera that can actually leverage all of its capacity. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

July 1st, 2009, 07:44 PM	#2
Michael Hutson Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Elgin, IL Posts: 249	Tony, Refer to the manual. It's in there, I just don't know it off the top of my head. I want to say it is 4 gig that has been tested with the camera. You may also want to try initializing the card and try again.

July 2nd, 2009, 08:03 AM	#5
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	The biggest SD card is 2 GB. Anything larger falls under the category of SDHC which was developed to get us up and beyond the 2gb limit. The cards are physically the same size, but are not the same electrically inside. SDHC cards require an SDHC card slot. These slots are backwards compatible with original SD cards too....but SD slots are not compatible with SDHC cards. Unless the A1 specifically has an SDHC logo on the box or near the card slot, this is likely what is behind this issue. I have seen it at my office where people get new SDHC cameras and then can't read the cards in their laptop with the SD card reader slot. Newer laptops and readers should alleviate this issue, along with newer cameras with SDHC slots instead of just SD. If this is accurate you are going to be limited to 2gb with you A1. Good Luck

July 2nd, 2009, 11:05 AM	#7
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	I just read the manual, and I did not see any limitation in SDHC card size. I just tried an 8GB SDHC card in my camera, and it works fine. (If using an SD card, the limit is 2GB) Two things to check: 1. The lock on the SDHC card has to be "OFF." 2. The card may have to be "initialized." Also, the switch on the right side of the camera needs to be in the SDHC card position. The manual also has a note that "Performance cannot be guaranteed for all memory cards" -- whatever that means in practice.

July 2nd, 2009, 12:17 PM	#8
Marty Hudzik Trustee Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Canton, Ohio Posts: 1,771	Didn't realize the A1 supported SDHC cards. Sorry....just out of curiosity is this the A1S?

July 2nd, 2009, 04:36 PM	#9
Tony Busto New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17	Nope. My cam is the XH-A1. I can't even initialize the card bc the "card operations" option isn't available. Yes, the switch is switched to "card" on the side. No, the card's protective switch is not "on." My computer's card reader reads it fine. So it's prolly not a defective issue. Maybe my camera is??

July 2nd, 2009, 06:28 PM	#11
Tony Busto New Boot Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 17	Yes, original 16mb card works. I believe my 2 gig card works, too. I guess I'll go back to that. Thx for all your input!

July 2nd, 2009, 08:31 PM	#12
Jack Walker Trustee Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Burbank Posts: 1,811	Apparently, the line in the manual that I quoted in another post applies to your situation.... "Performance cannot be guaranteed for all memory cards."