Flash memory storage product maker SanDisk Corp. on Thursday introduced its line of Extreme CompactFlash and SD cards, aimed at photo professionals who use digital camera in their work. SanDisk claims that the cards offer higher performance than other models and can be subject to more extreme temperature conditions, too.
SanDisk Extreme cards can write data at up to 9MB/sec. and read at a minimum of 10MB/sec. They’re designed to work with high-performance digital cameras from Canon, Kodak, Nikon, Olympus and other companies. What’s more, the fast read speeds are a bonus when you’re transferring files through card readers that support USB 2.0 (only the Power Mac G5 ships with USB 2.0 on board, at this point, though third-party USB PCI expansion cards are available).
SanDisk Extreme cards have been tested to work at temperatures ranging from -13 degrees F/-25 degrees C to 185 degrees F/85 degrees C, and each CompactFlash card has been insulated with a layer of RTV silicone to withstand up to 3000G impact.
SanDisk has also included RescuePRO software with each card — Mac and Windows-compatible software that can recover deleted images and data from CF- and SD-certified cards. It requires no special driver software to work.
SanDisk Extreme CF cards are available now in 256MB, 512MB and 1GB capacities, for US$109.99, $229.99 and $439.99 respectively. SanDisk anticipates releasing the Extreme SD card in a 256MB capacity in October, for $134.99. A 512MB SD model will follow in November for $299.99.