These articles and tips are filled with useful information that will help your digital photography experience even more enjoyable.

1. General FAQs?
2. Lexar Professional UDMA Reader FAQs
3. JumpDrive Expression FAQs
4. JumpDrive Secure FAQs
5. Parallel Port (CompactFlash Reader and SmartMedia Reader) FAQs
6. Universal Digital Film Reader FAQs?
7. JumpShot FAQs
8. FireWire FAQs
9. Shoot and Share Image Editing Software FAQs
10. Mac OS X Compatibility FAQs
11. Mass Storage Compatibility FAQs
12. JumpDrive FAQs
13. JumpDrive Trio FAQs
14. How do I upgrade all rev A and Rev B readers to support xD 256 MD and 512 MB
15. JumpDrive Music FAQ:

Introduction - A Beginner's Guide to Digital Film

1. Why is memory important to digital cameras?
2. What are the different types of digital film today?
3. What is the CompactFlash Association?
4. What does "Digital Film Compliant™" mean?
5. Is performance important when talking about digital film?
6. What does 4X, 12X, 16X, 32X and 40X (1X=150KB/sec.) performance mean?
7. How many images can be stored on a digital film card?
8. How many minutes of music can be stored on a digital media card?
9. What is JumpShot?
10. What does the symbol CF+ represent?
11. Want more information on Lexar products?
    

1. Why is memory important to digital cameras?
   
   As picture quality and resolutions on digital cameras have improved, the need to save and store larger picture files has increased. Earlier versions of digital cameras often featured built-in, non-expandable memory for storing pictures. Memory capacity of these cameras could be reached quickly, forcing users to download pictures constantly to their computers or erase pictures before taking another photograph. This is very inconvenient for users who want to use their cameras without having a computer nearby.   
   
   Today’s leading digital camera manufacturers typically feature removable digital film cards for capturing, storing, and swapping images. Popular removable memory solutions include CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard and Secure Digital card. Typically, camera manufacturers include a minimum-capacity card with the camera, just enough memory to provide a good out-of-the-box experience for the user. As the capacity of one card is reached, either the user must download the photos to a computer, erase pictures, or replace the card to continue taking pictures. That’s why for many typical picture-taking situations like vacations, weddings, or sporting events, the digital photographer needs more digital film.
   
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2. What are the different types of digital film today?

   Digital film uses non-volatile flash memory, meaning it does not require power to hold and retain the pictures taken. Flash memory technology is ideal for applications that require portability and ruggedness. There are five types of flash memory (digital film) used for digital cameras today:
   CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, and Secure Digital

   CompactFlash is a small form factor (about the size of a matchbook) that combines non volatile storage, high-capacity options and industry-standard compatibility, which is absolutely essential for digital cameras and handheld computing devices. Because they are designed to the guidelines set by the CompactFlash Association, a base-level assurance of compatibility has been set between all-certified CompactFlash cards and any CompactFlash-compliant device. Today, CompactFlash cards are available in capacities ranging from 8MB to 4GB.

   SmartMedia, or Solid State Floppy Disk Cards, also use flash memory, but unlike CompactFlash, they require the controller functions for compatibility and other tasks to reside in the camera, rather than on the storage media. While this keeps the cost of SmartMedia lower, it cannot assure the forward and backward compatibility features that CompactFlash and Memory Stick can. SmartMedia is a single flash-chip solution, thus limiting the card’s capacity and ability to store large high-resolution picture files. Today, 8MB, 16MB, 32MB, 64MB and 128MB SmartMedia cards are available for digital camera consumers.

   Memory Stick, Though smaller than a stick of chewing gum, Memory Stick packs big performance in capacities ranging from 8MB to1GB. A 16MB Memory Stick has 10 times the storage of a floppy disk, and it’s compact, rugged, reliable, and has erasure prevention. It too has an on-board controller that ensures compatibility with numerous consumer electronic devices.
   
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3. What is the CompactFlash Association?

   The CompactFlash Association (CFA) was established in 1995, as a non-profit, mutually beneficial industry association. The CFA’s premise is that CompactFlash technology will result in the intro-duction of a new class of advanced, small, lightweight, low-powered mobile products that will significantly increase the productivity and enhance the lifestyle of millions of people. CompactFlash provides the capability to easily transfer all types of digital information and software between a large variety of digital systems. The goals of the CFA are to promote and encourage the worldwide adoption of CompactFlash technology as an open-industry standard.  
   
   Information on the CompactFlash Association can be found at hyperlink http://www.compactflash.org
   
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4. What does "Digital Film Compliant" mean?
   
   Digital Film Compliance provides customers a guarantee that all Lexar digital film cards are compatible with all cameras that support that card type. Please note that some older cameras may not support some large capacity digital film cards.
   
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5. Is performance important when talking about digital film?
   
   Yes! While all CompactFlash cards that are certified by the CompactFlash Association should operate in all CFA-compliant devices like digital cameras, some important performance differences can be found in CompactFlash cards used for storage, and those designed specifically as digital film. 
   
   Most flash-memory technology today was developed before the advent of today’s digital cameras, which require large image files to be processed quickly. In fact, most of the original applications for CompactFlash were for data access where READ performance was more important than WRITE performance. As digital camera applications, camera resolutions, and picture file sizes continue to grow, the ability to WRITE large files quickly has become a critical performance issue. Improved WRITE performance can signifi-cantly reduce the waiting time before another photograph can be taken ("image storage time"). 
   
   Lexar’s CompactFlash digital film features patented SpaceManager ™ technology, an innovative, indirect memory-mapping technique that significantly reduces the time a picture file can be written to the digital film card. While actual performance will vary between camera models, Lexar digital film offers sustained WRITE performance that is nearly two or three times faster than other CompactFlash solutions. In some digital cameras, Lexar digital film is 200% faster than general-purpose flash memory! Imagine the shots you could miss while waiting for your images to be stored: a baby’s smile, a wedding kiss, or any other precious moment.
   
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6. What does 4X, 12X, 16X, 32X,and40X (1X=150KB/sec.) performance mean?
   
   Because digital film WRITE performance is so important in capturing the right picture at the right moment, Lexar has implemented an easy-to-understand system to indicate the speed at which the card is capable of storing data. The system is adopted from the CD-ROM industry, in which the performance of CD-ROM drives are rated in "X" increments, where 1X is equal to a minimum sustained write speed of 150 kilobytes (KB) per second. Lexar will continue to introduce faster products with greater "X" ratings, giving consumers an easy way to recognize the latest in high-performance digital film.
   4X = Capable of 600KB/sec. Minimum Sustained Write Speed
   12X = Capable of 1.8MB/sec. Minimum Sustained Write Speed
   16X = Capable of 2.4MB/sec. Minimum Sustained Write Speed
   32X = Capable of 4.8MB/sec. Minimum Sustained Write Speed
   40X = Capable of 6.0MB/sec. Minimum Sustained Write Speed

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7. How many images can be stored on a digital film card?

   The number of pictures you can take varies depending on your camera model and complexity of the scene being photographed. To calculate how many pictures your card can hold, divide the capacity of your card by the average file size of your images. For example, if you have a 256MB card, and use a camera that has an average file size of 1.2MB, then 256 divided by 1.2 gives you approximately 213 pictures. As you change modes on your camera, the number of images will increase if you shoot in a lower resolution mode, and decrease if you shoot in a higher resolution mode.




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8. How many minutes of music can be stored on a digital media card?

   The minutes of music that your card can hold depends on the rate at which your songs were recorded. The standard bit rate for MP3 recordings is 128 Kbps. The bit rate (Kbps) is determined by the encoder software used to create your audio file. The higher the bit rate, the better the audio quality.



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9. What is JumpShot?
   
   JumpShot is a small, low cost, and optimized USB cable used to connect your USB-enabled CompactFlash card with your computer to transfer picture files at very high speed (up to 850KB/sec.). Lexar is able to manufacture JumpShot at a low cost because the USB feature is built into the USB-enabled CompactFlash card, which eliminates extra components in the cable. JumpShot ONLY works with the USB-enabled CompactFlash cards. And the best part is you don’t need to have your camera tied up downloading photos slowly, and you don’t need to purchase a separate card reader.
   
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10. What does the symbol CF+ represent?

    This symbol means the CompactFlash card meets the CompactFlash specifications, contains additional USB functionality, and is guaranteed to work in all digital cameras. CF+ is a symbol established by the CompactFlash Association.

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11. Want more information on Lexar products?

    For more product information and where to find Lexar products, call 1-800-789-9418 or visit www.lexar.com.
    
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