Hitachi 4GB Microdrive

I'm looking at getting a microdrive for use in a dSLR - Specifically a Hitachi 4GB. Is there any reasons why not to go with a microdrive?

thanx

Lndr

I've lost images while using microdrives, so I stay away from them.

Moving parts BAD!

I have used Microdrives for many years without a problem - that said, they can fail so I have a 4gig compact flash as a backup (never used it yet)

I currently have 4 and 6 Gig Hitachi - for the few extra dollars use the 6 gig.

The 6gig allows me to do 4 or 5 dives per day and I only download in the evening, usually about 250 or 300 RAW images, I don't bother deleting shots underwater - I change the battery in the camera every second day and strobes every day.

I am using a D2X.

regards

ron

My Hitachi 4 GB drive broke and I lost all the images on it. It was only 3 months old and I used it about 25 times. I’ll never buy or trust a micro drive again.

Marc

I bought 6 muvo mp3 players and extracted the 4gb drives. A photographer friend and I have used these for about 2 years now and no problems. Prices on CF flash have came down quite fast.

2gb cf card flash, san disk is about $100ish now.

Usually the cold keeps me from doing more than 2 dives on a battery. I usually change the CF and battery at the same time.

I know it's about time for the microdrives to die.... I hear there's a 32gb CF flash card

Curtis

I had an IBM Microdrive crash on me after limited use, and I've heard from numerous people that the (cheaper) Hitachi's are far LESS reliable. Don't waste your money, unless it's to get a small one as a backup. For your primary card, get a regular CF card (Lexar and Sandisk Ultra II are good choices, but almost ANY brand would be more reliable than a microdrive IMO). As someone else noted, moving parts are BAD...especially if you have a choice that does NOT have moving parts.

Well that'd be a consensus for CF over Microdrive :>

I was curious to hear what people thought about the microdrives as I've killed a few static state cards (mainly SD). Cost per GB was darn attractive though:P

cheers

Lndr

Apart from potential reliability issues, another reason to prefer a CF to a MD is write speed. Once I've filled the buffer of my D100 (only 4 shots, unfortunately), it takes close to 1 minute to write it all down to a Hitachi MD, but only 5 seconds on a high-speed CF (Lexar 80x or Sandisk Extreme III). This alone can make the difference between getting THE shot and having to come back the following year to try again...

Mat

I agree w/ all said. I use a 2 gig Sandisk card and have a 4gig microdrive as a backup/extra.

Cheers

James

Death to Microdrives!!!!

I've had problems. What's worse, I'm a slow learner. Just got back from Colorado. After filling two 4 gig CF cards, I had to slap a Microdrive in for the last 40 shots. Got around 20 off the card. Why do I do stuff like that? More than once? Over and over again?

I think I will toss them in with the sale of my D100. B)

I'm using the Hitachi 4GB microdrive with no problems so far. The card came with the camera as part of a kit.

I have had a microdrive fail on me once before about 3 years ago . . . I also use flash cards and have never had them fail. I suspect the microdrive, in addition to being less reliable, also uses more battery (again, the moving parts). If given a choice, I'll likely stick to flash cards when I can. I use the microdrive now since it is newest and if it is going to go, I'd like it to go while under warrrenty. I do like the capacity it has although I never come even close to using it all.

Here a good one for you! Don't try this at home! I flooded my S2 BIG TIME! Just for kicks I rinsed the CF card in fresh water a let it dry.

It worked and the images were still intact! still using it today almost a year later.

also have knocked my card reader off my desk while it was transferring data, not problems.

I did use a micro drive once and I noticed that it got very hot!

Here a good one for you! Don't try this at home! I flooded my S2 BIG TIME! Just for kicks I rinsed the CF card in fresh water a let it dry.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You are living on the edge

I also flooded my 1/2 G CF card, after rising it for 24 hours in vaporized water and then in 95% alcohol its returned to worked as usual with all the pictures that where on it are still there ( the last pictures of my beloved S30 that is now in the green pixels fields )