SanDisk debuts Extreme IV CF, 4GB SDHC

SanDisk this week introduced its SanDisk Extreme IV line of CompactFlash digital media cards--which it calls the "world's fastest"--as well as debuted new high-capacity 4GB SD digital media. The Extreme IV cards, designed for professional photographers who require high-performance for medium format and high-end digital single lens reflex (SLR) cameras, are available in capacities of up to 8GB; they deliver minimum read and write speeds of 40MB/sec, which the company claims are the fastest flash memory cards in the world. SanDisk also introduced its new SanDisk Extreme FireWire reader that can transfer images from the SanDisk Extreme IV cards to a computer at up to 40MB/sec. The cards are available in 2GB, 4GB and 8GB capacities for $160, $320, and $640.

SanDisk Extreme IV cards use SanDisk-developed ESP (Enhanced Super-Parallel Processing) technology that combine fast NAND flash memory chips and controller designs, 32-bit RISC processing and advanced algorithms in an architecture that streamlines read and write data transfer operations.

"The best CompactFlash cards on the market until now are capable of real-world throughput of between 15MB-17MB/second in the best shipping readers we've tested," according to freelance photographer Rob Galbraith. "By comparison, the 2GB SanDisk Extreme IV card, when inserted into an Extreme FireWire Reader, tops out at a whopping 38.6MB/second. Given the blazing card-to-computer speed of the Extreme IV CompactFlash cards, the time it takes to transfer a big assignment's worth of photos is about to be cut significantly."

For a limited time, the company will offer an introductory bundle pack that includes a SanDisk Extreme IV CompactFlash card and a SanDisk Extreme FireWire reader for $240 (2GB card+reader) and $400 (4GB card + reader). The FireWire reader, due by the end of the month, will be available separately for $80, while a USB 2.0 version will be available for $25 in August.

The company said it will continue to offer the SanDisk Extreme III and SanDisk Ultra II lines. In the U.S. and Europe, a free 30-day trial version of Adobe Photoshop CS2 software is bundled with each SanDisk Extreme FireWire Reader. The cards also include RescuePRO software--for both Mac and Windows users--that allows photographers to easily recover accidentally deleted images, lost digital images or data.

SanDisk debuts 4GB SDHDC cards

SanDisk earlier this week introduced a 4GB SD High-Capacity (SDHC) card in a new line of digital SD cards that are rated Class 2 for speed and performance. The new SDHC cards can store more than 2,000 high-resolution pictures, more than 1,000 digital songs or up to 8 hours of MPEG 4 video on the largest capacity media. SanDisk said that the new line of SDHC cards employ a new architecture that is not backwards compatible with older SD-compatible devices.

"Though standard SD and SDHC cards look identical in size and shape, only SDHC-compatible products will be able to accept the new SDHC cards," according to the company. "SanDisk differentiates its new cards with the new SDHC logo on the card and retail package."

SDHC is the new designation for SD cards larger than 2GB that adhere to the SD 2.00 specification, a completely new design that is required for cards and hosts to support 4GB to 32GB capacities. The new SDHC readers work with both SDHC and SD cards; however, the company said that SDHC cards require an SDHC-compatible reader.

The 4GB SDHC card will be bundled with the MicroMate USB 2.0 reader, available separately for $20, at no extra charge. The bundle will be available later this month for $200 (€160).

Filed under: upgrades/storage