SD Cards and differences etc

[AB]

Guys, need to buy a memory card for the Panasonic Lumix FX500 I have just picked up.

There are cheap ones and there are more expensive ones, does it make much difference?

Also, is there a largest size card I can put into the FX500?

Looking to buy a 16GB unless someone has any reasons why I shouldn't?

(32's are too expensive for my needs).

Tutorial on SD memory cards appreciated!

[Nick M]

FX500 will take SD and SDHC (HC = high capacity) cards, so no reason why the 16GB one shouldn't work.

Personally I now avoid anything other than Sandisk cards - have had 'issues' with cheaper ones but have found Sandisk to be fine. Play.com, Amazon or 7 Day Shop would be where I'd source them from to avoid the risk of cheap ebay knock-offs.

Finally, if you're happy with the 'all your eggs in one basket' approach then a 16GB card is fine. Personally I prefer to have two or three smaller cards, just in case. But again, that was born out of my problems with losing some (thankfully non-important or irreplaceable) pictures from a cheaper card.

[AB]

Thanks Nick, that's much appreciated. Just looking at Play.com;

http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/560...

Says they are endorsed by National Geographic (the 16GB version is) - and this may be a stupid question, but this WILL work in the SD slot on my Macbook Pro won't it?

Cheers

[GetCarter]

Speed of the card also determines price. Buy a slow card and it will takes longer to write, so if you are trying to take several shots, quickly, then the camera will stop shooting whilst it writes.

[AB]

Ah OK, thanks, that's perfect.

I went for the above, albeit the 2 pack for £16 so that should do the job nicely I hope.