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	Introduction
»	Micro Storage devices

DELETE OR REFORMAT?

When it is time to remove the images from your card, it is better to reformat the card than to just delete the images. Normally when you delete an image it only deletes the index data from the file, but not the file itself. To help prevent the cards from becoming corrupt and to be sure you have the maximum amount of space for your images, I recommend that you reformat the cards after every use.

WA images storage card

Some manufactures are producing cards with Write Acceleration (WA). To be able to take advantage of Write Acceleration your camera must have an optimized CF interface. Write Acceleration will work with the Nikon DSLRs, but not the Coolpix models.

*In order to use the 4 gigabyte or higher cards you must have a camera that is compatible with FAT-32. Check your camera's manual. Ensure your camera’s firmware is up to date.

**Must have firmware updated to Version 2. The update must be done by Nikon at an authorized service center.

***Not tested by Nikon and therefore not recommended.
For a complete listing of approved CF cards, see the D200 online manual, page 183.

CONNECTIVITY

I recommend that you do not connect your camera directly to your computer when you download images. You should use a card reader instead. If for some reason there is a voltage spike, the card reader would be damaged and not your camera. The card reader is much cheaper to replace and it will hook up to any one of your USB ports.

MICRO STORAGE DEVICES

These devices are actually a very small hard drive the size of a CompactFlash Type II memory card. I think they are an engineering marvel. In December of 2002 Hitachi bought IBM's disk drive division and has made significant advances in the production of these devices. They have reduced the size of the read-write head and have increased the data transfer rate.

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Hitachi now produces 512 megabyte, 1 gigabyte and 4 gigabyte Microdrives. You can use the 512 megabyte and 1 gigabyte drives in cameras that have the CompactFlash Type II slot. These are Coolpix models 5000, 5400, 5700, 8700 and the Nikon DSLRs.

In order to use the 4 gigabyte Microdrive you must have a camera that is compatible with FAT-32.

Warning: Do not use the Microdrive above 10,000 feet. The Microdrive uses air to float the heads and above 10,000 feet the mass of the air is too low. Operation in low density air will cause the head to damage the media and could result in loss of data.