What is xD Card?

Published by Color Experts International September 2, 2023

What Does xD PictureCard Do?

The primary function of an xD-Picture Card is to serve as a storage medium for photos, videos, and other digital data captured or recorded by these devices. Here are some key functions and features:

Data Storage

The main purpose of the xD-Picture Card is to store digital data, including high-resolution images and videos. When inserted into a compatible digital camera, the card acts as the primary storage device for the media files captured by the camera.

Capacity Options

XD cards were available in various storage capacities, ranging from a few megabytes to a maximum of 2 gigabytes (GB). The available capacity would determine how many photos and videos the card could hold.

Compact Size

The xD-Picture Card was physically compact, with dimensions of approximately 20mm x 25mm x 1.7mm. This small size made it well-suited for use in compact digital cameras and other electronic devices where space was limited.

Read and Write Speeds

XD cards offered decent read and write speeds for the time they were popular. However, compared to some other memory card formats, such as Secure Digital (SD) cards or CompactFlash (CF) cards, XD cards were generally slower in terms of data transfer.

Compatibility

XD cards were initially used in cameras and devices from Olympus and Fujifilm, the companies that developed the format. Later on, other manufacturers produced devices compatible with XD cards. However, due to the emergence of more popular and versatile memory card formats, the widespread compatibility of XD cards diminished over time.

Obsolete Format

As of my last update in September 2021, XD cards were considered an obsolete format, and most modern digital cameras and electronic devices had shifted to using more popular and widely adopted memory card formats, such as SD cards or microSD cards.

Is xD Card Same as SD Card?

No, xD cards and SD cards are not the same. They are two different types of flash memory cards with distinct formats and physical characteristics. Here are the main differences between xD cards and SD cards:

Format and Size

xD Cards: xD-Picture Cards, developed by Olympus and Fujifilm, have a compact form factor with dimensions of approximately 20mm x 25mm x 1.7mm.
SD Cards: Secure Digital (SD) cards come in various sizes, but the standard SD card has dimensions of about 32mm x 24mm x 2.1mm. There are also smaller variants like microSD and miniSD cards that are used in specific devices.

Capacity

xD Cards: xD-Picture Cards were available in capacities ranging from a few megabytes to a maximum of 2 gigabytes (GB).
SD Cards: SD cards have a much wider range of capacity options, starting from a few megabytes and going up to several terabytes (TB) for the latest SDXC cards.

Compatibility

xD Cards: Initially, xD cards were used primarily in devices from Olympus and Fujifilm. Later on, some other manufacturers also produced devices compatible with xD cards. However, due to its limited adoption and declining popularity, compatibility with new devices became increasingly scarce.
SD Cards: SD cards have become the most widely adopted memory card format in the market. They are used in various digital cameras, camcorders, smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices. SD card slots are commonly found in modern devices, making SD cards highly versatile and widely compatible.

Read and Write Speeds

xD Cards: xD cards had decent read and write speeds for their time, but they were generally slower compared to some other memory card formats, such as SD cards or CompactFlash (CF) cards.
SD Cards: SD cards offer a wide range of read and write speeds, including high-speed options for capturing high-resolution photos and videos.

Popularity

xD Cards: xD cards were popular for a period but faced strong competition from other memory card formats and eventually declined in popularity.
SD Cards: SD cards have become the industry standard and are widely used in various electronic devices due to their popularity, versatility, and widespread compatibility.

What is the Difference Between xD Picture Card Type M and Type H?

Both Type M and Type H are variations of the xD-Picture Card format, which was developed by Olympus and Fujifilm for use in digital cameras and other compatible electronic devices. Here are the main distinctions between the two:

Storage Capacity

xD Picture Card Type M: Type M xD cards were available in storage capacities of up to 2 gigabytes (GB). This was the maximum capacity offered for Type M cards.
xD Picture Card Type H: Type H xD cards, introduced later than Type M, offered larger storage capacities. They were available in sizes up to 4 gigabytes (GB), providing more space for storing photos, videos, and other digital data.

Data Transfer Speeds

xD Picture Card Type M: Type M cards had a data transfer speed that was slower compared to Type H cards. This meant that transferring data to and from the card, such as copying photos to a computer, might take a bit longer.
xD Picture Card Type H: Type H cards featured faster data transfer speeds, enabling quicker copying of data between the card and a computer or other devices.

Compatibility

xD Picture Card Type M: Type M cards were compatible with devices that supported the xD-Picture Card format, including cameras and other electronic devices from Olympus and Fujifilm, as well as some devices from other manufacturers that adopted the xD format.
xD Picture Card Type H: Type H cards were also compatible with devices that supported the xD-Picture Card format, but they might not be fully backward compatible with older devices designed for lower-capacity cards, like Type M. Some older devices might not be able to use the larger capacity and faster speeds of Type H cards.

What are the pros and cons of using xD Cards?

Here are the pros and cons of using xD cards:

Pros

Compact Size: xD cards are physically small and have a compact form factor, making them suitable for use in compact digital cameras and other electronic devices with limited space.
Durable and Reliable: xD cards are designed to be robust and can withstand various environmental conditions, making them more durable and reliable in certain situations.
Support for Panoramic Mode: Some cameras with xD card support offer a unique “Panoramic Mode” that allows users to capture wide-angle panoramic shots directly on the memory card without the need for stitching multiple photos together.
Compatibility with Older Devices: If you have an older camera or electronic device that specifically supports xD cards, using these cards can be an advantage to keep using the device without the need for upgrades.

Cons

Limited Capacity Options: Compared to other memory card formats like SD cards, xD cards offer relatively limited storage capacity. The maximum capacity available for xD cards (2GB for Type M, 4GB for Type H) might be insufficient for some modern high-resolution cameras and recording needs.
Slow Data Transfer Speeds: xD cards have slower data transfer speeds compared to other modern memory card formats, which means it takes longer to copy files to and from the card.
Declining Popularity: As xD cards have lost popularity over the years, finding new cards, and devices that support them, might become increasingly challenging. Many newer devices do not include xD card slots.
Pricing: Due to their diminishing demand, xD cards might be more expensive per gigabyte compared to other memory card formats offering higher capacities.
Incompatibility with Many Devices: As newer devices adopt more popular and versatile memory card formats like SD cards, xD cards become less compatible with the majority of modern electronics, reducing their overall usefulness.

To Conclude

So, hopefully you got all the basics regarding xD cards. Despite being widely used for a time, XD cards faced strong competition from other memory card formats, such as Secure Digital (SD) cards and CompactFlash (CF) cards, which offered larger capacities and faster transfer speeds. As a result, XD cards gradually lost popularity and became less common in the market.