Question: Storing SD Memory Cards

[Disles1]

I'm trying to decide between a hard or soft case for the 3 or 4 SD memory cards I want to take with me on vacation. I won't need to access them quickly and won't be taking them into a harsh environment - though sometimes the airport counts as harsh ;>) The main purpose of the case is to keep them organized and in some safety.

I still have the individual plastic cases the cards came in so I wonder if that would help if the cards were in a soft case? Would SD cards fit into the mesh pockets of soft cases if they were in the plastic cases?

So, if the cards (and a couple of small extra batteries) were carried in a messenger-type camera bag while on vacation which type of SD card case would you select?

[loosecanon]

I keep cards in a plastic case and then in the holder provided in my camera bag, less likely to get lost rather than in a separate wallet sized thing.
I also make a point of carrying them on me through airport security - the stronger xrays of baggage check can damage the image information - and anything electronic may be examined in more detail.

[Mike Buckley]

I have always placed my SD cards in a soft case without using the semi-hard plastic case the cards are sometimes sold in. I've never had a problem.

the stronger xrays of baggage check can damage the image information

Not according to SanDisk. The far greater risk is that your baggage stored underneath the airplane gets lost, so that's a good enough reason to personally carry the cards onboard.

[NorthernFocus]

My single biggest worry with SD cards is losing the little buggers. To avoid doing so, I use a nylon/velcro closure wallet style storage system for them. The pockets are sized specific to the card type so the plastic case that they come in won't fit. This system works for me because it forces the dicipline on me to put the cards into the wallet which is big enough to avoid losing. In order to get another empty card I have to access the wallet so put the used one back in the same slot the fresh one just came out of. Empty cards label up, used ones label down. And yes the card wallet travels on my person.

[Manfred M]

I keep cards in a plastic case and then in the holder provided in my camera bag, less likely to get lost rather than in a separate wallet sized thing.
I also make a point of carrying them on me through airport security - the stronger xrays of baggage check can damage the image information - and anything electronic may be examined in more detail.

X-rays DO NOT damage memory cards. Film yes, as the X-rays can cause photochemical reactions (knocking electrons of of the siliver halides (salts) in the emulsion.

[Manfred M]

Hard case, for sure. I've had SD cards break (the two plastic halves separate) when bent, so a solid case will prevent this from happening.

[nimitzbenedicto]

I keep cards in a plastic case and then in the holder provided in my camera bag, less likely to get lost rather than in a separate wallet sized thing..

Yes. simple looking dedicated small plastic cases for mem cards do well.

[Disles1]

X-rays DO NOT damage memory cards. Film yes, as the X-rays can cause photochemical reactions (knocking electrons of of the siliver halides (salts) in the emulsion.

I wonder if static electricity - yes, I live in a dry climate especially in winter - would affect digital storage? I notice that many electronic components are shipped in electrostatic packaging.

[Manfred M]

I wonder if static electricity - yes, I live in a dry climate especially in winter - would affect digital storage? I notice that many electronic components are shipped in electrostatic packaging.

Any solid-state electronic device can be damaged by static electricity discharge. So don't touch the metal contacts on the card when handling it and you should be okay.

[Black Pearl]

If they are good ones then they are damn near indestructible. Mine are in various pockets, at the bottom of bags, the boot (trunk) of the car, in draws, they've been in the washing machine and they still work. I do try to gather them together once in a while and I bung them in a hard LowePro case I was given by a rep but only so I can find them easily. After that they go back to being dumped (lost) all over the place.

[JR1]

That's where they all went

Believe me they are tougher than you think

Or use one of these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SDHC-MMC-C...item461b1e07f4

[rpcrowe]

I use CF cards which are virtually indestructible and keep them in a pair of soft cases by Optech (no longer made).

Each case holds six CF cards. I have two cases and divide my faster cards my older and slower cards between the two cases. That way if I should lose a case, I will have some of my faster cards for primary use and slower cards for backup in either case.

Each card is held in a mesh pocket. I have the front of the CF card facing out when it is ready to shoot and the rear of the card facing out when it has been filled.

If a photographer is worried about the durability of the SD cards, a case like this might be the trick. It is certainly cheap enough...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silver-Alumi...item3a8beb60bf

[Glenn NK]

I'm trying to decide between a hard or soft case for the 3 or 4 SD memory cards I want to take with me on vacation. I won't need to access them quickly and won't be taking them into a harsh environment - though sometimes the airport counts as harsh ;>) The main purpose of the case is to keep them organized and in some safety.

I still have the individual plastic cases the cards came in so I wonder if that would help if the cards were in a soft case? Would SD cards fit into the mesh pockets of soft cases if they were in the plastic cases?

So, if the cards (and a couple of small extra batteries) were carried in a messenger-type camera bag while on vacation which type of SD card case would you select?

The airport is not harsh on cards - I've had all of mine through many times.

The cards are the least of your worries. If I had only four SD cards (I have eight CF cards), I'd carry them in my shirt pocket in their little plastic cases.

Glenn

[jcuknz]

I went to my local plastic store "The Plastic Box" and found a small hard case just a bit bigger than my SD cards ... it holds about five from memory ... more recently for another project I found they were not stocking singles any more so I had to buy a strip of seven, probably useful for medications.