I'm almost embarrassed to ask this question; hate showing my technical ignorance, but here goes: Is there anyway at all that smart media can be used in cameras that take compact flash? i.e. some sort of adapter, or something... I have Agfa 1280 with 2 8mb and 1 4mb smart media... I am giving serious energy toward the purchase of the new Nikon 950.... anyway I can make use of my smart media with the Nikon?

Elizabeth

-- Elizabeth Karan (ekaran@surfree.com), February 22, 1999

Answers

The answer, as far as I know, is NOPE! While technically possible, as I understand it, it would probably be impractical from a form and size factor standpoint. I do think it would be possible in a purely technical manner since smartmedia and compact flash are supposed to be based on the same memory technology, but compact flash also adds an onboard controller chip. Smartmedia devices must provide that function onboard the device rather than the memory cards.

-- Gerald Payne (gmp@francorp.francomm.com), February 22, 1999.

Two more comments. The fact that smartmedia to PCMCIA (notebook computer PC Card) adapters are more expensive than compact flash to PCMCIA adapters is probably due to the cost of adding a controller chip to the smartmedia adaptor.

My other comment is more generic: No one should feel they're displaying any ignorance here. From what I've read in the last few months, with extremely few exceptions, the users and originator(s) of this forum are decent people who genuinely enjoy helping other people and talking about a hobby or profession they love. As a fellow user, my compliments to you all. I know I've learned a lot here.

-- Gerald Payne (gmp@francorp.francomm.com), February 22, 1999.

I'll second Gerald's comments: The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked!! - And many thanks to Gerald for his contributions here!

(Also, his remarks are right on the money vis a vis CF & SmartMedia...)

-- Dave Etchells (hotnews@imaging-resource.com), February 25, 1999.