I noticed that the new Pentax 645 Medium Format body uses SD cards, not the CF card so common in all top-DSLR models. That took me by surprise.
I wonder if this trend, which we also see in other mainstream "semi pro" models from Pentax, Nikon (D7000) or Canon (60D), means that the CF cards are slowly to lose their stand against the petite SD cards, which are smaller in size, have simpler (safer) connectors and a mechanical read protect switch.
The SD readers seem to be omnipresent: Most PC's, Laptops, Netbooks, GPS devices, and of course, a majority of cameras have them. Of course we know that top speeds on CF cards (like the Sandisk Extreme Pro 90Mb/sec) top these of fastest SD cards, however in many existing bodies using both kinds (Canon, Nikon) the speed of SD card operation is comparable. The bottleneck is the camera itself, as it seems.
Clearly the socket for CF cards is more expensive, and having the plethora of pins, prone to mechanical damage. I have has such issue in my Jobo picture wallet, and in the FlashPac Wolverine as well. I used tweezers to straighten a bend pin more than once. The SD card socket solution is clearly superior.
Will we sit soon on a pile of CF's without use?
Any thoughts on that?
Thomas