30MB/s Read & Write Speeds and 32GB Storage Capacity Help Photography and Video Enthusiasts Do More With Their DSLRs

PMA, Sydney, June 25, 2009 - SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ:SNDK), the global leader in flash memory cards, today introduced the fastest 32-gigabyte (GB)¹ SDHC card on the market. The 32GB SanDisk Extreme® SDHC card at up to 30 megabytes per second (MB/s)² read and write speeds combines industry-leading performance with massive storage capacity, helping digital photography enthusiasts utilize the advanced features of today's DSLR cameras.

"The market for entry to mid-level DSLR cameras is growing, and SDHC is becoming the de-facto card format for these devices," said Susan Park, director, retail product marketing, SanDisk. "Our card's 32GB of storage and up to 30MB/s read & write speeds enable DSLR users to shoot without worrying about storage or speed limitations. SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards provide consumers with a more enjoyable user experience, letting them focus on what is really important - the images that they are capturing."

Lightning-Fast Write Speed Captures Images Quickly
A memory card's write speed plays a crucial role in the overall system of the camera when taking pictures in rapid succession. If a card cannot process data quickly enough then the burst mode shooting may pause unexpectedly as the card catches up to the camera. Burst mode bottlenecks can lead to missing "the" shot, especially at sporting or other fast-motion events. The SanDisk Extreme SDHC card offers maximum data-transfer rates, giving consumers a memory card fast enough to unlock the full capabilities of their DSLRs.

The 32GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC card adheres to the SD Association's new Class 10 specification, which exceeds requirement for today's high definition (AVCHD) video recording. The card offers a sustained write speed fast enough to ensure high-definition video recording and capacity capable of storing 160 minutes of full HD 1920x1080 pixels at 24Mb/s data transfer rate.

Big Files Require Big Storage
Recently-released DSLR camera models like the Nikon D90 and D5000 offer consumers the ability to record HD videos, producing large files that can fill lesser-capacity cards quickly. Today's high-megapixel DSLRs also can generate massive still images like those produced in the RAW format used by professional photographers who want to take advantage of the enhanced picture quality and flexibility that RAW allows during post production.

RAW images demand up to ten times as much storage space as regular JPEG images, and when taken in rapid succession during burst mode can quickly fill smaller storage cards. The 32GB SanDisk Extreme SDHC card can store up to 2500 RAW³ images, providing photographers with piece of mind and confidence that they will not run out of space for their images.

Renowned for their world-class durability, SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards guarantee operation at extended temperatures ranging from minus 13 F (minus 25 C) to 185 F (85 C). SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards are fully compatible with any camera, card reader or other device that supports SDHC cards.

When placed in SanDisk's new ImageMate® Multi-Card USB 2.0 reader/writer, the SanDisk Extreme SDHC card transfers images and video to a computer at rates of up to 30MB/s. The card's fast data transfer rates enable photographers operating under tight deadlines to maximize critical workflow and enter post production as quickly as possible.

Class 10 Performance Sets a New Standard
An SD card's speed Class is based on its minimum data-transfer rate, and is used to ensure high-quality video recording standards. The SD Association added Class 10 as part of the SD 3.0 specification released earlier this year. The SanDisk Extreme SDHC card's performance exceeds the requirements of even the highest-quality AVCHD video recording device, and is currently the fastest Class 10 card in the world.

Availability:
The SanDisk Extreme SDHC 32GB cards will be shipping worldwide to major retailers in August.  Also in August, the current 4, 8 and 16GB capacity SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards will be upgraded from Class 6 to Class 10⁴.

About SanDisk:
SanDisk Corporation is the global leader in flash memory cards - from research, manufacturing and product design to consumer branding and retail distribution. SanDisk's product portfolio includes flash memory cards for mobile phones, digital cameras and camcorders; digital audio/video players; USB flash drives for consumers and the enterprise; embedded memory for mobile devices; and solid state drives for computers. SanDisk (www.sandisk.com/corporate) is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 company with more than half its sales outside of the United States.

1. 1 gigabyte (GB) = 1 billion bytes. Some capacity not available for data storage.
2. Based on SanDisk internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device.   1 megabyte (MB) = 1 million bytes.
3. Approximations: results will vary based on file size, resolution, compression, bit rate, content, host device, pre-loaded files and other factors. Based on 10MB per RAW file size assumption. See www.sandisk.com
4. SanDisk Extreme SDHC cards will replace SanDisk Extreme III 30MB/s Edition cards.

SanDisk Extreme 32GB Class 10 SDHC card. Photo provided by SanDisk Corp.

Speed versus Class Ratings Q&A

Q:  What's the difference between speed and class ratings for SDTM/SDHCTM cards?

A: Still digital images shot on high-megapixel cameras should utilize fast data throughput (a large pipe), for improved results when writing and reading images to and from the card. The speed rating measures maximum transfer speed for writing and reading images to and from the card, expressed as megabytes per second. However, video doesn't need as big a pipe because the video format is a smaller "fixed stream" that uses only a portion of the pipe.

Unlike card write speeds that measure maximum performance, class ratings measure the minimum sustained speed required for recording an even rate of video onto the card. The class rating number corresponds to the transfer rate measured in megabytes per second. Class 2 cards are designed for a minimum sustained transfer rate of 2 megabytes per second (MB/s)1, while Class 10 cards are designed for a minimum sustained transfer rate of 10MB/s2.

Q: What are the benefits of a using an SD/SDHC card with a higher speed rating?

A: Using flash memory cards rated for higher speeds allows images to be written to cards faster, which reduces waiting time between shots and enables continuous burst mode on more advanced cameras. The faster speed is especially beneficial in capturing a series of fast-action images or human expressions and reactions. Using faster memory cards also provides quicker transfer of both still images and video files from the camera to a computer (an action known as read speed), so there's less time spent waiting for files to offload from the memory card.

Q: What are the benefits of using an SD/SDHC card with a higher class rating? 

A: Using flash memory cards with higher class ratings ensures that the video captured on the cards is recorded at an even, sustained rate with no dropped frames which typically results in lost data and choppy playback. A higher class rating is not always better for video recording because it must meet the camera's specifications for minimum sustained transfer speed. However, using a card without the proper class rating on a more advanced camera, such as a high-definition (HD) camcorder or Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera with HD video recording, is likely to result in an error message indicating that video can only be recorded at a lower definition setting.

Q: What card ratings are generally recommended for different types of cameras?

A: SanDisk Extreme® SDHCTM cards3, which are currently rated up to 30MB/s, are recommended for DSLR cameras that take high-resolution images and provide continuous shooting mode or continuous burst mode. SanDisk Ultra® SDHC cards, which are currently rated for 15MB/s read and 9MB/s write speeds, are recommended for high-megapixel, high-end digital point-and-shoot cameras. Users should match class ratings with the camera or camcorder manufacturer's recommended specifications for video capture and playback. However, any camera or camcorder that captures high-definition video requires a minimum class rating of 4 or higher.

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