Is Tape The Next To Go On The Endangered Tech List?

I read this press release with some skepticism and surprise from SanDisk last week:

SanDisk Corporation announced today that flash memory CompactFlash® cards, which it originally invented, will be used in the new Grass Valley™ Infinity™ Series Digital Media Camcorder. The camcorder, which debuted in the United States on Saturday, has slots for two CompactFlash cards. It is the first camcorder introduced in the broadcast industry that uses non-proprietary, removable, solid-state flash memory cards as recording and playback media.

SanDisk’s flash memory cards offer a number of advantages over videotape, the traditional storage medium for video cameras. First of all, they are re-usable with no degradation in picture quality. Since there are no moving parts, cards are much more durable than videotape and allow for shooting in a wider variety of shooting conditions in the field. In addition, memory cards can greatly improve workflow in the editing suite since the content is downloaded directly into a laptop or computer and is ready for immediate editing. Videotape must be captured in real-time—transferring content from tape to computer hard drive—before it can be digitally edited, another step that requires time and additional equipment. The small size of the memory cards makes them easier to transport and store.

There are a few consumer video cameras that don't use magentic tape, utilizing alternatives like mini DVDR's, or flash cards. The Panasonic that uses SD cards comes immediately to mind. They have met with limited success. With the large storage requirements of video, I'm just not certain that flash memory is the ideal way to go.

The memory imaged in the press release (I've included it here as well) is an 8 GB compact flash card, part of their Ultra III pofessional series. It must be very new as I couldn't even find a price on it yet. The 4 GB version is retailing at Amazon for $161 and that's with a rebate! You can bet the double capacity 8 GB card will be more than twice as much as it's the largest flash card for sale anywhere. I'm sure that you'll need a sizable stack of these cards in order to complete any video project. I can only imagine how many you would need to complete a full length film.

Is this progress? It's too early to say yet. While this may be the start of a new trend towards pro video cameras using flash based memory, those miniDV video tapes are looking rather inexpensive right about now.

--Jonas

As always, your comments are welcome!