On the one hand, the fact that the boffins at Panasonic have managed to squeeze 64 whole Gigabytes into something the size of an SD card is amazing. Phenomenal even. On the other hand, it’ll cost you both your arm, your leg and some change.
Coming in February, Panasonic will release both a 48GB and a 64GB SDXC card on the Australian market. The 64GB will set you back $1,399 RRP, while the 48GB will cost $1,049.
I know, that sounds incredibly expensive. You’ll probably never pay that much. But just think: in a few years, you’ll be able to pick up a 64GB card for the price you’re paying for a 4GB card today. Doesn’t that make you feel warm and fuzzy? Just a little bit?
Panasonic introduces new 64-GB and 48-GB SDXC Memory Cards
Melbourne, 27 January, 2010 – Panasonic today announced the Australian availability of the company’s first 64-GB and 48-GB SDXC Memory Cards1. The new SDXC Memory Cards, the RP-SDW64G (64-GB) and RP-SDW48G (48-GB) are Panasonic’s largest-capacity GOLD cards with Class 10 speed specification. Advanced Super Intelligent Controller technology helps to improve the reliability of the card and extend its lifetime. The new 64-GB and 48-GB SDXC Memory Cards will be introduced in Australia in February 2010 with retail prices of $1,399 and $1,049 respectively.
SDXC is the next generation SD Memory Card, a new standard for storing data more than 32-GB and up to 2 terabytes. The Panasonic 64-GB SDXC Memory Card’s massive capacity makes it ideal for recording AVCHD High Definition video, and high-resolution or even RAW still photos.
When used with Panasonic’s newly-released camcorders, such as the Panasonic HDC-SD60, the 64-GB SDXC Memory Card can record up to 8 hours and 30 minutes of video, while recording in the highest video quality in HA mode. Or when recording in 1920 x 1080i in HE mode, the SDXC Memory Card can hold approximately 27 hours and 30 minutes of video. The 48-GB SDXC Memory Card will have nearly the same capacity as a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc, and can hold 6 hours and 20 minutes of HD video content recorded in HA mode and 20 hours and 20 minutes when recorded in HE mode2.
With the Class 10 speed specification and maximum data transfer speed of up to 22MB/s, the new Panasonic SDXC Memory Cards allows users to enjoy superb data writing and reading performance. Panasonic’s newly-released 2010 Camcorder and LUMIX compact digital still camera range3 are compatible with the SDXC format. These new SD cards are the perfect solution for a Full HD camcorder; or a digital still camera, for high-speed burst shooting when taking still photos.
Made in Japan, the 64-GB and 48-GB SDXC Memory Cards, along with other Panasonic GOLD Series Memory Cards, offer a longer lifetime, thanks to the adoption of Panasonic’s newly-developed Super Intelligent Controller, an evolution from the current technology used in the Silver Series SD Memory Cards. With the new Super Intelligent Controller, flash memory is automatically refreshed with error correction, thus preventing data damage, and ensuring a longer lifetime.
The new SDXC Memory Cards also include technology designed to minimise accidental corruption caused by a power interruption, such as the device being dropped, or the Memory Card being removed while data is being transferred. Panasonic’s SDXC Memory Card robustness is reliable even under severe temperature conditions from
-25°C to 85°C4.Panasonic has also announced the expansion of its Class 4 SILVER series of SD cards, with new 32-GB and 24-GB SDHC cards available in Australia from February 2010. The new SILVER series models also feature an Intelligent Controller and data transfer speeds up to 20MB/s, with retail prices of $299 (RP-SDP32G) and $219 (RP-SDP24G).