Does Memory Card quality affect image quality

I think this may sound stupid, but I ask anyway...

A digital image is shot and recoreded on a memory card. Can the quality of the

memeory card affect the image quality (sharpness, lighting, contrast, white

balance etc.)

I know that poor quality of fake memory card can failso you lose your images,

but how about quality?

No. The image is either successfully recorded, or it's not. There is the remote possibility of corruption to a small part of the file that records the image, but that would result in something very different than a change in color, sharpness, etc. A file is a file is a file - the quality of the image recorded in the file is up to your camera, lenses, and technique... the memory card, or hard disk that later stores that data won't impact the qualitative aspects of the image, per se.

The media card is unlikely to have an effect on image quality. However it is possible - tho' unlikely - for image degradation to occur when transferring the photos from the media card or camera to a computer or other storage device. That's why some higher quality cables are shielded or use passive filters to help minimize the effects of radio frequency or electromagnetic interference.

 

If you have any doubts about the integrity of data transfer, try a different cable, a shorter length of cable or avoid stringing the transfer cable near telephones, speakers, etc.

 

Again, the potential risk for RFI/EMI interference is very slim, but worth keeping in mind if you have any doubts. In my experience, the effects are likely to be very obvious, not subtle or needing to be observed at the pixel level.

I can't see any way for RF interference to non-fatally degrade a digital transfer. It's not an analog signal. If bits are dropped or flipped then checksums won't add up or protocols will fail, and the computer will report an error.

 

As for the card, in theory a bit could flip and alter the file in a non-fatal manner. But practically, for all intents and purposes, the image is either there or it's not.

No, it doesn't.

It's a valid question but the answer is no, as already given. The important factor to realise is that there is nothing corresponding to a visible image on the card. It's just a long string of data bits. The file has to be processed by a file viewing program to display as a meaningful image. File corruption can happen, but then it usually results in no visible image: if the corrupt file is viewable onscreen, it will have gross faults, not small defects in qualities like sharpness.

If you color the outside of the memory card with a black sharpee, then all of the images will be darkened.(underexposed) Heh heh.

Thank you for your answers, especially Charles. I tried it and it didn't work. I had pictures that were all over exposed (exposure compensation) and tried your trick but I just ended up with a black card? Were you playing a game with Stanislav?

Heh heh....good impersonation of Borat there.....

Who is this Borat? I don't know him.

<p>Does Memory Card quality affect image quality ..<br>

Unlike all other answers, still I think ther should be some differences in quality. It probably sounds unproffesional thought, however I cant belive that price differencey between som Memory Cards is just an accident or cheeting. The manufactorers that make this very sensitive component should be aware of using both cheap and expensive materials for making this brilliant stuff. Dont you think that?<br>

Carol </p>