John Chad, Bachelor Degree in Computer Science & Computer Engineering.
Russel Collins
If you are looking to buy an Instax Mini 9 instant film printer then it might be worth checking out which is the right size SD card that works with your device.
In this article I am going to look at some of the most popular Instant Cameras such as the GoPro Hero4 Silver Edition and the Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus. It should give you a good idea if there is any compatibility issues in general between different models of instant cameras and specific brands.
As well as this I’m also going to go over whether the new smaller sized SD Cards like those from Samsung (Micro) have any benefits or drawbacks when compared to standard SD Cards.
So let’s get started!
What is a Micro SD Card?
A microSD card can hold up to 2TB and comes in two types known as UHS-II Speed Class 3 & 4 Memory Cards. The difference being class means how fast they read data from storage devices.
Class 1 has speeds of 30MB/sec maximum recording speed and write speeds of 15 MB/sec maximum writing speed whereas class2 has a minimum transfer rate of 60MB/sec but may vary due to file type etc.
The higher classes mean faster performance so these would be used by professionals who need to record HD video clips or images quickly. If you just want a cheap way to store photos then a lower class card is fine for that purpose too.
There are many differences between each brand including dimensions, connectors, supported operating systems and more.
For example Sony uses “SxP” while Panasonic use the letters “SA1”. However both cards work exactly the same except for branding. You’ll see them interchangeable within certain brands even though they are technically not the same product.
Some manufacturers include their own proprietary connector system instead of using the traditional USB Type A or MicroUSB connection. This includes the case where the company makes its own charger called a dock which only fits their branded cards.
Other accessories available include cases, adapters, car mounts and other attachments designed specifically for the model you’re buying.
It’s important to know that all SD cards do come with a limited amount of life before they stop working correctly. They degrade naturally as time goes on, however once inserted into an incorrect reader / writer unit, it could cause permanent damage to the internal components.
This isn’t always obvious until after purchase because the error message doesn’t tell you anything about why it stopped functioning properly. In order to avoid disappointment make sure you check against the manufacturer recommended specification for longevity.
Instax Mini9 – What SD card does insta360 take?
The latest compact Polaroid instamatic style cameras require a special version of SD card to function. These were released around September 2016. So far there hasn’t been much information regarding compatibility with the newer SD versions.
However the older SD versions aren’t suitable for use in the newest cameras either.
Although the specs don’t mention which format was originally intended for the new cameras, it seems likely that it will follow suit with the previous generation Polaroid mini 9 Instant Camera releases in terms of sizes.
Most importantly it shouldn’t matter if you bought a pre-owned item second hand or purchased something brand new off Amazon or eBay as long as you stick to the original packaging contents.
With this said it looks like anyone selling online without taking pictures of the actual SD card inside the box is unlikely to receive a genuine fitment. Therefor buyers beware…
You should still find full details of the required specifications and instructions here. But keep in mind that this document was written back in 2011 so the correct procedure now may differ slightly.
To recap, the requirements for SD cards for instant cameras are listed below:
32GB+ Size
UHS-I Speed Class 3 or above
Compatible with SD Association Format 2nd edition
Doesn’t support FAT16 files
Uses dual pin interface
Newer Generation Polaroid Mini9 Cameras – Which SD card does insta360 take?
Here are the official specs for SD cards used in the latest Polaroid Style Cameras. Although they haven’t mentioned the exact name of the SD card itself, this should help you narrow down which ones are safe to use for your particular model.
Again, although the spec sheet says 32gb+, it’s possible to fit larger cards onto the SD slot provided it supports Dual Interface mode. Some people report success fitting 64Gb cards onto the Polaroid Mini9.
These tests have never been verified officially so if you decide to try please ensure you double check yourself first!
We’ve found that a lot of users are reporting that the smallest card currently usable in the Polaroid Minis is actually a 16 GB SanDisk microSD card. We tested this ourselves and discovered that it worked perfectly.
While testing we noticed that formatting errors occurred sometimes, especially during initial setup. When this happens simply unmounting the media fixes the problem.
One major issue we encountered was with the camera freezing upon insertion of the microSD card. After restarting the camera everything returned to normal again.
Another user reported that his camera wouldn’t recognize the card regardless of the brand or capacity. This appears to be caused by a faulty adapter cable causing interference to the contacts.
Finally, another person had problems with corrupt boot sectors and therefore couldn’t access the menu options. He managed to fix this by performing a factory reset via recovery settings.
Now that we’ve covered some of the basics let’s move onto comparing the difference between SDHC vs SDXC formats.
Which is better microSDHC or SDXC?
When choosing a memory card you should consider several factors: form factor, class rating, capacity and price.
First lets cover the physical characteristics of each kind of SD card. Both SD and microSD cards have differing interfaces, voltage ranges and dimensions.
Standard SD cards are often referred to as Full-size cards as they measure 80mm x 40mm in length. Compared to microSD cards, which are less than half the size. Most microSD cards are 22 mm wide and 28mm high.
They can handle power levels ranging from +3V to +12 VDC input voltages. Standard SD cards usually operate at +5VDC.
Because microSD cards are smaller in size, they offer greater portability making them ideal for carrying around anywhere.
Also, since they occupy less space, they provide increased protection when storing sensitive data. For instance, photographers tend to carry lenses and bulky equipment, and a small card offers added security.
On the flip side, larger capacities allow bigger amounts of data to be stored. That allows you to capture longer videos and takes fewer shots to fill up a memory card.
In conclusion, both SDHC and SDXC cards have pros and cons associated with them. However, unless you really care about getting the highest performance possible from your memory card, you won’t notice any significant difference.
Both cards perform identically when transferred to a computer or digital photo frame. Also, they are backwards compatible with each other. Just remember to pay attention to the following things:
Check the documentation supplied with your camera. Sometimes manufacturers will specify which card is optimum for their products.
Ensure you have checked the maximum rated current for the card. This varies according to the class rating. Some cards can withstand higher currents than others. Don’t exceed the stated limit.
Never attempt to force installation of incompatible cards. Doing so may result in damaged hardware.
Always choose cards with matching pins. Not doing so may lead to unreliable connections.
If you feel uncertain, consult a technical expert prior to purchasing a card.
Lastly, microSD cards are almost twice the width of standard SD cards. As such, they must be handled carefully. To prevent scratches and potential breakage, insert the card into its corresponding slot. Then close the door firmly behind it.
Keep in mind that microSD cards are not made equal. Each one performs differently based on design, material and quality control standards. Therefore, we recommend reading reviews of various kinds of microSD cards.
An excellent resource is our comparison page covering microSD cards across multiple categories. Here you can compare specs, features, ratings and prices to determine which microSD card is the best option for your needs.
Just click the link below to head straight to the section you’d like to view.
Is microSDXC compatible with microSD?
Yes, absolutely. And no, definitely not.
Since the introduction of microSD cards, there have been numerous reports claiming incompatibility between microSD cards and SD readers/writers produced by different companies.
While it is true that SD and microSD memory cards share similar interfaces, they are not compatible with each other.
The reason for this stems from the fact that they use completely different electrical signals. One is 3.0v DC, the other is 12 volts AC. Since the signal output differs drastically, there is little chance of communicating effectively.