K10D - can I use a SD/HC Memory card ?

lesmore49 · 02-17-2009, 10:06 AM

I went to pick up a San Disk Extreme 111 4 G memory card SD/HC. The manual of my K10D says use SD cards and the store confirmed that. So I didn't get the SD/HC.

Is this correct ? I noticed that a newer Pentax DSLR had the SD/HC on the memory card door...my K10D doesn't so I'm guessing that's the case.

pentaxmz · 02-17-2009, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by lesmore49

I went to pick up a San Disk Extreme 111 4 G memory card SD/HC. The manual of my K10D says use SD cards and the store confirmed that. So I didn't get the SD/HC.

Is this correct ? I noticed that a newer Pentax DSLR had the SD/HC on the memory card door...my K10D doesn't so I'm guessing that's the case.

Yes, the K10D is compatible with SDHC memory cards so enjoy!

But remember to buy quality, name brand cards... because with the higher capacity, you might lose a lot more photos if the card fails.

GoldenWreckedAngle · 02-17-2009, 10:53 AM

Yes, all of my cards are HC and they work great in both the K10D and K100D. I do have the latest firmware on both bodies though. If memory serves better HC support was added in one of those upgrades but I could be wrong. I know the K10D shot fine with a high capacity card right out of the box. In fact, I actually used a HC card to install the upgrade.

budkid · 02-17-2009, 01:50 PM

does the k10d go up to 16gb??? Or is 8gb the limit?

winglik · 02-17-2009, 02:19 PM

My K10D has the SDHC logo on the memory door. Anyway, it will support 16gb. Make sure you get the class 6, which is faster speed. Make sure you are on the newest firmware. (1.3)

lesmore49 · 02-17-2009, 02:22 PM

Thanks for the responses. On page 48 of my K10D manual it says SD...but then, on the side memory card cover of the camera it mentions SD HC. On the manual front cover it shows the symbol for SD and HC.

Confusing eh...what...as they used to say in those old English movies.

BTW I noticed the manual cover and the mem. card camera door after I submitted my question to this forum.

I called Pentax tech help and they asked me power up the screen to determine if I have software version 130...I do. They said it should be able to handle SD HC.

Thank you ...posters....for your assistance in this matter.

Lloydy · 02-17-2009, 02:31 PM

My K10 uses SD/HC cards with no problems, but one of my computers, supposedly the most powerfull of the 3 I've got, won't recognise them through it's built in card reader, but is fine when I plug the camera in with the USB cable.

pentaxmz · 02-17-2009, 02:59 PM

Originally posted by GoldenWreckedAngle

Yes, all of my cards are HC and they work great in both the K10D and K100D. I do have the latest firmware on both bodies though. If memory serves better HC support was added in one of those upgrades but I could be wrong. I know the K10D shot fine with a high capacity card right out of the box. In fact, I actually used a HC card to install the upgrade.

No, HC is different electrically and not a firmware upgrade. Now the firmware may be required for properly addressing the memory banks but you will always need the proper hardware connection in the first place.

pentaxmz · 02-17-2009, 03:02 PM

Originally posted by budkid

does the k10d go up to 16gb??? Or is 8gb the limit?

Yes and I would suspect that you should be able to use up to 32GB SDHC cards (the maximum for SD 2.0 specification) in the K10D.

winglik · 02-17-2009, 03:29 PM

Originally posted by Lloydy

My K10 uses SD/HC cards with no problems, but one of my computers, supposedly the most powerfull of the 3 I've got, won't recognise them through it's built in card reader, but is fine when I plug the camera in with the USB cable.

your card reader is the older version, the current model will read SDHC. or just use the cable

pentaxmz · 02-17-2009, 03:51 PM

Originally posted by Lloydy

My K10 uses SD/HC cards with no problems, but one of my computers, supposedly the most powerfull of the 3 I've got, won't recognise them through it's built in card reader, but is fine when I plug the camera in with the USB cable.

Some of the Sandisk SDHC cards include a 'free' USB SDHC pocket reader (called Micromate). The reader is sure nice to have when I am not near a computer with a compatible reader and the 4GB card can be purchased for around $20.00 (or less). It's class 2 but it still works fine in my K20D (as long as you are not filling up the buffer with rapid shots).

Here it is: http://www.sandisk.com/Corporate/PressRoom/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?ID=3470

BTW, I never plug in my camera into the computer in order to read the SD card.... way toooo slow.

But some have pointed out that taking the SD card out of the camera creates too much wear/tear; that's just silly. You better hope that your camera can support, at least, 20000 insertions before failure. That means 5 insertions every day for 10 years.

I doubt you would want to use this current model digital camera in 10 years.

**Kerrowdown** · 02-17-2009, 03:52 PM

Aye it does, no problem.

ryan s · 02-17-2009, 04:47 PM

I bought a cheap ($15?) Dynex internal card reader from Best Buy in late 2007...it reads the SDHC cards. My dad's Compaq PC purchased earlier that year can't read them.

Go figure...

So I keep a Micro Mate reader in my bag at all times...not like it takes up much space anyway.

pw-pix · 02-17-2009, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by pentaxmz

No, HC is different electrically

I don't think that is accurate, the file system is FAT32 on the SDHC cards, otherwise the interface is the same.

UnknownVT · 02-17-2009, 08:36 PM

SDHC at Wikipedia
(link should go to the SDHC section - if not, it's about 2/3 down the page)

I believe K10D had SDHC support from the start -
it was the K100D that needed firmware updates to support SDHC.

02-17-2009, 10:06 AM	#1
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,342	K10D - can I use a SD/HC Memory card ? I went to pick up a San Disk Extreme 111 4 G memory card SD/HC. The manual of my K10D says use SD cards and the store confirmed that. So I didn't get the SD/HC. Is this correct ? I noticed that a newer Pentax DSLR had the SD/HC on the memory card door...my K10D doesn't so I'm guessing that's the case.

02-17-2009, 02:59 PM	#8
pentaxmz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 659	Originally posted by GoldenWreckedAngle Yes, all of my cards are HC and they work great in both the K10D and K100D. I do have the latest firmware on both bodies though. If memory serves better HC support was added in one of those upgrades but I could be wrong. I know the K10D shot fine with a high capacity card right out of the box. In fact, I actually used a HC card to install the upgrade. No, HC is different electrically and not a firmware upgrade. Now the firmware may be required for properly addressing the memory banks but you will always need the proper hardware connection in the first place. Last edited by pentaxmz; 02-17-2009 at 03:04 PM.

02-17-2009, 03:51 PM	#11
pentaxmz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 659	Originally posted by Lloydy My K10 uses SD/HC cards with no problems, but one of my computers, supposedly the most powerfull of the 3 I've got, won't recognise them through it's built in card reader, but is fine when I plug the camera in with the USB cable. Some of the Sandisk SDHC cards include a 'free' USB SDHC pocket reader (called Micromate). The reader is sure nice to have when I am not near a computer with a compatible reader and the 4GB card can be purchased for around $20.00 (or less). It's class 2 but it still works fine in my K20D (as long as you are not filling up the buffer with rapid shots). Here it is: http://www.sandisk.com/Corporate/PressRoom/PressReleases/PressRelease.aspx?ID=3470 BTW, I never plug in my camera into the computer in order to read the SD card.... way toooo slow. But some have pointed out that taking the SD card out of the camera creates too much wear/tear; that's just silly. You better hope that your camera can support, at least, 20000 insertions before failure. That means 5 insertions every day for 10 years. I doubt you would want to use this current model digital camera in 10 years. Last edited by pentaxmz; 02-17-2009 at 03:58 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Memory card door on K10D faulty	Mike.P®	Pentax DSLR Discussion	1	02-06-2010 12:56 PM
K7 & K10D memory card problem	Kemal	Pentax DSLR Discussion	7	12-14-2009 01:02 PM
What's the largest memory card a K10D can take?	Hannican	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	4	09-15-2009 01:11 PM
K10D No memory card in the camera problem	Niemiri	Pentax DSLR Discussion	12	12-30-2008 05:36 PM
K10D problem or memory card issue?	harv3589	Pentax DSLR Discussion	19	07-16-2007 07:29 PM

02-17-2009, 10:19 AM	#2
pentaxmz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 659	Originally posted by lesmore49 I went to pick up a San Disk Extreme 111 4 G memory card SD/HC. The manual of my K10D says use SD cards and the store confirmed that. So I didn't get the SD/HC. Is this correct ? I noticed that a newer Pentax DSLR had the SD/HC on the memory card door...my K10D doesn't so I'm guessing that's the case. Yes, the K10D is compatible with SDHC memory cards so enjoy! But remember to buy quality, name brand cards... because with the higher capacity, you might lose a lot more photos if the card fails.

02-17-2009, 10:53 AM	#3
GoldenWreckedAngle Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Abilene, TX Posts: 339	Yes, all of my cards are HC and they work great in both the K10D and K100D. I do have the latest firmware on both bodies though. If memory serves better HC support was added in one of those upgrades but I could be wrong. I know the K10D shot fine with a high capacity card right out of the box. In fact, I actually used a HC card to install the upgrade.

02-17-2009, 01:50 PM	#4
budkid Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: California Posts: 70	does the k10d go up to 16gb??? Or is 8gb the limit?

02-17-2009, 02:19 PM	#5
winglik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 258	My K10D has the SDHC logo on the memory door. Anyway, it will support 16gb. Make sure you get the class 6, which is faster speed. Make sure you are on the newest firmware. (1.3)

02-17-2009, 02:22 PM	#6
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,342 Original Poster	Thanks for the responses. On page 48 of my K10D manual it says SD...but then, on the side memory card cover of the camera it mentions SD HC. On the manual front cover it shows the symbol for SD and HC. Confusing eh...what...as they used to say in those old English movies. BTW I noticed the manual cover and the mem. card camera door after I submitted my question to this forum. I called Pentax tech help and they asked me power up the screen to determine if I have software version 130...I do. They said it should be able to handle SD HC. Thank you ...posters....for your assistance in this matter.

02-17-2009, 02:31 PM	#7
Lloydy Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Shropshire, UK Posts: 1,114	My K10 uses SD/HC cards with no problems, but one of my computers, supposedly the most powerfull of the 3 I've got, won't recognise them through it's built in card reader, but is fine when I plug the camera in with the USB cable.

02-17-2009, 03:02 PM	#9
pentaxmz Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 659	Originally posted by budkid does the k10d go up to 16gb??? Or is 8gb the limit? Yes and I would suspect that you should be able to use up to 32GB SDHC cards (the maximum for SD 2.0 specification) in the K10D.

02-17-2009, 03:29 PM	#10
winglik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 258	Originally posted by Lloydy My K10 uses SD/HC cards with no problems, but one of my computers, supposedly the most powerfull of the 3 I've got, won't recognise them through it's built in card reader, but is fine when I plug the camera in with the USB cable. your card reader is the older version, the current model will read SDHC. or just use the cable

02-17-2009, 03:52 PM	#12
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Aye it does, no problem.

02-17-2009, 04:47 PM	#13
ryan s Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,383	I bought a cheap ($15?) Dynex internal card reader from Best Buy in late 2007...it reads the SDHC cards. My dad's Compaq PC purchased earlier that year can't read them. Go figure... So I keep a Micro Mate reader in my bag at all times...not like it takes up much space anyway.

02-17-2009, 08:03 PM	#14
pw-pix Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Geelong Photos: Gallery Posts: 138	Originally posted by pentaxmz No, HC is different electrically I don't think that is accurate, the file system is FAT32 on the SDHC cards, otherwise the interface is the same.

02-17-2009, 08:36 PM	#15
UnknownVT Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 1,812	SDHC at Wikipedia (link should go to the SDHC section - if not, it's about 2/3 down the page) I believe K10D had SDHC support from the start - it was the K100D that needed firmware updates to support SDHC.