I own six xD-picture cards. My 16mb cards came with my cameras. I also own one 256mb xD-picture card, one 512mb xD-picture card, and one 1gb xD-picture card. Why so many? Because the price of xD-picture cards has decreased substantially, and the cost of a 1gb xD-picture card is down to what I paid for a 256mb card five years ago.

The xD-picture card is a flash memory card used in Fuji and Olympus digital cameras. Manufactured by Toshiba Corporation and Samsung electronics, they are also now sold under brands such as Kodak, SanDisk and Lexar.

The xD-picture card is a reusable, large capacity digital media device for high-resolution photographs. Compact and easily transported, the Olympus xD-picture card and Fuji card now also offer 2gb of storage. On a 10MP camera, that's up to 805 pictures. It's no wonder professional photographers rely on the Olympus xD-picture card and the Fuji xD-picture card for their storage needs.

To make the most of your xD card purchase:

1. Look online for deals.
2. Watch your local newspaper ads.
3. Watch for xD card free shipping.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Concentrate on 2 gb xD-picture card deals

Price comparison websites and eBay are a great place to start looking for cheap xD cards.

I recommend: Splurge on a 2gb card. The 2gb card is large enough to ensure that you as a photographer can keep on snapping away through an entire wedding, a whole family vacation or whatever large resolution project you are working on.

Go directly to major retailer sites

Most major electronics retailers sell new xD cards. Look for xD card free shipping to sweeten the deal.

I recommend: Circuit City's prices usually beat Best Buy and Office Depot. But check each's current shipping promos and sales.

Buy an xD-picture card reader and holder

PC Card adapters allow you to insert the xD-picture card into the adapter, and then insert it into the PC Card slot of your computer or into an external card reader. This is convenient for photographers who want to preview high resolution images on their mobile laptops. The holder carries multiple cards and fits in your camera bag.

I recommend: Visit Amazon.com. They offer an xD card reader that is smaller than a deck of cards. It offers a dual slot reader not only for your xD card but your Smart Media as well. You can find multiple-card holders that protect and keep cards handy. The iPorter xSD fits on your keychain and holds up to three cards.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take care of your cards. Keep your disks clean and lint free for optimal performance.
• •  Don't forget to back up your downloaded files to your hard drive or disks. In order for xD-picture cards to be a reusable medium, you will have to clear off some if not all of the existing images and video files.