Customer Reviews

Sony MSA-128A 128MB Memory Stick

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

How many pictures will it store? It is the most commonly asked question from digital camera enthusiast but usually the question that is the most difficult to get a straight answer about. Well, considering I worked in the memory industry for over 7 years I can help clarify this perplexing question and do so unbiased as I have since changed industries.

The Sony MSA128A 128MB Memory Stick, like most 128MB cards, will store on average 142 pictures when used with a 2 megapixel camera, 106 images when used with a 3 megapixel camera, 64 pictures when used with a 4 megapixel camera, 51 images when used with a 5 megapixel camera, and 40 pictures when used with a 6 megapixel camera. These numbers are based off the assumption that you are going to shoot your images at the highest quality JPEG setting available for the camera and understand that they are estimates and may be off by as much as 10 percent due to numerous factors including the complexity of the scene being shot and the compression algorithm used by your specific camera.

I truly hope this review was helpful to you in determining whether this card is the right capacity for your specific needs.

I think it's well worth buying a 64MB or, even better, this 128MB memory stick with a new Sony camera (that's what I did) but I don't see any reason to pay the premium in price between the Sony version and those made by competitors like Lexar, ScanDisk and others.

Sony will tell you that part of the speed of the camera depends on the way the in-camera computer can access the memory card, but I have read articles that say that is just a tiny piece of the equation. And from experience, I can say that I see no difference in quality between my Sony card and the one from Lexar.

In the end, I give this card only three stars for reasons not related to quality but to price. These memory sticks have become simple commodities, like rice or cement, and the deciding factor in any comparison shopping should be price. I would (and do) pay extra for Sony quality when it comes to digital cameras and other high-tech equipment, but I don't see a reason for it when it comes to memory sticks.

I was first peeved about having to be stuck with a predetermined Sony memory stick format. But after continued use in TRV900, TRV11 video cams and the Sony Clie PDA- I have to say I'm very happy with the memory stick's flexibility. I usually hate being stuck in a specific company format, but at least Sony did it right.

The transfer rate in the Clie is very rapid. Backing up the entire contents of the Clie takes literally a few seconds. The Clie has a program that allows you RUN programs off of the memory stick. This is not the fastest operating speed, but it is no worse than a Zip drive disk.

The size and reliability is unbeatable. Compared to a San memory card that has lost it's life after 1 year, the Sony memory sticks have performed flawlessly for pics, data, and application runs. Go for the 32+ MB and up - just like a hard drive, you think a realistic amount is adequate. But once you start shooting and using, you'll wish you upgraded for the bigger stick.

The 128 mb Sony Memory Stick is a must have for anyone who takes alot of digital photo's. I have a 2.1 pixel Sony Cyber Shot and I love it. The 128 mb stick allows me to continue to photograph without having to keep replacing the sticks. With my 2.1 pixel camera, I usually average about 140 to 150 pictures per 128 mb stick. The 64 usually yiels me about 74 pics. I definitely recommend you buy a few of these because you will spend more time creating then worrying about having to replace the disk and miss out on a good shot. I am going to get myself a few more of these. Especially now that the price is less then 1/2 the price they were originally.

If you own a Sony Cybershot you need to get this product. I own two of them for my DSC-P92. For the price difference between the 64 Mb and the 128 Mb you should definitively get the 128 Mb. If you only use the memory stick for pictures this is the model that you need (you do not need the Magic Gate). This module will work with all Sony products with a Memory Stick slot, including the new devices with Memory Stick Pro. Transfer rates from this Memory Stick are good and the reliability is excellent. I have never experience data loss or any transfer problem using this product. Sony has been the major developer for the Memory Stick, so if you are in the market for one, and you can afford the extra $10 or $20 you should get the Sony product.

This sticks are awesome, especially now that Sony has dropped the prices inline with Compact Flash chips. Prior to that, they may not have been worth it. I'm waiting for the prices to be reflected at Amazon, so that I can get more. Also waiting for the 256 Meg chip too!! Easy, simple to use, and stores a bundle. You can also interchange them with all your Sony products.

I purchased the 128MB stick just before leaving for my family vacation to Mexico. I have a Sony DSC-70 digital camera... I shot every thing at a minimum of 1600x1200 resolution (suitable for 8x10 prints). As the title says, I shot 131 photos - never messing w/ film. I shot an additional 48 on my 64MB stick.
Flawless performance.

I'd reccommend buying Lexar or SanDisk purely for that fact it's about almost half the cost of a Sony.

Having good storage capacity for your digital camera is a must.
My Sony DSC-P72 came with a lousy 16 MB memory stick, so I was practically pushed to by this additional stick.
The product itself works perfectly well. Access time is very fast. Note however that some 5MB out of the 128MB in this stick are used for internal file system structure. This leaves you with "only" 123MB of user memory.
Unfortunatelly, the price is not good at all. Sony prices this sort of supplies very high. There are compatible products out there in the market that cost 30% less.
I would have given it 5 stars if it hadn't been for the price.

128MB - this is a great memory stick for the sheer amount of data that can be stored. If you are like me, you can also use it as a mini portable hard drive. With a SanDisk USB Memory Stick reader, you effectively have a small 128 MB hard drive that you can take with you. I can save WORD documents, or drawings, etc. to the Memory Stick just like a floppy disk, remove it and plug into my home PC. It's very handy for transporting anything you wish from one location to the other. It's worth paying a little more for the Sony name to know you have the quality you can trust from the brand you can trust! (visit www.holidaytyme.com)