Sony MSX-512S Memory Stick PRO Flash Media (512MB) (Retail Package)

by Sony

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.9 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches ; 1 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 0.2 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002Z455O
• Item model number: MSX-512S
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #36 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Accessories > Digital Camera Accessories > Memory Cards > Memory Sticks
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 2, 2001

Product Description

CL) AA) SONY 512MB MS PRO MEMORY

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

87 of 87 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Reliable but not efficient, March 15, 2005

By 

Snap, Crackle and Pop (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Sony MSX-512S Memory Stick PRO Flash Media (512MB) (Retail Package) (Personal Computers)

Alternatives: If you've got a Sony device, you generally have to use Memory Stick. Many people have also reported success with less expensive non-Sony brands of Memory Stick, such as Sandisk, though with careful shopping you can get the price difference close enough that you might want to stick with Sony.

Speed: Memory Stick Pro is compact, generally reliable, and designed to be fast enough to capture standard video (480x640) at a high frame rate (30 frames per second). If you plan to use that video mode on your camera, you need to get Memory Stick Pro, rather than standard Memory Stick. (But unless you're a professional, or have a high end camera, you probably won't benefit much from the more expensive Pro High Speed format.) So this M.S. Pro version is a good bet for most users.

Capacity: If you're a Sony camera user, you get used to paying more for everything. But the MagicGate "feature" - designed to allow copyright protection on Sony's music players, but useless to camera users - and the formatting waste about 10% of the capacity of the card. And unfortunately, at the moment all Pro cards also have MagicGate. So as noted, the usable capacity is about 460MB.

For a Sony DSC-P200, that will allow you to store photos as follows:
- at 7 megapixels, 141 pictures in fine, with low compression (or 277 in standard compression)
- at 5MP, 194 (or 365) pictures
- at 3 MP, 311 (or 554) pictures

As you can see, 1 MP uses up about 0.47MB of storage at fine or about 0.24MB at standard compression - so you can do the math on other combinations if you like. Other Sony cameras will have similar, but slightly varying, results.

Some cameras make it easy to switch resolutions, allowing you to stretch the capacity by varying the settings as needed. For example, on a 7MP camera, you can take some pictures at 3MP or 5MP and still get very good quality, depending on the size of the prints you plan to make.

Bottom Line: This Memory Stick Pro is a good product that would be lot better if it were competitively priced (relative to other flash memory) and didn't waste capacity on a feature most buyers don't need.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Almost Unbeatable., April 21, 2006

By 

Martin Edwards "DeLorean Guy" (The Great White North, eh.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sony MSX-512S Memory Stick PRO Flash Media (512MB) (Retail Package) (Personal Computers)

The 512 stick, which I use as my backup memory stick, is completely awesome.

It is the 3rd stick I purchased for my semi-professional Sony H1, and my older Sony DSC-P52. The 512 wasn't quite big enough for filming video at 30 frames per second. (about 6 minutes worth) so I went out and bought the 1 gig as well.

I am amazed at how fast it processes, and how fast it formats. Formatting is instantaneous.

If you shoot video at 30 fps, and can afford it, go for the 1 gig or even higher. Otherwise, the 512 is unbeatable.

Martin

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Postage is bad news--- RIP OFF, July 30, 2008

By 

Lisle Caldwell "L.T.Caldwell" (Charlotte NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sony MSX-512S Memory Stick PRO Flash Media (512MB) (Retail Package) (Personal Computers)

Something is wrong, ordered 2 memory sticks, each order was shipped separately--Postage came to 21.50 !!!!! The memory sticks only cost 36.50.WHO ??? keeps all the extra postage money??? These items are very light and could have been shipped together Will not buy from Worldwide Distributor's again. I got ripped off.