[Leica] Re: Archival storage of images

[lrzeitlin at optonline.net (Lawrence Zeitlin)]

For those who plan to keep image files for their great, great  
grandchildren - this was on the NY Times website today.

Removable flash memory cards, created to transfer images from a  
digital camera to a computer, often are covered by a five-year  
warranty. However, the CompactFlash Association, an industry group,  
says that with ?typical? use, a CompactFlash card ?could be used for  
more than 100 years with no loss or deterioration of data.?

There are many types of memory cards and many manufacturers making  
them, with materials of varying quality. It?s best to avoid storing  
images on cheap cards that have endured heavy use without  
reformatting or that could have damaged connections. Some cards, if  
used lightly, kept in a case and stored in a cool, dry place, may  
store images well for a few years, even though they were not built  
for that.

This year, a representative for SanDisk announced that the company  
was working on low-cost memory cards to which files could be written  
only once. The company says the cards, which are still being  
developed, will be able to store data for longer periods.

There are several other options for storing those pictures, like  
?archive quality? recordable discs that use a layer of gold to  
preserve information. Makers of archival compact discs say the  
product stores data for about 300 years. Archival DVDs are said to  
offer 100 years of preservation. The Archival Advisor site has an  
article on the topic. To read it, go to www.archivaladvisor.org,  
click Articles, and then click Saving Digital Storage Media.

Larry Z