When my parents bought a digital camera for one of their out-of-town trips, I just can't help but laugh my behind off when my Dad asked the salesperson "where does the film go?". It took them quite a while (and a lot of lectures from their loving kids) to understand that a digicam doesn't need film, that it has a memory card that they could re-use, and that they could always buy another one if memory is running low.

But in general, a lot of people do not really get the difference between the wide variety of digital memory cards that has popped out nowadays. Most digicams could accommodate two or more types of memory cards. So, maybe we could help you out a bit with that. To kick things off, there are a lot of memory cards you can choose from, here are some of the choices:

The SD Memory Card - Small size and acceptable capacity is the name of the game. SD Cards hold between 32Mb-2Gb, also there's a 3GB SD Card in development. A 2GB SD Card may cost you around $55-$60, depending on where you buy.

The XD Memory Card - Has a maximum capacity of 1GB and works like the SD card with a price ranging from $20-$70 depending on memory capacity, brand and where you shop. Unless you're a professional photographer taking hundreds of shots per session, you might want to consider it.

The Compact Flash Card - Robust and reliable with a solid form, they come in substantially greater capacities (up to 8GB). Aside from capacity, they also have differing speed cards. Perfect for the digital photography aficionado or a professional photographer. Prices could go as high as $180.

SmartMedia Cards - The old timer of the group. Launched in the summer of 1995, they are somewhat sidelined for newer more advanced options of image storage. You may find that your Digital Camera isn't compatible with SmartMedia Cards so always read the manual.

Memory Stick - Originally used primarily in Sony cameras, you may recognise Memory Sticks from other devices such as your mobile phone or your PSP. Available in several capacities and from different manufacturers. However, they are slightly more prone to becoming damaged due to being physically more vulnerable than its Compact Flash counterpart, which has a more solid and hardened plastic body.