SanDisk’s Extreme III SDHC Cards Hit 30MB/s

The latest SDHC card out of SanDisk moves data at strikingly quick 30MB/s, making it appropriate for next-generation DSLR cameras like Nikon's brand new D90.

Mo’ megapixels, mo’ problems. As high-end digital cameras capture larger and larger images, the need for faster and larger capacity flash cards to scribble down all that data as quickly as possible has only gotten greater. SanDisk rose to that need Wednesday with the release of its first 30 MB/s SDHC card, the aptly named SanDisk ExtremeIII 30MB/s Edition.

While the concurrently released Nikon D90 DSLR is actually the only camera on the market today that can harness that kind of speed, it allows it pull off some pretty impressive tricks. For instance, the camera can fire away at 4.5 frames per second capturing enormous 6MB pictures, and capture 39 of them before quitting.

That 30MB/s file transfer rate represents a 50 percent boost in speed from the last fastest cards, which could move data at 20MB/s. Although not all cameras can yet take advantage of it, the extra speed will still pay off in compatible card readers like SanDisk’s ImageMate Multi-Card reader, which will move data at that rate using a USB 2.0 connection.

The cards will come in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB variants, which will run for $65, $110, and $180, respectively. SanDisk expects them to hit store shelves in September.