Many first-generation digicams contained 1 or 2 megabytes of internal memory acceptable for storing around thirty standard-quality pictures at a size of 640x480 pixels. Sadly, once the memory had been filled no more photos could be taken till they'd been moved to a PC and deleted from the camera.Modern electronic cameras use removable storage.

His offers two main advantages: firstly, once a memory card is full it can just be removed and replaced by another; secondly, given the essential computer hardware, memory cards can be inserted right into a Computer and the stills read as if from a tough disk. By early 1999, two rival formats were fighting for domination of the electronic camera arena:

CompactFlash: Originally introduced in 1994 by SanDisk enterprise, and primarily based on flash memory technology, CompactFlash (CF) provides non-volatile storage that doesn't need a battery to retain information. It's basically a PC flash card that has been reduced to about one quarter of its initial size and uses a 50-pin connection that fits into the standard 68-pin Type II Personal computer card adapter. This makes it simply compatible with devices engineered to use personal computer card flash RAM. CompactFlash cards measure 43mm by 36mm. They can be purchased in both Type I and Type II cards, though predominately the previous. A Type I card is 3.3mm thick and will operate in the two Type I and Type II slot. A Type II card 5mm and will operate in a Type II slot only. By late 2001 maximum capacities had reached 512MB.

SmartMedia : Originally known by the ungainly acronym SSFDC (Solid state Floppy Disk Card) when it first appeared in 1996, the Toshiba-developed SmartMedia cards are seriously littler and lighter than CompactFlash cards, weighing 0.48g with a form factor of forty five by 37mm and a thickness of only 0.78mm. It uses its own exclusive 22-pin connection - but like its rival format is PCMCIA-ATA-compatible and can be evolved to be used in notebook Personal computer Card slots. Capacities are less for CompactFlash - 128MB was still the maximum capacity by late 2001, capable of storing 560 high-resolution (1200x1024) still photos - and cost per megabyte is analogous to that of CompactFlash.

Devices are available for both kinds of media to permit access through either the standard floppy disk drive or a PC's parallel port. The highest performance option is a SCSI device which permits personal computer card slots to be added to a desktop personal computer. CompactFlash has a far sturdier construction than its rival, encompassing the memory circuitry in a hard-wearing case. SmartMedia has its gold-coloured contact exposed, and lengthened use could cause scoring on its surface. Its memory circuitry is set into resin and stuck between the card and the contact. CompactFlash can operate between temperatures of 25C to 75C and claims a 100-year usage life; SmartMedia can be used between 0C to 50C and claims that it can be written to at least 250 thousand times.

By the end of 1999 a 3rd memory technology had appeared, in the form of Sony's Memory Stick. Smaller compared to a stick of dental gum and at first available with a capacity of 32MB, Memory Stick is designed to be used in tiny AV electronics goods like digicams and video recorders. Its exclusive 10-pin connector makes sure foolproof insertion, straightforward removal, and trusty connection and its unique Erasure Prevention Switch helps protect stored info from random erasure. Capacities rose to 128MB by late 2001, with the technology map for the product going all of the way up to 1GB.