The Nikon D2X has only one CompactFlash card slot that is compatible with cards with a maximum capacity of up to 32GB. Using larger CompactFlash cards will cause the camera to display an error.
Maximum memory card capacity is limited because the Nikon D2X formats cards using the FAT32 file system.
New memory cards are substantially larger than what the Nikon D2X can use. The main specs to care about are transfer speeds. The faster the transfer speed a CF card has, the less time you'll spend waiting for files to transfer to another device.
Approximated time needed to transfer 32GB:
- 160MB/s - 3 minutes 45 seconds
- 120MB/s - 5 minutes
- 50MB/s - 12 minutes
This is my recommendation for the best CF card for the Nikon D2X:
SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB CF Card
- Fastest card available and largest supported capacity.
- Read speeds up to 160MB/s.
- Write speeds up to 150MB/s.
- Water, x-ray, & shock proof.
Table of Contents
Best CF Cards
The best CF card to use with the Nikon D2X for the money is going to be 16GB or 32GB. Cards with smaller sized capacities than that are often more expensive.
You should also take into account future camera compatibility. Having a CF card with higher transfer speeds will reduce the need to buy another card with a possible future camera.
Recommended CF Cards
Lexar Professional 1066x 32GB CompactFlash Card
- Transfer speeds up to 160MB/s.
- Video Performance Guarantee sepc VPG 65.
- Limited lifetime warranty.
SanDisk Extreme 32GB Compact Flash Card
- Read speeds up to 120MB/s.
- Write speeds up to 85MB/s.
- Sustained data recording of 20MB/s.
- Water, x-ray, & shockproof.
SanDisk Ultra 16GB CompactFlash Card
- Speeds up to 50MB/s.
- Excellent reliability and value.
- Ideal for mid-range DSLRs.
Memory Card Reader
The UGreen 4-in-1 memory card reader supports four common types of memory cards. These cover everything camera manufacturers make use of in all but the most recent professional-level cameras.
The UGREEN reader connects over USB 3.0. The card reader's USB 3.0 transfer speeds will be faster transfer speeds than what the Nikon D2X can achieve using the USB transfer mode.
There are plenty of positive customer reviews for the card reader, which I agree with. I think it is a good product because the card reader has been recognized by all the computers (Windows, Mac, and Linux) I have used with it.
The cable keeps memory card slots from being blocked by other accessories or devices that are plugged into a laptop or desktop.
When I looked for a smaller card reader that would be easier to travel with, I had to return a couple of orders. I encountered the most frequently found problem in customer reviews, the card readers did not work with my computer.
The UGREEN card reader supports the card formats below:
- CompactFlash Cards
- SD, SDHC, & SDXC Cards (UHS-I supported)
- Memory Stick (MS), MS Pro, MS PRO-HG, & MS XC DUO
- MicroSD, Micro SDHC, & Micro SDXC Cards
D2X Firmware Update
You can get the latest firmware for the D2X directly From Nikon.
You will need a CF memory card in order to update the camera's firmware. Additionally, a USB cable or Compact Flash Card reader will be needed to get the firmware update file onto the card.
Compact Flash Card Types
Compact Flash cards come in two different variations. A card can be either Type I or Type II.
Both types of memory cards will fit in the Nikon D2X.
The difference between the types is how thick the cards are. All other dimensions of the CF cards are the same.
- Type I - 3.3mm thick
- Type II - 5mm thick
The Type II specification gave enough room for a Microdrive to be used in the Nikon D2X. A Microdrive was a small mechanical hard drive.
Compact Flash cards had small capacities when they were first released. Microdrives made it possible to get larger amounts of storage.
Microdrives have not been manufactured for many years. Part of the reason the drives are no longer used is the high failure rate they had.
Some CF adapters make use of the Type II standard. The adapters allow you to use MicroSD or SD cards in a CF slot.
Avoiding Card Read Errors
The most common CF memory card error is caused by damaged pins in the camera's Compact Flash card slot. When a memory card can't be read in the Nikon D2X, a CHA error will be shown on the LCD screen.
Due to the LCD screen, the error can also look like CHR.
Be mindful when inserting a Compact Flash memory card into the camera. Do not force a Compact Flash card into the card slot.
If the CF memory card does not slide in correctly, remove the card. Check to make sure the alignment is correct and then attempt to insert the card again.
If that does not work, try a different Compact Flash memory card.
Related Cameras
That's all you need to know about Compact Flash card technical specifications, which is why the SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB CF Card is the best Nikon D2X memory card.
Here are cameras with similar memory card requirements:
