The Nikon D2XS has an CompactFlash card slot that is compatible with cards with a maximum capacity of up to 32GB. Using larger cards will cause the camera to experience an error.
Maximum memory card size is capped due to the fact that the Nikon D2XS uses the FAT32 file system.
The Nikon D2XS can only use CompactFlash cards that are significantly smaller than what is presently offered. Due to capacity being limited, the only specs that will make an apparent difference among memory cards are transfer speeds. The faster the read speed a card has, the less time you'll need to wait for files to transfer to another device.
Approximated time required to transfer 32GB:
- 160MB/s - 3 minutes 45 seconds
- 120MB/s - 5 minutes
- 50MB/s - 12 minutes
This is my recommendation for the best CompactFlash memory card for the Nikon D2XS:
SanDisk Extreme Pro 32GB CF Card
- 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 D2XS for the money is going to be either 32GB or 16GB. Cards with smaller storage sizes than that are often more expensive.
You should also keep in mind future camera compatibility. Having a CF memory card with faster read/write rates will remove the need to buy an additional CF memory card with an upcoming 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 types of memory cards. These cover all card types camera manufacturers use in all but the newest professional-level cameras.
The UGREEN reader connects over USB 3.0. The USB 3.0 transfer speeds will be faster transfer speeds than what the Nikon D2XS can achieve in USB transfer mode.
There are many favorable customer reviews for the card reader, which I agree with. I think it's a good product because it has been recognized by all the computers (Windows, Mac, and Linux) I have plugged it into.
The cable prevents card slots from being blocked by other devices or accessories that are being used in an neighboring port.
When I searched for a more compact card reader that would be used while traveling, I had to go through the return process with several orders. I experienced the most frequent problem mentioned in customer reviews, the readers would not work with my computer.
The card reader can be used with the following memory card formats:
- 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
Compact Flash Card Types
Two different types of CF cards exist. A card is either Type I or Type II.
Both types of Compact Flash memory cards will fit in the Nikon D2XS.
What makes the cards different, is how thick they are. The length and width of the cards are the same.
- Type I - 3.3mm thick
- Type II - 5mm thick
The Type II spec allowed for the use of Microdrives in the Nikon D2XS. A Microdrive was a little mechanical hard drive.
Compact Flash cards had small capacities when they were first released. Microdrives were a solution that made it possible to have more storage.
Microdrives are no longer manufactured. Due to their mechanical nature, the drives had a high failure rate.
Some Compact Flash card adapters make use of the Type II specification. The adapters can allow you to use MicroSD or SD cards in a Compact Flash slot.
Avoiding Card Read Errors
The most prevalent memory card error is the result of damaged pins in the camera's CF card slot. When a memory card can't be read in the Nikon D2XS, a CHA error code will be displayed on the top LCD screen.
Due to the LCD screen, the error can appear to be CHR.
Be careful when putting a Compact Flash memory card into the camera's card slot. Never force a Compact Flash memory card into the slot.
If the CF card does not seem like it is sliding in properly, remove the card. Verify the orientation and then try again.
If that doesn't 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 32GB CF Card is the best Nikon D2XS memory card.
Here are cameras with similar memory card requirements:
