Memory Cards Get Extreme
All memory cards aren’t created equal, nor do they perform equally. SanDisk’s new Extreme CompactFlash memory cards are designed to withstand a temperature range from -13 degrees F to 185 degrees F. Shock and vibrations aren’t a problem, either. As far as speed is concerned, the cards have a sustained write speed of 9 MB/sec. and a read speed of 10 MB/sec.—among the fastest CF cards ever. (A note about card speed: Some cameras are better able to take advantage of these very fast card speeds than others. Check with your manufacturer or SanDisk about your camera.) The SanDisk Extreme CF cards are available in 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB capacities. Price: $109.99 (256 MB); $229.99 (512 MB); $439.99 (1 GB). Contact: SanDisk, (408) 542-0500, www.sandisk.com.

Compact Camera With A Huge LCD
Have you ever looked at the LCD screen on the back of a digital camera and wished that it could just have been a little brighter and maybe a little bigger? How about a lot brighter and a lot bigger? The new Kyocera Finecam L3v and Finecam L4v are 3- and 4-megapixel cameras, respectively, which have revolutionary new LCD screens. Called the DayFine LCD, the screens are 2.5 inches and incorporate some new technology that makes them, brighter and sharper than any other LCDs on the market today. Unlike conventional LCDs, which are difficult, if not impossible, to see in direct sun, the DayFine screens actually get brighter in the sun. We hope that all digital camera LCDs will eventually look this good, but for now, it’s just available on these models from Kyocera. In addition to the LCD screens, both cameras have a 3x optical zoom (35-105mm equivalent) and store images on SD memory cards. List Price: $399 (Finecam L3v); $499 (Finecam L4v). Contact: Kyocera, (732) 560-0060, www.kyocera.com.