# Correct voltage for the Smart Media card in a Polaroid PDC 2070 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 15, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857 "2009-06-15T17:52:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/1 "2009-06-15T17:52:31Z")
Two ancient technologies, if I can get a Smart Media Card for the camera I get kudos from my ex. I’ve googled and tried the company website but can’t seem to find the correct voltage for such a memory card to be used with a Polaroid PDC 2070. Anyone happen to know? I didn’t see anything on the camera itself, not even to tell me what kind of card it used and the driver and manual seem to be long lost. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/2 "2009-06-15T18:46:26Z")
[Just buy this with an xD card.](http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=207678175&listingid=45336104&dcaid=17902) It will likely save a lot of grief. BTW, the manual for the camera can be downloaded for free from a number of websites. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/3 "2009-06-15T19:48:44Z")
It seems the cards are physically different so the device will only accept the correct card: > [@](#): > > [SmartMedia - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SmartMedia) > > SmartMedia cards came in two formats, 5 V and the more modern 3.3 V (sometimes marked 3 V), named for their main supply voltages. The packaging was nearly identical, except for the reversed placement of the notched corner. Many older SmartMedia devices only support 5V SmartMedia cards, whereas many newer devices only support 3.3V cards. In order to protect 3.3V cards from being damaged in 5V-only devices, the card reader should have some mechanical provision (such as detecting the type of notch) to disallow insertion of an unsupported type of card. Some low-cost, 5V-only card readers do not operate this way, and inserting a 3.3V card into such a 5V-only reader will result in permanent damage to the card. Dual-voltage card readers are highly recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/4 "2009-06-15T20:19:13Z")
Part of the reason I would dodge the whole mess and use the adapter - plus xD cards are still being made, which is not the case for SmartMedia cards. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/5 "2009-06-15T20:20:19Z")
[This page](http://www.hscjpn.co.jp/taiou_list_.php?cmd=list&ic_id=6) makes me think it is 3.3V. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/6 "2009-06-15T20:30:00Z")
My camera uses smartmedia and I have not had any problem finding them. Does that adapter adapt the voltage? That seems unlikely so the problem remains. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/7 "2009-06-15T20:31:42Z")
The 5V cards were only around for a short while. Most cameras used the 3.3 V cards. The adapter may work for this camera, but it doesn’t look like it would fit in the card slot of my old Olympus camera. xD cards are on the way out too, so rather than buy any of those you can probably limp along with a few old Smartmedia card. I probably have a few still kicking around if you’re desperate. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/8 "2009-06-15T20:36:16Z")
I think I [found the manual](http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/POLAROID/PDC%202070-_F). Unfortunately, it does not mention the voltage of the card. And the Wikipedia article on Smart Media cards mentions notch placement differences between the 3.3V and 5V cards, but _doesn’t say what they are!_ ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/9 "2009-06-15T21:06:35Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The 5V cards were only around for a short while. Most cameras used the 3.3 V cards. I just checked what my Fuji Finepix 1400 and Finepix 2400 use and it is the 3.3 V so it seems you are right because the 1400 is almost an antique. I guess it can be safely assumed the OP’s is also 3.3 V. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2009, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-voltage-for-the-smart-media-card-in-a-polaroid-pdc-2070/499857/10 "2009-06-15T22:04:52Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I think I [found the manual](http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/POLAROID/PDC%202070-_F). Unfortunately, it does not mention the voltage of the card. And the Wikipedia article on Smart Media cards mentions notch placement differences between the 3.3V and 5V cards, but _doesn’t say what they are!_ Looking at the side of the card with the exposed metal circuitry with the label to the bottom, the 3.3v card had the upper right corner cut off, the 5v card has the upper left corner cut off. You can download the user guide (in French) here - [http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/POLAROID/PDC%202070-\_F](http://safemanuals.com/user-guide-instructions-owner-manual/POLAROID/PDC%202070-_F) But it doesn’t indicate whether it’s 5v or 3.3v. Here’s a photo from an eBay sale - [http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250433767183&indexURL=#ebayphotohosting](http://cgi.ebay.com.my/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250433767183&indexURL=#ebayphotohosting) That indicates a card with the notch on the right, 3.3v.