Digital Cameras - How many GB memory cards?

[Axel]

We go down for 6 or 7 days a trip and I've been known to take upwards of 1500 shots- on a 2GB card with a 7MP camera.

 

[Danauk]

I, like a few others have already said, take my laptop with me when ever I travel. That way I can download the pictures every time I go back to the room. We usually take 2 cameras with us so DH and I have one each. Then I have a folder for each day on my laptop so I can organise my pictures too and pictures from both cameras can be stored together so my pictures stay in order. I only use 2gb cards, but I always carry a spare card with me when I am in the parks just in case anything happens to the card (just like I always carry a spare battery.)

 

[singjenn]

I always bring my laptop with me and upload the pictures from the day each night. That way I can start over the next day with a formatted card and not have to worry about how many I took that day. I wind down by looking at the pictures from the day and reliving it. : )

Have a great trip!

Mary

DITTO!! I would never go on a trip without my laptop just for that reason alone

 

[HsvTeacher]

I have a 1GB card and an 8GB card. I take a lot of high resolution pics, and the 8GB card lets me do that, along with taking video. I've never not had enough memory space.

At the end of each day, I download the pics onto the laptop. It auto-sorts them for me (using iPhoto on our Mac), and I go through them periodically and delete the pics I don't want. Then I start the day with an empty card.

 

[Alacrity]

Wow, I've been wondering this same question about how many memory cards as well. I just got a new Nikon Coolpix and it came with a 2G card. Just this morning, I was at Target and picked up another 2G that they had on sale for 9.99 because there was a little chart there that said a 2G card will only hold 200 pics from a 10 mp camera! The estimates everyone on here is giving are much higher than that?! Now I'm really confused...

There is likely a setting for your camera for picture size and quality. The bigger the picture size and the higher the quality the more space each picture will take and the fewer will fit on a card. I always shoot at the biggest and highest quality because I have the room/cards. What you should use depends on what you want to use them for. If you plan on making large prints you'll want the highest quality. For posting to the web the quality isn't so important. However, you can always reduce the size/quality but you can't make it any better.

My suggestion is shoot at the highest quality and size and reduce later if needed. It means fewer shots per card but gives the most flexibility.


As for batteries...at least two sets of rechargable batteries or battery packs for you camera. Standard and even alkaline batters don't seem to last long in most cameras. The ones made for digital do last longer but cost a bit more. For me, rechargables have been well worth the money and I don't have to toss so many into a land fill.

 

[DisGal520]

Gotta add something else for you. Have said it before on these boards - always have someplace dedicated to placing your memory card right as you remove it from the camera. The cards are so small and have had friends lose theirs.

I carry a small zipclose case that has four mesh pockets inside for placing memory cards. It can also hold 4 extra batteries. The one I got at Target has a clip on outside for clipping inside my bag. Also it holds a lens cleaning cloth.

We don't bother with taking a laptop to the resort. And we have gotten about 1500 images amongst three 2 GB San Disk cards. Have to recommend San Disk because we have never lost an image or has trouble with them - right now they are on sale at Staples and Radio Shack. Co-worker bought cheaper memory cards and could not upload one to their computer.

 

[teachallday]

For information about Camera Services at Walt Disney World, check out this Disney web site:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/camera-services/

It has information about:
- CD Burning from your personal camera memory card
- Printing of Pictures from your Camera memory card

 

[buffi]

We just got back from 6 days (Easter Monday-Saturday 18th). I took over 600 pix with my Olympus 850 SW (it's a waterproof digital takes pix at 8.0 mp). I only used my 2gb card (although I had extras in case). Also we got 177 pix on our photopass cards (and after editing and adding borders it is now over 500!)

I take a lot of pix because I scrapbook, so I think you will be fine with what you are planning on bringing!

 

[seashoreCM]

On a recent trip (which included Hong Kong Disneyland) I planned for 400 pictures a day and actually came close (about 8000 pictures over 3 weeks). Now many will be deleted (not quite sharp enough, bad composition, too dark or too light, etc.)

I brought enough memory cards (almost two dozen) to shoot at maximum resolution and quality all the time.

You need to check your camera settings every now and then to be sure you did not accidentally lower the megapixel rating with incorrect button pushing. If you shoot at lower megapixels, you cannot reclaim the quality of higher megapixels after uploading to your computer or at the store photo kiosk. I have read horror stories here on The DIS about people who accidentally had their camera set to "thumbnail" or "VGA" or "wallet" which are among the lowest rsolution settings selectable.

Work with number of pictures per day first, then figure out the number of memory cards. Number of pictures per memory cards is estimated in your camera instruction manual. The number of pictures per memory card will vary a little depending on the content of the pictures but ignore this for the purposes of figuring number of cards needed. Pictures with large amounts of solid color whether shadows at night or clear sky during the day, take up less memory space. Note that you do not compute number of pictures by dividing the memory card size by the camera megapixel rating, for example 2GB card holds 200 pictures from a 10MP camera is not a rule of thumb.

That said, I do use lower megapixels for pictures such as eBay pictures that will never be viewed at more than say 1000x1000 pixels. And, something is better than nothing. If you are far from civilization (a town with a store that sells cameras) and running short on memory cards, you may have to resort to things like 3MP.

Yes, you can mix resolutions on a card, for example in a pinch delete an unwanted higher resolution picture to make room for two lower resolution pictures.

Digital camera hints: http://www.cockam.com/digicam.htm

 

[Justsyd2]

Thanks so much for all of the helpful advice. I'm going to refer to the camera book, and figure all of this out. I also have to learn the different modes, such as night, and fireworks, so that I'll be ready for the trip! Thanks again to everyone!