How many memory cards to take?

[Scrappy520]

Not a serious dilema here but want to be well prepared for my 9/4 Eastern cruise - I have 2 x 256mg memory cards for this trip. Is this enough or should I purchase an additional 256 or a 512mg card? I'd hate to run out of memory during our 1st cruise.

What do you experts on digital cameras suggest?

Thanks!

 

[natdencro]

On our first cruise (2001) we took 450 digital photos! Yes, I know its a lot, but we didnt think we would ever go again so wanted to have plenty of "memories". However, after much saving up, on our back-to-back last year we took 650! And on the Eastern in March 2004, another 250! Naturally, we only printed off the best ones, but still had a problem in narrowing them down for the photo album! Have fun. Nat

 

[AnnMorin]

Two are 128mg and one is only 64mg and I have plenty of room, of course I do trash the pictures I don't like. I would think you would be fine with what you have.

 

[DisneyJam]

I took 2 256 cards, and filled one and took about 20 shots on the second. At the highest quality setting, my camera will hold about 140 pics on a card. Now we also took, 7 rolls of film with our regular camera. So if you are a picture fanatic, and the digital will be your only camera then you may need more space, but it sounds to me that the 2 256 cards will fine.

Of course, if you are using a 4 or 5 megapixel cam, then you wouldn't be able to store as many pics on a card, so make sure you know how many pics will fit on a card. Mine is a 3.2 megapixel.

Hope this helps and enjoy your first cruise.

 

[bwvBound]

Originally posted by Scrappy520
What do you experts on digital cameras suggest?

How long is the cruise? How large is each image? How many photos do you expect to take each day?

You don't have to answer the questions ... but they may help you calculate your expected memory usage.

My answer is easy: I carry my laptop and transfer photos from memorystick to harddrive as needed. Of course, I purchased a very compact laptop intentionally for this purpose years ago: Sony VAIO Picturebook. It has been a faithful travel buddy!

 

[PhotobearSam]

We usually fill 2-128 cards a day...Approx. 250 images but then again...I'm a photo freak...

 

[HooKooDooKu]

The camera or the instructions should tell you how many pictures (on average) you can put on a 256MB card. Based on my history of taking picutures during the cruise, I say budget for about 50 pictures per day (that's about equal to two rolls of 35mm film per day).

My 2 MegaPixel cameras can hold about 100 pictures per 64MB card and I can say for sure that I've never filled a card in a sigle day for any vacation. If yours is a 4 MegaPixel camera, I'd guess that you've got enough memory for 300-350 pictures total.

 

[LenDVC92]

Shutters, the photo shop on the ship, will transfer the contents of your memory cards to CD-ROM. So if you find you're out of room that's always an option. The price reported on these boards is about $15 per CD. You may be able to find the same service cheaper in some of the ports.

You might also be able to find good deals on the memory cards in port too, especially if your willing to do some shopping and bargining.

 

[felixdacat]

Here are your choices:

1- Stand pat. This is the least expensive way to go. However, if you start getting close to filling up both cards, you will end up having to do on camera photo editing. This may cause you to delete some pictures that you would normally keep.

2- Buy another card. I do not know what format you use but you could get another 512 Compact Flash II card for around $100 (perhaps even below). Try www.pricegrabber.com .

3- Bring a laptop, and down load every night. That is what I did on my cruise.

4- There are now many Personal Storage Devices (PSD's) which are also called digital wallets. Many are also MP3 players. An IPOD has accessaries that allows picture transfer. One is a Belkin card Reader. Very slow. The other is called a Belkin Camera Link. Both of these were for 3rd Generation Ipods. I do not believe these accesaries are ready yet for the 4th generation. There is also the Archos GMini. Roughly $250.
You can go to www.dpreview.com to research.

5- Shutters (on board photo store) can make you a Photo CD from your memory card. I believe it is about $15 a pop.
Once the CD is made you can wipe your card and start taking more pictures.

 

[Grumbo]

I just took 3 256 mb and 2 128 mb cards on a recent two week holiday and had to buy a fourth 256 mb card. I use the highest resolution as I've found it really does make a big difference.
The camera is 4 megapixels which makes a difference as to the file size when shooting at high res.
I'm looking at getting one more 512 mb card. This is probably more than the norm but with the cards I had with me on the last trip I took 600 photos. I'd rather be able to shoot away without worrying about dumping or transferring photos. The shots that are obviously garbage I dump but with a 1.8" screen what looks good there often is not when you look at it on the monitor

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[goingbacksoon]

On the same note, what setting do you all use for your cams? 3MP, 2, or 1 - and which one comes out the best when you get them done?

Also, Costco seems to be a good place for memory cards if it's in your area. They have xD cards for pretty cheap.

goingbacksoon

 

[Disneefun]

For anyone looking for SD cards, CompUsa is running a sale thru Sat. on 256 mb cards by PNY for $39.99 -- this is what you pay outright, no rebates, etc. This is the best price I've seen. I've seen $39.99 before, but only after you send in several rebates and savings, which can be a pain. I jumped on this and bought an extra for our upcoming cruise.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

I had a 256 and 128 card on our 7 day Eastern and that's plenty. I think Wednesday night I went and dumped the one card onto a CD at Shutters. We also had I think six disposables that we brought for beach days.

 

[PoohJen]

Another thread mentioned a shop in St. Thomas where they transfer pics much cheaper than Shutters. I was planning on going that route. I'll try to find that thread and print the info back here...

 

[lbgraves]

This is what I just ordered & there was free shipping. It is a Lexmark card. www.ecost.com

Item Number: 1556843
Description: 256MB Secure Digital (SD) Card Compatible with all digital
devices that have a Secure Digital (SD) card slot.
Quantity: 1
Price: $29.00