New memory Stick for camera?

[marlaine8]

I'm getting ready for our WDW vacation (6 more days!) and I was wondering how often you need to get a new memory stick for your camera.
My camera is a year old. I've probably taken 1200 pictures by now. Each time I print my pictures, I delete all the images. I currently have a 8GB stick.
Do I need to buy another one? I'd hate to be in WDW and not be able to take pictures.
(Obviously, I know nothing about cameras. I just point and shoot.)
Any info would be appreciated!

 

[dawnn12]

all of our cameras(about 5 cameras in our household) use an sd card. I have about 20 of them they are cheap I get ours at bj's 2 in a pack for $20 it never hurts to have a extra one.If your card goes bad(yes it can and does happen without warning) its very expensive to get a new one in disney

 

[TheRatPack]

I have used the same ones for 5-6 years. Although the original Kodak card that came with the camera finally bit the dust last year. I bought a ton of really cheap ones from Buy.com but they were the 256mb ones, no class listed on them. I just purchased 2 more 4gb higher class ones....I think I got class 10. I figured it's time I upgraded to something a bit faster so it can rebound from taking a photo faster. Buy.com has them for around 8.00 each....the higher gb the more it cost, but I got my husband a nice 16gb Extreme Video one for around 40.00 and that included a case to store all his other SD cards and a SD card reader (have no idea what that even does LOL)

 

[mrodgers]

If you only have 1 card, you need at least a 2nd as a backup just in case something happens to the 1st.

1200 photos in a year isn't much at all. The first year I got into photography I took over 10,000 photos. That was 5 years ago and I'm still using the same 2 cards along with I use those cards outside the camera transferring files back and forth between home computer and work computer.

Hints, do not delete photos in the camera. Transfer the images to the computer and sort through them there. First it is said that deleting images within the camera can corrupt the card. Second, you can't judge an image on the camera screen. It may be your best photo when viewed on a large display on the computer, you'd never know.

Don't move the photos from the card/camera to the computer. Copy them. That way you still have the images on the card/camera if the copied files become corrupt during the copy. You can always then recopy them again.

After determining that all the photos are copied over to the computer and are good, reformat the card in the camera instead of deleting them.

 

[sherry7]

I'm getting ready for our WDW vacation (6 more days!) and I was wondering how often you need to get a new memory stick for your camera.
My camera is a year old. I've probably taken 1200 pictures by now. Each time I print my pictures, I delete all the images. I currently have a 8GB stick.
Do I need to buy another one? I'd hate to be in WDW and not be able to take pictures.
(Obviously, I know nothing about cameras. I just point and shoot.)
Any info would be appreciated!

Only 1200 pictures so far? That's a drop in the bucket, I usually take at least that many a month. Those cards can typically be used for years and years. Like someone else said though, make sure you're formatting the card each time, not deleting the pics only. It's faster anyway, and it keeps the card "healthy".

 

[Swimalie]

If it makes you feel better, a back-up card would be good to have. Other than that, a card should last you years. The camera we bought in 2001 is still using the original card.

 

[marlaine8]

Thank you all for the responses!
I hate to admit it, but I am so NOT-Techie that I don't even know how to download pictures onto my computer. I just have them printed from my memory stick and get a CD.

 

[cglaura]

I use SD cards also, which you can get pretty inexpensive. I've found the best deals at buy.com

I use a new card every day. That way if something happens, I only lost one day of photos.

I think I'm in the minority on this procedure though!

I usually use a 2gb card. But keep a spare in my bag in case I fill that up during a day.

If you bring a laptop, you could always download your pics each day, that would avoid the multiple cards. I don't bring my laptop, I like to be disconnected as much as possible while on vacation ( read: "No, I can't do that project really quick, I don't have my computer..." )

ETA: just ready you reply about not having them on your computer. For what it is worth, it is very easy. Most cameras come with a usb cable. Hook it up to camera, hook it up to computer, turn on camera. A box should prompt what you want to do...just copy them to the folder. Or if the camera came with cd to install, it might have a photo album program to copy them to automatically.

 

[TheRatPack]

Oh and check your computer online before ordering new SD cards. I ordered 4gb cards and then found out that they won't work in my pre 2008 Kodak digital This camera only supports SD and not SDHC, so now I need to find some plain SD cards for it.