Uploading photos to a photo storage site

[chirurgeon]

If anyone read my SmugMug thread they know I am going with an online site to store my photos. My only concern is it takes so long. Is it faster to upload one at a time? I have been uploading a large number and the program takes 3 at a time. It is taking a very long time. The picutes are from 3-5 megabytes each. And each photo takes from 6-10 minutes each to upload. I guess that isn't too bad, but when you have over 1000 photos to upload, its a lot of time. And why if I am taking photos with the same basic settings do they have different file sizes. Not real up on that part. I hate to think what the size of my photos is going to be when I get a new point and shoot for walking around. I wanted to try and get one of the new ones that are 10 mp or over. This lot was taken with my 8 mp Canon XT.

Kim

 

[gruZ]

Regarding the uploading, what uploader are you using? I found when I started with Smugmug the "drag photos to upload" method (the default method after you click the ADD PHOTOS button) took longer and was "interrupted" from time to time.

There are several other uploaders available for Smugmug that in my experience are faster and more reliable. Assuming your upload internet speed is not the problem (try www.speedtest.net to see how fast the upload is), you might try one of the alternative uploaders. To do this, click the ADD PHOTOS button like you normally do, but then at the bottom of the next window you will see "Try a different uploader"

As far as file size, it all has to do with compression. The way I understand it, a picture that has more noise will be larger - the jpg compression algorithm can't compress noise nearly as well, so this file size will be larger.

In simple terms, the algorithm looks at the image in terms of adjacent pixels. If the pixels are identical, the algorithm says, "use this same color for the next XXX pixels." A new set of instructions will be issued every time the color of the next pixel changes. Therefore, an image that has the same color in every pixel will have very few instructions, and be smaller. If there is a lot of noise (or the image is very complex), a new set of instructions has to be issued every time the next pixel changes color - more instructions mean larger image size.

I saw a visual representation of this some time ago - if I can find it I'll post the link. If anyone has a better explanation, I'd love to hear it!

Hope this helps!

 

[ukcatfan]

The file size is different based on how well the shot can be compressed. For example, take a shot with the lens cap on and it will have almost no detail, so it will be compressed very well and be smaller.

I take it you are on dial up with those speeds. What are your purposes for storing them there? I would not rely on an online place as your backup b/c you do not know what is going to happen to them in the future. They could go out of business out of the blue and you might lose them. If it is just to show off to others, then you should not need to upload full size. I just use the free Photobucket and have the longest side set to 1024. That is sometimes too big for certain sites. For example, the max size is 800x600 for our contests. I also use Flock to upload b/c it has a batch upload tool which I believe can be used with Photobucket and Flickr.

Kevin

 

[DueyDooDah]

This is probably due to your connection. Unless you are using a business line, you probably have a slower upload (sending) speed than download (recieving). For instance, my cable service (comcast) has a 12 million bits/sec download speed, which is faster than a standard business line. This is wonderful because I mostly receive things on my computer, not send to someplace else. I can get huge files in a short time.

Now, if I want to send my photos to my photo share site, I send at a blazing 256 thousand bits/sec (or some such). This is MUCH slower than the download speed. This is one of the reasons business lines cost so much more than residential lines, as both upload and download speeds are the same (and they are guaranteed to be so).

Your service provider can tell you how fast your upload speeds are set to, although they don't normally go at the rate they tell you. They will be somewhat slower, normally.

(Note to the technical folk: This is intentionally a basic example. I don't want to confuse anyone with technical jiberish.)

 

[handicap18]

If anyone read my SmugMug thread they know I am going with an online site to store my photos. My only concern is it takes so long. Is it faster to upload one at a time? I have been uploading a large number and the program takes 3 at a time. It is taking a very long time. The picutes are from 3-5 megabytes each. And each photo takes from 6-10 minutes each to upload. I guess that isn't too bad, but when you have over 1000 photos to upload, its a lot of time. And why if I am taking photos with the same basic settings do they have different file sizes. Not real up on that part. I hate to think what the size of my photos is going to be when I get a new point and shoot for walking around. I wanted to try and get one of the new ones that are 10 mp or over. This lot was taken with my 8 mp Canon XT.

Kim

What kind of computer are you using and what online service do you have?

When I upload my images to flickr.com it took about 3-4 minutes to upload 5 images from about 3 to 5MB each and that was with my slower computer on Verizon FIOS internet.

I just uploaded a 2.8MB image to flickr and it took 21 seconds.

 

[JR6ooo4]

3.22 megs uploaded in 1min 30 sec

with the program Send to Smugmug
I think some of that might have been the program logging in with my password before beginning the upload.

I just ran a speed test with speakeasy

1000k download and 300 upload
Normaly we are at 1700 download

I need run a new phone line (we have DSL) to the modem because we have 1958 wire and it is bad, or the connectors. when i connect the modem to the outside phone drop I can get 8000k! But we only pay for 3

Mikeeee

 

[chirurgeon]

Thanks for the advice. I will check my upload speed. I have Verizon DSL. Still waiting for FIOS. Feel free to check up what has already uploaded. chirurgeon.smugmug.com

Kim

 

[jfulcer]

3.22 megs uploaded in 1min 30 sec

with the program Send to Smugmug
I think some of that might have been the program logging in with my password before beginning the upload.

I just ran a speed test with speakeasy

1000k download and 300 upload
Normaly we are at 1700 download

I need run a new phone line (we have DSL) to the modem because we have 1958 wire and it is bad, or the connectors. when i connect the modem to the outside phone drop I can get 8000k! But we only pay for 3

Mikeeee

Just ran mine - 8406K down, 1897K up. Gotta love cable.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Just ran mine - 8406K down, 1897K up. Gotta love cable.

How much do you pay for that?
I can get that, I think, but it is up three price levels!!!

Mikeeee

 

[Gdad]

I have had the 'fastest' level of both DSL and Cable in this area- all of them have a slow upload speed for some reason.

 

[handicap18]

Just ran mine - 8406K down, 1897K up. Gotta love cable.

We have Verizon FIOS with the Verizon FiOS Internet Service- Up to 5Mbps/2Mbps Package. This is the slowest/least expensive package with Verizon FiOS. I did a test and got an avg of 5196k down and 1845k up.

There are more expensive/faster packages but I think this is pretty good. 15/2 is $10 more a month and then 15/15 is $23 more a month.

Verizon FiOS 5/2 is the same price as Comcast Broadband at 6/.4 (according to Comcast's web site).

I never realized that Comcast's upload speed was so slow, or that FiOS was that much faster. Interesting.