Different memory cards are used with various cameras. The camera, whether you take RAW or JPEG photographs, and the quality level you shoot at all affect how many photos you can store on your memory card, whether it is an SD card, flash memory card, or other types. The amount of images a memory card can store varies depending on a number of variables, including the device you use and the file types it generates.
The micro SD card, SD card, CF card, XQD card, and other types are included. However, they have the same common storage sizes, such as 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, etc. By knowing the typical image size your device produces, you can determine how many images a memory card can store. We will give you an estimate first and then continue in depth later in the article.
It usually works like this:
• In simplest words, 32GB can store 7,500 JPEG images.
• 64GB can store 15,000 JPEG images.
• 128 GB can store 30,000 JPEG images.
• 256GB can store 60,000 JPEG images.
How to Determine the Maximum Number of Photos Your Memory Card Can Store
A memory card’s capacity on the market is expressed in gigabytes (GB). However, Megabytes (MB), the most popular size measurement for photos, are contained within a GB. If you had 1000 photos at 1MB apiece, you could save all 1000 photographs on a 1GB card because 1GB has 1000MB in it. The size of an image can have variance based on the image and camera type.
Setting JPEG Quality and File Size
The number of photos you can save on a memory card depends on the size of each photo file. In contrast to RAW files, the file size of a JPEG depends mostly on the JPEG quality settings that you employ. When shooting in JPEG mode, the majority of cameras offer three different quality settings: normal, fine, and extremely fine.
These terms indicate how much compression is used in each JPEG, with normal being the most compressed and having the shortest file size, and super fine being the least compressed and having the largest JPEGs as a result.
Storage Size vs. Number of Pictures
All sorts of memory cards can be used for calculations to store photos. It works with SD, XQD, CF, C Fast, micro SD, and other types of cards. 1024 MB of RAM will be included on a 1 GB storage medium. A 16 GB memory card would therefore contain 16 × 1024 MB, or 16384 MB. If you check the memory card’s actual storage capacity in your camera or computer, it will be less than 16 GB. The real memory card capacity will vary depending on the type of card along with the photo size of the device you are using.
With the same file format, you may use your camera to take a variety of shots in various settings, and you’ll see that each image’s file size varies. The typical raw file size will be rough twice as large as the camera’s megapixel count. Memory card capacities that are frequently seen are 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB, and 256 GB. The image file size would be approximately 48 MB if you were using a 24-megapixel camera and shooting in RAW (24 x 2).
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Note: Higher storage sizes like 512 GB and 1TB are also available, but the price is prohibitive. The majority of users favor 32 GB as their favorite storage size.
Factors Affecting How Many Photos Fit On A Memory Card
The amount of photographs that can be kept on a memory card depends on a variety of factors.
Image Format for Storage
The most crucial factor is the image file type you’ll utilize inside the camera. The only selection on a basic point-and-shoot digital camera is “JPEG.” You can capture pictures in RAW format if you have a DSLR, mirrorless, or medium format camera. During editing, you can adjust camera settings, including white balance and exposure. Both amateur and professional photographers use the RAW format, and each manufacturer will have their own recommended file naming convention for RAW files.
You have a number of alternatives for saving photographs when utilizing interchangeable lens cameras. You can choose to capture the images as JPEG, RAW, or JPEG+RAW.
Camera-Pixel Counts
The megapixel count on a camera is another factor. A greater megapixel camera will produce images with a better resolution, which will result in larger image files, and a single image file will therefore require additional storage space. For instance, a 12-megapixel camera with the same memory card capacity can only hold half as many photographs as a 6-megapixel camera.
Photos with a 10MP image size have a 4:3 aspect ratio and a 3648 by 2736 pixel resolution. It is sufficient to share photos with a 10MP resolution online and create 8 by 10 prints. The JPG photo’s file size is influenced by the JPG photo’s compression algorithm in addition to the picture resolution. Those with fewer tones and less detail can be compressed more effectively than pictures with lots of smooth tones and little detail.
Shooting Conditions
The size of an image can also be influenced by variables like the ISO and shutter speed. A higher ISO usually results in larger images. Similar to how a scene in a bustling metropolis will have a larger file size than snapping a JPEG photo of a white wall. That essentially has to do with how the JPEG compression algorithm functions by spotting comparable regions in the image.
Videos On SD Card
You can save fewer photos on an SD Card because videos take up more space. Therefore, while calculating the maximum number of photographs that can fit on a memory card, don’t forget to take videos into account. Videos must have been on the minds of those who chose GoPro. As a result, video files will compete for memory card capacity. GoPro cameras are excellent for still photo shoots, but they work best for high-definition films.
Quantity of Bits
The bit depth of the RAW file will be between 12 and 16. 8 bits of data will be present in JPEG files. All memory card kinds can be used for these computations of the number of photographs vs. memory card capacity. A 1 GB storage medium will have 1024 MB of memory. Accordingly, a 16 GB memory card should have 16 x 1024 MB or 16384 MB. The memory card in your camera or PC will only have a maximum storage capacity of less than 16 GB.
Additionally, the actual memory card capacities will vary amongst the cards. 32 GB is the most popular capacity that most people choose.
Table for Memory Cards
The information provided thus far is summarized in the table below.
Memory Card Size | Smartphone @ 6MB | Smartphone @ 3MB | DSLR RAW @ 35MB | DSLR RAW @ 27MB | DSLR JPEG @ 15MB | DSLR JPEG @ 12MB | GoPro @ 10MB | GoPro @ 7MB |
8GB | 1,333 | 2,666 | 228 | 296 | 533 | 666 | 800 | 1,142 |
16GB | 2,666 | 5,333 | 457 | 592 | 1,066 | 1,333 | 1,600 | 2,285 |
32GB | 5,333 | 10,666 | 914 | 1,185 | 2,133 | 2,666 | 3,200 | 4,571 |
64GB | 10,666 | 21,333 | 1,828 | 2,370 | 4,266 | 5,333 | 6,400 | 9,142 |
128GB | 21,333 | 42,666 | 3,657 | 4,740 | 8,533 | 10,666 | 12,800 | 18,285 |
256GB | 42,666 | 85,333 | 7,314 | 9,481 | 17,066 | 21,333 | 25,600 | 36,571 |
512GB | 85,333 | 170,666 | 14,628 | 18,962 | 34,133 | 42,666 | 51,200 | 73,142 |
The memory cards’ storage capacities are listed in the first column in GB. You can see the approximate number of images that memory cards for each of the mentioned devices created in the other columns. As you can see, the file type affects the number of photographs.
What Size Memory Card Is Ideal For Photoshoot?
Obviously, the largest capacity card that gives you the most storage space is the best if cost is not a concern. However, the majority of us find that cost is important, so you should have a general notion of your photographic requirements. Do you just keep uncompressed RAW images, JPEG images, or a combination of the two?
Or do you rarely take any photos and frequently upload them to your computer or cloud storage instead? Every circumstance necessitates a different amount of storage space.
Different Memory Cards
The memory card you choose will depend on your camera. The size, type, and speed of the memory card are all up to you. You can snap more photos the larger the size. This is a fantastic way to store more photographs, but it’s also a fantastic way to destroy or lose them all. The speed has to do with how quickly the memory card can process the data.
Although a quicker memory card costs more, it will let you employ continuous or burst modes. However, it’s possible that your camera won’t be able to fully utilize the card’s writing speed.
Micro SD cards
These are more compact than their bigger siblings. They were created to work with tiny gadgets or small cameras. Smaller memory cards are more likely to be misplaced. When used with an adapter, they function as an SD card.
SD (Secure Digital)
Due to their small size, these cards are being used more frequently. Even the majority of laptops feature a little slot designated for these memory cards. In case that something goes wrong, they are a sure bet for manufacturer assistance. Even the memory card has a tab on the side that, when pressed, protects your photographs.
CF (CompactFlash)
One of the two types of memory cards most frequently encountered in digital cameras is this one. Physically, they are the biggest. They are found in many digital SLRs and mid to large-sized cameras.
Calculating the File Size of Your Camera
There are some basic steps to easily calculate the file size of the images produced by your camera.
- Use your camera’s RAW/JPEG settings to capture a photo that is first underexposed by one stop at the lowest ISO level and then overexposed by the same amount at the highest ISO setting.
- Repeat this again, taking images first with the proper exposure, then with the photos overexposed by one stop. Both of the uniform scenes, such as a wall or the sky (but it’s ideal for photographing something at 18% gray). You should get a good representation of file sizes from this.
- \Next, check the sizes of the individual files on your computer or in your camera. For an average, add them all up and divide by six.