How do I choose a good memory card for my digital camera?

Question

I currently have a 5 mega pixel camera with a 256MB Memory Card in it. It only holds 80 pics, can anyone give me any suggestions as to a better memory card that will hold more pics for my camera. I am going on vacation and would hate to go out and buy multiple memory cards for it. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Sandisk and Lexar come bundled with image recovery software that you copy onto your computer before you format the card. I am sure that the cards all pretty much perform the same, but these brands have a lifetime warranty for some of their products, so that makes me think they are built to higher standards. As far as day-to-day use, I have some generic and some of each brand I named and they all work. The contacts on the brand name cameras seem to have the equivalent of the "thunk" that you look for when you shut a car door to check it's quality, if you know what I mean. You don't wonder, "Is it in there right?" because it just feels right. I don't buy generics any more, though. I just end up getting them "with things" somehow.

Kingston is another decent brand, but I do not know about their warranty or bundled software, if any.

Go for a 2 GB card, if you can afford $40-65, and a 1 GB ($25-40) if you can't.

The following information is based on using the highest resolution, largest image a 5 MP camera can produce. If you use smaller sizes, the storage capacity increases immensely.

Put the card in your camera and see how many frames it says you can still hold on the card. That's the only really accurate way. Well, even that is an approximation, because the camera does not know how large your next picture will be. It's like your car predicting how many miles of fuel you have remaining in the tank when it doesn't know if you are about to smash the gas pedal to the floor. For instance, if you take a picture with a lot of more-or-less uniform sky in it, the memory used for a full 5 MP picture will be considerably lower than a 5 MP picture with huge amounts of detail.

A 5 MP camera will make files about 3-3.5 MB in size for an "average" full size, maximum resolution picture. Sometimes more and sometimes less. The theoretical MAXIMUM would be 5 MB, right?

One billion divided by 5 million = 200 pictures.

If the file size if more like 3.5 MP, though:

One billion divided by 3.5 million = 285 pictures.

Do the math to draw your own conclusions about lesser file sizes. Just double all the numbers for a 2GB card and you will see that you can get at LEAST 550 pictures on your vacation.

If you shoot a mid-size photo with "normal" resolution, you might even be able to get about a thousand on the card. Check your manual for details.

http://www.lexar.com/digfilm/capacity_chart.html shows various card sizes with various MP cameras.

Answer 2

If your 256MB card holds about 80 photos...then a 1GB card will hold a liitle less than 4 times that amount.
I would suggest that you at least buy a 2GB card, which will allow approx. just over 600 photos.
Make sure your camera can accept a 2GB card if you were to buy one.
Or it might be a good idea to buy 2x1GB cards. Plus you have the 256MB card as a spare.
Also (depending on your camera) make sure you get a fairly high speed card.

AND always choose the best quality/resolution for your photos (which I think you are already doing), because there is no excuse to skimp on photo quality.

You might think 2GB will be too much, but if you also want to take a few short 'movies', then you will need as much card space as possible. Movies eat up memory fast, so keep them fairly short.

Good luck and have a great time.

Answer 3

A 1GB card will be sifficent for most everyday point and shoot moments. It will hold about 400 pictures on Large/SuperFine on my Canon SD700IS so your camera should hold more pictures since it is a 5MP. I would recommond buying a 2GB if your going to be on a vacation and away from the computer for 1 week. You can always lower your cameras picture size so that you ccan fit more on the memory card.

Go with the Kingston SD 1 or 2GB card. They are cheaper and they are just as good as SanDisk cards. (I think you have SD cards you never specificed) Go on line you can find a Kingston 1GB for about $30-40.

Answer 4

I would suggest either 512mb or 1GB depending on how long you are away on vacation and whether you will have access to a computer to transfer the images if you run out of space. It is often good to have a few memory cards rather than just one, in case it becomes corrupt or you loose it etc etc...

Answer 5

Get a 1 GB (~320photos) or 2 GB (~640 photos). Check out the link below for ideas on $$. Stick with Sandisk, Kingston, or Lexar.

I'm assuming that you use SD memory since it is the most common.

Answer 6

I bought a 2 gigs memory and i have a room for a least 1,000 pics
go to your nearest electronic store and see what's on sale
get at least 2 gigs card and you'll be fine

Answer 7

The one you can afford.... I have a 64 MB card and it'll hold upwards of 845 pics.. as long as I keep the resolution down to standard email quality pics and don't use video.
I think there are 120 MB cards... if you an afford it... go for it!