What number of footage can my SD card maintain? That is the query I’m requested usually when readers of my weblog attempt to determine the scale of the SD reminiscence card they should complement the digicam they simply bought.
On this article,
- I will provide you with a fast estimate of what number of footage completely different SD reminiscence card holds.
- Plus, I’ll present with you a extra exact technique you’ll be able to apply to your particular digicam and get higher estimates.
- And eventually, I’ll share what’s the optimum reminiscence card measurement right this moment and the scale of reminiscence playing cards I’m utilizing in my pictures.
However the easiest technique to determine what number of photos a reminiscence card can maintain is to divide the scale of the reminiscence card by the typical picture measurement your digicam produces.
To simplify the method of calculating what number of can SD card maintain, I precalculated the commonest eventualities and provide you with a transparent reply.Â
The Manner I Calculated What number of Images Every SD Card Can Maintain
I used 3 eventualities for calculating what number of images you’ll be able to retailer on a SD card.
State of affairs #1: You Use a DSLR or Mirrorless Digicam
At this level, the 2 hottest DSLR traces of cameras are the Nikon D3xxx and the Canon Insurgent collection.
Nikon D3xxx cameras, when capturing in JPEG format, produce file sizes between 10MB and 13MB.Â
Canon Insurgent cameras produce JPEG photos between 7MB and 11MB.
For my calculations, I used the typical file measurement of 10MB for DSLR and mirrorless cameras when capturing JPEG.
When capturing RAW, relying on ISO settings, Nikon cameras create file sizes between 22MB and 26MB.
Canon Insurgent fashions generate RAW photos between 32MB and 38MB.
State of affairs 2: You Use the Smartphone.
For those who test the JPEG file measurement produced by varied smartphones you’ll be able to see that measurement can range between 4MB and 6MB
State of affairs 3: You Use GoPro or One other Motion Digicam
GoPro cameras, relying on the mannequin, when capturing at full decision produce JPEG photos between 6MB and 10Mb.
To estimate the variety of images you’ll be able to retailer on a SD reminiscence card, I divided the scale of the cardboard by the typical measurement of the digicam photos
That easy.
However please bear in mind, it is just an estimation as a result of we deal we averages and the ultimate results of the variety of photos every card can maintain is an approximation solely.
How Many Images Can a 16GB SD Card Maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Good Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
1,638 | 468-682 | 3,276 | 2,048 |
On DSLR and mirrorless cameras the JPEG file measurement varies from 7MB to 13MB. It signifies that a 16GB reminiscence card will maintain between 2,340 and 1,260 images, with a median of 1,638 photos. When capturing RAW the picture measurement is greater (between 22MB and 38MB), and the 16GB can retailer between 468 and 682 images.
With an approximate picture measurement between 4MB and 6MB on a smartphone, the 16GB SD reminiscence card can maintain between 4,096 and a couple of,730 images with a median of 3,276 JPEG images.
On the GoPro motion digicam, an 16GB reminiscence card will retailer between 2730 (6MB per picture) and 1638 images (10MB per picture) with a median of 2048.
Greatest 16GB SD Reminiscence Playing cards
How Many Images Can a 32GB SD Card Maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Good Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
3,276 | 936-1,364 | 6,553 | 4,096 |
With the typical JPEG picture measurement on DSLR cameras round 10MB, the 32GB reminiscence card will maintain about 3,276 images. When capturing in a RAW format, the file sizes range from 22MB to 38MB, and a 32GB reminiscence card can retailer between 936 and 1,364 photos.
On a smartphone, the approximate picture measurement is between 4MB and 6MB, and the 32GB SD reminiscence card can maintain between 8,192 and 5,460 images with a median of 6553 JPEG photos.
GoPro motion cameras, at full decision, produce JPEG picture sizes round 6MB and 10MB. The 32GB reminiscence card will can help you retailer roughly between 5,462 (6MB per picture) and three,276 images (10MB per picture).
Greatest 32 GB SD Reminiscence Playing cards
How Many Images Can a 64GB SD Card Maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Good Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
6,552 | 1,872-2,728 | 1,3106 | 8,192 |
The common JPEG picture measurement on most DSLR cameras is round 10 MB. With a 64GB reminiscence card, you’ll have the ability to maintain within the neighborhood of 6,552 photos. When capturing in RAW format, the file measurement can vary from 22MB to 38MB. With a 64GB reminiscence card, you can retailer about 1,872 to 2,728 footage.
Pictures on a smartphone sometimes have a measurement between 4MB and 6MB, and SD playing cards with 64GB capability can maintain as much as between 16384 and 10922 images, with a median of 13106 JPEG photos.
GoPro motion cameras, at full decision, produce JPEG photos with file sizes starting from 6MB to 10MB. The 64GB reminiscence card will can help you retailer between 10,922 (6MB per picture) and 6,554 images (10MB per picture).
Greatest 64 GB SD Reminiscence Playing cards
How Many Images Can a 128GB SD Card Maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Good Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
1,3107 | 3,744-5,456 | 26,212 | 16,384 |
The common JPEG picture measurement on most DSLR cameras is round 10 MB. With a 128GB reminiscence card, you’ll have the ability to maintain within the neighborhood of 13,107 photos. When capturing in RAW format, the file measurement can vary from 22MB to 38MB. With a 128GB reminiscence card, you’ll be able to retailer about 3,744 to five,456 footage.
Pictures on a smartphone sometimes have a measurement between 4MB and 6MB, and SD playing cards with 128GB capability can maintain as much as between 32,768 and 21,840 images, with a median of 26,212 JPEG photos.
GoPro motion cameras, at full decision, produce JPEG photos with picture sizes starting from 6MB to 10MB. The 128GB reminiscence card will can help you retailer between 21,845 (6MB per picture) and 32,76 images (10MB per picture).
Greatest 128GB SD Reminiscence Playing cards
How Many Images Can a 256GB SD Card Maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Good Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
26,214 | 8,628-10,560 | 52,428 | 32,768 |
The common JPEG picture measurement on most DSLR cameras is round 10 MB. With a 256GB reminiscence card, you’ll have the ability to maintain within the neighborhood of 26,214 photos. When capturing in RAW format, the file measurement can vary from 22MB to 38MB. With a 256GB reminiscence card, you can retailer about 8,628 to 10,560 footage.
Pictures on a smartphone sometimes have a measurement between 4MB and 6MB, and SD playing cards with 256GB capability can maintain as much as between 65,536 and 43,690 images, with a median of 52,428 JPEG photos.
GoPro motion cameras, at full decision, produce JPEG photos with file sizes starting from 6MB to 10MB. The 32GB reminiscence card will can help you retailer between 43,690 (6MB per picture) and 26,214 images (10MB per picture).
Greatest 256GB SD Reminiscence Playing cards
How Many Images Can a 512GB SD Card Maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Good Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
52,428 | 17,256-21,120 | 104,856 | 65,536 |
The common JPEG picture measurement on most DSLR cameras is round 10 MB. With a 512GB reminiscence card, you’ll have the ability to maintain within the neighborhood of 52,428 photos. When capturing in RAW format, the file measurement can vary from 22MB to 38MB. With a 512GB reminiscence card, you’ll be able to retailer about 17,256 to 21,120 footage.
Pictures on a smartphone sometimes have a measurement between 4MB and 6MB, and SD playing cards with 512GB capability can maintain as much as between 131,072 and 87,381 pictures, with a median of 104,856 JPEG photos.
GoPro motion cameras, at full decision, produce JPEG photos with picture sizes starting from 6MB to 10MB. The 512GB reminiscence card will can help you retailer between 87,381 (6MB per picture) and 51,428 images (10MB per picture).
Greatest 512GB SD Reminiscence Playing cards
What Components Decide Picture File Measurement?
JPEG File Measurement
The primary mistake that photographers make after they attempt to estimate what number of images can match on a reminiscence card is after they use the variety of megapixels on the digicam sensor as a major issue of their calculations. Though there’s a direct correlation between the megapixel rely and the scale of the picture it produces (the upper the megapixel rely, the bigger the picture), it’s virtually unattainable to estimate the precise file measurement.
For those who shoot in JPEG format, you should utilize a number of high quality choices—like an additional high-quality, high-quality and normal—that produce completely different file sizes.
Plus, completely different digicam settings and capturing situations have an effect on the scale of the JPEG file. For instance, excessive ISO images usually characteristic a big quantity of digital noise, which leads to a lot bigger JPEG information. Images with wide-open skies could have a a lot smaller file measurement than a picture with a forest that’s crammed with element.
Which means that, relying on JPEG high quality, completely different digicam settings, and varied capturing situations, the file measurement can range anyplace from 1MB to 20MB for a similar digicam mannequin.
RAW File Measurement
When capturing RAW, the scenario turns into much more complicated. RAW information range in bit depth from 12-bit to 14-bit. The upper the bit depth, the larger the file measurement. It’s doable to calculate the file measurement when the megapixel rely and the bit depth, however just for uncompressed RAW information. Nonetheless, many producers use RAW compression which varies from lossless to lossy.
Instance. A Sony a6000 24-megapixel sensor produces 25MB RAW information. A Fujifilm X-T2 24-megapixel sensor produces 48MB RAW information. Sony’s RAW information are compressed however Fuji’s are uncompressed.
On prime of every little thing, some digicam producers have their very own smaller variations of RAW information equivalent to sRAW and mRAW.
As I mentioned, it is rather sophisticated and complicated.
So, What’s the Extra Correct Option to Estimate How Many Images a Reminiscence Card Can Maintain?
Let me present you the best approach of discovering the reply!
Let’s say that I shoot with my Sony a6000 and I need to estimate what number of footage I can retailer on a 32GB and a 64GB SD card earlier than I determine which to purchase.
I dive into my grasp library listing the place I hold all of my unprocessed images.
Within the file browser (Explorer or Finder), I see that each one my RAW images are sized between 24MB and 25MB.
Subsequent, I take advantage of the desk beneath to find out that I can retailer 1,100 RAW information on a 32GB SD reminiscence card and 2,200 RAW information on the 64GB model.
If I test the JPEG model of the photographs produced by the Sony a6000, I see that the scale varies between 5MB and 13MB. I take advantage of a median worth of 8MB for my calculation. This tells me that I can retailer 3,432 JPEG photos on a 32GB SD card and 6,864 photos on the 64GB model.
Reminiscence Card Desk Calculator
You should utilize my technique with the reminiscence measurement calculator desk beneath to estimate what number of images a 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB SD reminiscence card can maintain.
Picture Measurement (MB) |
SD Card 16GB |
SD Card 32GB |
SD Card 64GB |
SD Card 128GB |
SD Card 256GB |
SD Card 512GB |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.0 MB | 16,384 | 32,768 | 65,536 | 131,072 | 262,144 | 524,288 |
2.0 MB | 8,192 | 16,384 | 32,768 | 65,536 | 131,072 | 262,144 |
3.0 MB | 5,461 | 10,922 | 21,845 | 43,690 | 87,381 | 174,762 |
4.0 MB | 4,096 | 8,192 | 16,384 | 32,768 | 65,536 | 131,072 |
5.0 MB | 3,276 | 6,553 | 13,107 | 26,214 | 52,428 | 104,857 |
6.0 MB | 2,730 | 5,461 | 10,922 | 21,845 | 43,690 | 87,381 |
7.0 MB | 2,340 | 4,681 | 9,362 | 18,724 | 37,449 | 74,898 |
8.0 MB | 2,048 | 4,096 | 8,192 | 16,384 | 32,768 | 65,536 |
9.0 MB | 1,820 | 3,640 | 7,281 | 14,563 | 29,127 | 58,254 |
10.0 MB | 1,638 | 3,276 | 6,553 | 13,107 | 26,214 | 52,428 |
11.0 MB | 1,489 | 2,978 | 5,957 | 11,915 | 23,831 | 47,662 |
12.0 MB | 1,365 | 2,730 | 5,461 | 10,922 | 21,845 | 43,690 |
13.0 MB | 1,260 | 2,520 | 5,041 | 10,082 | 20,164 | 40,329 |
15.0 MB | 1,092 | 2,184 | 4,369 | 8,738 | 17,476 | 34,952 |
16.0 MB | 1,024 | 2,048 | 4,096 | 8,192 | 16,384 | 32,768 |
17.0 MB | 963 | 1,927 | 3,855 | 7,710 | 15,420 | 30,840 |
18.0 MB | 910 | 1,820 | 3,640 | 7,281 | 14,563 | 29,127 |
19.0 MB | 862 | 1,724 | 3,449 | 6,898 | 13,797 | 27,594 |
20.0 MB | 819 | 1,638 | 3,276 | 6,553 | 13,107 | 26,214 |
21.0 MB | 780 | 1,560 | 3,120 | 6,241 | 12,483 | 24,966 |
22.0 MB | 744 | 1,489 | 2,978 | 5,957 | 11,915 | 23,831 |
23.0 MB | 712 | 1,424 | 2,849 | 5,698 | 11,397 | 22,795 |
24.0 MB | 682 | 1,365 | 2,730 | 5,461 | 10,922 | 21,845 |
25.0 MB | 655 | 1,310 | 2,621 | 5,242 | 10,485 | 20,971 |
26.0 MB | 630 | 1,260 | 2,520 | 5,041 | 10,082 | 20,164 |
27.0 MB | 606 | 1,213 | 2,427 | 4,854 | 9,709 | 19,418 |
28.0 MB | 585 | 1,170 | 2,340 | 4,681 | 9,362 | 18,724 |
29.0 MB | 564 | 1,129 | 2,259 | 4,519 | 9,039 | 18,078 |
30.0 MB | 546 | 1,092 | 2,184 | 4,369 | 8,738 | 17,476 |
35.0 MB | 468 | 936 | 1,872 | 3,744 | 7,489 | 14,979 |
40.0 MB | 409 | 819 | 1,638 | 3,276 | 6,553 | 13,107 |
45.0 MB | 364 | 728 | 1,456 | 2,912 | 5,825 | 11,650 |
50.0 MB | 327 | 655 | 1,310 | 2,621 | 5,242 | 10,485 |
55.0 MB | 297 | 595 | 1,191 | 2,383 | 4,766 | 9,532 |
60.0 MB | 273 | 546 | 1,092 | 2,184 | 4,369 | 8,738 |
65.0 MB | 252 | 504 | 1,008 | 2,016 | 4,032 | 8,065 |
70.0 MB | 234 | 468 | 936 | 1,872 | 3,744 | 7,489 |
75.0 MB | 218 | 436 | 873 | 1,747 | 3,495 | 6,990 |
80.0 MB | 204 | 409 | 819 | 1,638 | 3,276 | 6,553 |
85.0 MB | 192 | 385 | 771 | 1,542 | 3,084 | 6,168 |
90.0 MB | 182 | 364 | 728 | 1,456 | 2,912 | 5,825 |
95.0 MB | 172 | 344 | 689 | 1,379 | 2,759 | 5,518 |
100.0 MB | 163 | 327 | 655 | 1,310 | 2,621 | 5,242 |
What’s Optimum SD Reminiscence Card Measurement?
Individuals usually ask me why we want reminiscence playing cards greater than 32GB if we are able to retailer hundreds of high-resolution information.
Let me clarify.
I usually shoot in RAW+JPEG in order that I can seize the JPEG model with my telephone or pill for quick modifying on the street. This will increase the file measurement for each shot to 33MB (25MB+8MB).
Subsequent, I virtually all the time bracket my photographs, taking no less than three consecutive variations of every shot at completely different publicity values. This will increase the file measurement for every shot to just about 100MB.
Which means that I can solely retailer 276 bracketed photographs on a 32GB SD card. That’s merely not sufficient room for my normal capturing model.
For the final two years, I largely used SD reminiscence playing cards with a capability of 128GB however am now step by step upgrading them to the 256GB variations.
Essential Reminiscence Card Specs Past Storage Capability
When contemplating a reminiscence card, don’t simply give attention to storage measurement. There are key features associated to reliability and pace that deserve consideration.
Reliability: Keep away from unknown Chinese language manufacturers as they could lack the reliability wanted to guard your information. This might result in information corruption and the lack of your images. Go for trusted manufacturers like SanDisk.
On the similar time, train warning even inside well-known manufacturers to keep away from counterfeit playing cards. When buying from Amazon, choose respected resellers equivalent to Amazon itself, B&H, or Adorama.
Card Velocity: Card pace is an important issue affecting how shortly your digicam can write information, together with images and movies, to the cardboard.
Gradual playing cards may be irritating when capturing within the subject. Keep away from the SanDisk Extremely for optimum efficiency, as it could restrict your digicam’s capabilities. Think about investing a bit extra in fashions like SanDisk Excessive or SanDisk Excessive Professional for quicker information switch. This reduces the time your digicam spends clearing its buffer, essential for avoiding missed picture alternatives and sustaining a easy pictures workflow.
Conclusion: How Many Photos Can My SD Card Maintain?
Choosing the proper reminiscence card includes extra than simply measurement. Think about your pictures wants, prioritize reliability and pace, and purchase from respected sellers. Whether or not you’re a frequent or occasional photographer, understanding these particulars ensures a easy and safe expertise.
When selecting a reminiscence card, give attention to what really issues in your pictures, permitting you to seize moments with out worries about reminiscence card limitations.