What number of footage can my SD card maintain? That is the query I’m requested typically when readers of my weblog attempt to determine the dimensions of the SD reminiscence card they should complement the digicam they simply bought.
On this article,
- I gives you 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 may apply to your particular digicam and get higher estimates.
- And at last, I’ll share what’s the optimum reminiscence card dimension at this time and the dimensions of reminiscence playing cards I’m utilizing in my images.
However the easiest technique to determine what number of photos a reminiscence card can maintain is to divide the dimensions of the reminiscence card by the typical picture dimension your digicam produces.
To simplify the method of calculating what number of can SD card maintain, I precalculated the commonest eventualities and offer you a transparent reply.
The Means I Calculated What number of Pictures Every SD Card Can Maintain
I used 3 eventualities for calculating what number of pictures you may retailer on a SD card.
State of affairs #1: You utilize 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.
Canon Insurgent cameras produce JPEG photos between 7MB and 11MB.
For my calculations, I used the typical file dimension 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 utilize the smartphone.
Should you verify the JPEG file dimension produced by varied smartphones you may see that dimension can fluctuate between 4MB and 6MB
State of affairs 3: You utilize 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 pictures you may retailer on a SD reminiscence card, I divided the dimensions of the cardboard by the typical dimension of the digicam photos
That easy.
However please bear in mind, it’s only 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.
What number of pictures can a 16GB SD card maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Sensible Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
1,638 | 468-682 | 3,276 | 2,048 |
On DSLR and mirrorless cameras the JPEG file dimension varies from 7MB to 13MB. It implies that a 16GB reminiscence card will maintain between 2,340 and 1,260 pictures, with a mean of 1,638 photos. When capturing RAW the picture dimension is larger (between 22MB and 38MB), and the 16GB can retailer between 468 and 682 pictures.
With an approximate picture dimension between 4MB and 6MB on a smartphone, the 16GB SD reminiscence card can maintain between 4,096 and a pair of,730 pictures with a mean of 3,276 JPEG pictures.
On the GoPro motion digicam, an 16GB reminiscence card will retailer between 2730 (6MB per photograph) and 1638 pictures (10MB per photograph) with a mean of 2048.
What number of pictures can a 32GB SD card maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Sensible Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
3,276 | 936-1,364 | 6,553 | 4,096 |
With the typical JPEG picture dimension on DSLR cameras round 10MB, the 32GB reminiscence card will maintain about 3,276 pictures. When capturing in a RAW format, the file sizes fluctuate from 22MB to 38MB, and a 32GB reminiscence card can retailer between 936 and 1,364 photos.
On a smartphone, the approximate picture dimension is between 4MB and 6MB, and the 32GB SD reminiscence card can maintain between 8,192 and 5,460 pictures with a mean of 6553 JPEG photos.
GoPro motion cameras, at full decision, produce JPEG picture sizes round 6MB and 10MB. The 32GB reminiscence card will let you retailer roughly between 5,462 (6MB per photograph) and three,276 pictures (10MB per photograph).
What number of pictures can a 64GB SD card maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Sensible Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
6,552 | 1,872-2,728 | 1,3106 | 8,192 |
The typical JPEG picture dimension on most DSLR cameras is round 10 MB. With a 64GB reminiscence card, you’ll be capable to maintain within the neighborhood of 6,552 photos. When capturing in RAW format, the file dimension can vary from 22MB to 38MB. With a 64GB reminiscence card, you can retailer about 1,872 to 2,728 footage.
Photos on a smartphone sometimes have a dimension between 4MB and 6MB, and SD playing cards with 64GB capability can maintain as much as between 16384 and 10922 pictures, with a mean 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 let you retailer between 10,922 (6MB per photograph) and 6,554 pictures (10MB per photograph).
What number of pictures can a 128GB SD card maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Sensible Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
1,3107 | 3,744-5,456 | 26,212 | 16,384 |
The typical JPEG picture dimension on most DSLR cameras is round 10 MB. With a 128GB reminiscence card, you’ll be capable to maintain within the neighborhood of 13,107 photos. When capturing in RAW format, the file dimension can vary from 22MB to 38MB. With a 128GB reminiscence card, you may retailer about 3,744 to five,456 footage.
Photos on a smartphone sometimes have a dimension between 4MB and 6MB, and SD playing cards with 128GB capability can maintain as much as between 32,768 and 21,840 pictures, with a mean 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 let you retailer between 21,845 (6MB per photograph) and 32,76 pictures (10MB per photograph).
What number of pictures can a 256GB SD card maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Sensible Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
26,214 | 8,628-10,560 | 52,428 | 32,768 |
The typical JPEG picture dimension on most DSLR cameras is round 10 MB. With a 256GB reminiscence card, you’ll be capable to maintain within the neighborhood of 26,214 photos. When capturing in RAW format, the file dimension can vary from 22MB to 38MB. With a 256GB reminiscence card, you can retailer about 8,628 to 10,560 footage.
Photos on a smartphone sometimes have a dimension between 4MB and 6MB, and SD playing cards with 256GB capability can maintain as much as between 65,536 and 43,690 pictures, with a mean 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 let you retailer between 43,690 (6MB per photograph) and 26,214 pictures (10MB per photograph).
What number of pictures can a 512GB SD card maintain?
DSLR (JPEG) | DSLR (RAW) | Sensible Cellphone | GoPro Hero 8-11 |
52,428 | 17,256-21,120 | 104,856 | 65,536 |
The typical JPEG picture dimension on most DSLR cameras is round 10 MB. With a 512GB reminiscence card, you’ll be capable to maintain within the neighborhood of 52,428 photos. When capturing in RAW format, the file dimension can vary from 22MB to 38MB. With a 512GB reminiscence card, you may retailer about 17,256 to 21,120 footage.
Photos on a smartphone sometimes have a dimension between 4MB and 6MB, and SD playing cards with 512GB capability can maintain as much as between 131,072 and 87,381 photographs, with a mean 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 let you retailer between 87,381 (6MB per photograph) and 51,428 pictures (10MB per photograph).
What elements decide picture file dimension?
JPEG File Measurement
The principle mistake that photographers make once they attempt to estimate what number of pictures can match on a reminiscence card is once they use the variety of megapixels on the digicam sensor as a main issue of their calculations. Though there’s a direct correlation between the megapixel depend and the dimensions of the photograph it produces (the upper the megapixel depend, the bigger the photograph), it’s virtually inconceivable to estimate the precise file dimension.
Should you shoot in JPEG format, you should use a number of high quality choices—like an additional superb, superb and customary—that produce completely different file sizes.
Plus, completely different digicam settings and capturing situations have an effect on the dimensions of the JPEG file. For instance, excessive ISO pictures typically characteristic a big quantity of digital noise, which leads to a lot bigger JPEG information. Pictures with wide-open skies may have a a lot smaller file dimension than a picture with a forest that’s crammed with element.
Which means, relying on JPEG high quality, completely different digicam settings, and varied capturing situations, the file dimension can fluctuate wherever from 1MB to 20MB for a similar digicam mannequin.
RAW File Measurement
When capturing RAW, the state of affairs turns into much more complicated. RAW information fluctuate in bit depth from 12-bit to 14-bit. The upper the bit depth, the larger the file dimension. It’s doable to calculate the file dimension when you recognize the megapixel depend and the bit depth, however just for uncompressed RAW information. Nevertheless, 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 comparable to sRAW and mRAW.
As I mentioned, it is extremely difficult and complicated.
So, What’s the Extra Correct Strategy to Estimate How Many Pictures a Reminiscence Card Can Maintain?
Let me present you the best method 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 resolve which to purchase.
I dive into my grasp library listing the place I hold all of my unprocessed pictures.
Within the file browser (Explorer or Finder), I see that each one my RAW pictures are sized between 24MB and 25MB.
Subsequent, I take advantage of the desk under 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 verify the JPEG model of the pictures produced by the Sony a6000, I see that the dimensions varies between 5MB and 13MB. I take advantage of a mean 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 Calculator Desk
You should use my technique with the reminiscence dimension calculator desk under to estimate what number of pictures 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 typically ask me why we want reminiscence playing cards greater than 32GB if we will retailer hundreds of high-resolution information.
Let me clarify.
I typically shoot in RAW+JPEG in order that I can seize the JPEG model with my telephone or pill for quick enhancing on the highway. This will increase the file dimension for each shot to 33MB (25MB+8MB).
Subsequent, I virtually all the time bracket my pictures, taking not less than three consecutive variations of every shot at completely different publicity values. This will increase the file dimension for every shot to almost 100MB.
Which means I can solely retailer 276 bracketed pictures on a 32GB SD card. That’s merely not sufficient room for my customary capturing fashion.
For the final two years, I largely used SD reminiscence playing cards with a capability of 128GB however am now regularly upgrading them to the 256GB variations.