Just curious... how much memory (as in memory cards for digital cameras) have people used on average for their tours? & how long was the tour/tours in question?

I'm trying to gauge (before xmas!) whether 2 x 512MB CF cards would be enough for about a 5week trip (with a 4MP digcamera - using high resolution), or whether I should also get a 256MB card as an emergency backup. (I don't really want to have to go the photo storage route at this stage - as in photoviewers/ipods/portable hard-drives/whatever - not that there's anything wrong with that. I'd just like to get used to travelling with extra equipment to begin with - ie. battery chargers etc - without having to keep track of even more equipment).

In the past I have used a film camera. To give you an idea of how much film I tend to go thru on trips....last OS trip of about a month, I went thru almost 18 rolls of 36exp film. This was less than the previous trip of similar length where I went thru about 21 rolls of 36 exp film (new camera), plus a disposable camera with 27 shots available (because we were going to the sand-dunes in Morocco & I didn't want my camera getting sand in it if it was windy).

Thanks,
ClareS

Hi Clare,

A 4MPixel camera, if you use it at its highest quality (as I would do) will probably produce picture files about 1.7MB in size, so on a single 512MB card you'll be able to store:

512/1.7 = 300 pictures, give or take a few

So that's the equivalent of about 8 rolls of 36 exposure film. So two cards will give you about 600 pictures, or the equivalent of 16 rolls of film.

I think that's a little misleading, though, in that that great thing about digital cameras is that you can see what you've taken immediately, and delete the ones which aren't very good, so you don't have to take several pictures of the same thing "just in case".

These days you can buy memory cards in any camera shop, so why not go with your two cards, and buy another (or get one of them transferred to CD) if you find yourself running short of space?

This is also my worry so will try to take any info in. I have yet to buy my very own digital camera after using the one we bought my son for our last trip. Did not have a lot of time to try it out so had little confidence while away and did not take as many shots as I would have liked. I have read on the posts or tour tales about some one loosing all their photos when they had them transferred to CD and it did not work (the shop was at fault). I think it may have been Kell& Scott as I vaguely remember it was of their daughter's birthday. THen also I recall a TD who would use a lap top to put photos on CD's for people on tour. I'm sure it will be easier to use a digital than a regular camera but now to find the one I really want and learn how to use it. Too many to choose from but I'd love a small one, easy to carry but still give good photos. Hope you find the easiest solution. Happy travels.

A famous Australian scholar, C. Northcote Parkinson, wrote in his book, Parkinson's Laws, "Work expands to fill the time allowed."

I find shooting digital very similar: the number of images saved expands to fill the memory available.

Glenn

Hey, come on - you have now lost all credibility - how can you use the words, 'famous', 'Australian', and 'scholar', in the same sentence?

Steve,

Well, "famous" maybe (or rather "infamous") and "Australian" in the same sentence, but - you're right - "scholar"?!

But you know we love you all regardless.

Crocodile Dundee!

Some say he is the most famous Australian.

The only Parkinson I know is Michael & he is English, although he does love cricket, so perhaps he is an honorary Aussie

Well, this could well be the start of a history lesson - for a start "who was Howard Walter Florey? , where was he born?, where did he study?, and with which life saving drug, was he associated ? - Wait for it there are heaps of examples to come!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Steve H,

Dimpz - hate to disagree with you but Michael Parkinson is a Yorkshireman - a part of England I must admit - but Yorkshiremen (and women), are a race apart - let's admit it, anyone whose sole interest is cricket, has to have a genetic abnormality!

......& I have now Googled C. Northcote Parkinson & he is British

So we were right Aussie & scholar just don't go hand in hand

Steve if you are going to talk about cricket I am shutting down & going outside to watch the grass grow.........far more interesting

Watching paint dry is far more satisfying!

SteveH...

I will have to try it!

Thanks Chris. I will be using the camera at its highest resolution, so think I will take 3 memory cards with me. Sometimes I have taken more than 1 shot of the same thing in the past (with film camera) in case the first one didn't work out, so there shouldn't be so much duplication with a digital camera - theoretically!

I was speaking to someone the other day about how much memory they used on a recent OS trip (about 5weeks I think) & they said 1Gig., though they also had a video camera (which I don't).

Cheers,
ClareS