A question about Digital Camera Memory About This Page:

[Mel & Richard]

Ok, I have decided to purchase a Canon Powershot A70. This comes with a 16MB memory card.

My first question is how much memory will I need for a 16 day trip to WDW? We won't have a laptop or any way to download our pics till we get back to the UK. I have no idea how many pics of what resolution say 64MB will store.

The store I am planning on purchasing from lists a SANDISK 47316 64mb compact flash memory card for £29.89 as an accessory for the A70. I assume compatibility will be ok? I have never owned a digital camera before and this is all new to me. [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Thanks for an illumination anyone can shed on this subject!

Mel

[Colexis Mom]

I personally don't think that is going to be enough memory. I have a Nikon CoolPix 4300. When we went in May for 10 days, I brought the 16 MB compact flash that came with the camera, and 2 256K memory cards. I filled up the 16 and one of the 256 (but, I wasn't taking all my pictures at the highest quality level, if I had, I would have easily gone into the other 256 card). All in all, I think I had about 230 pictures. So it depends on if you usually take a lot of pictures, and also read your manual. In there, there should be a chart of how much memory you need for a picture at each "picture size", and you can try to plan from that.

In any case, you're going to need more, IMO.

Forgot to add that if the camera uses compact flash, then any brand of "compact flash" should work (Sandisk is what I also have).

[DisneyMomma]

I have the Canon A70 and love it!!!! We were at WDW for 8 days and I took 596 photos. We did buy an extra 128 MB card and brought it just in case but I didn't have to use it. [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] (I'm a scrapbooker so I take tons of photos.) I had the 16 MB card that came with the camera, a 16 MB and a 256 MB. I filled all of them up at the second highest quality setting. Each night I would go through the photos and delete the ones I was sure I wouldn't want.

Look in your manual and there's a chart that shows how many photos you'll get with each resolution setting. (I'm headed out the door to take DS to school or I'd find a link for you now.)

Hope this helps a little!

[Victorydiv]

You can't go wrong with "more." Memory is cheap and 16 Mb will definately leave you needing more. I have 1x16, 1x32, and 1x128 and take pictures at normal quality. At the end of the day, they are all full and I end up transferring to my laptop to make room for the next days photos.
[img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]

[WEDway Guy]

Here's a link to a Canon A70 table that gives you the number of shot for a given memory card size and the associated quality/resolution level. Scroll down about half way to find teh table. Hope this helps.
http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/...cs.html#number

[Mel & Richard]

Thanks you guys for all of the help! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] I never thought to look at the Canon site.

I can definitely see I need more. I think I will buy two 64MB cards. Actually, my in-laws called the other day and said they'd like to get us an early Christmas gift that we could take on vacation and were thinking about a digital camera. They were thinking of spending somewhere up to £500. So I think the A70 and two memory cards will be ideal.

Mel
(Who has very generous in-laws.)

[101 Dalmations]

I bought 2 128 MB memory sticks for my camera. I figure if I run short, I will stop by Epcot and have them transferred to a CD (which I may do anyway, since it is our honeymoon). I don't plan to take all pictures at the highest quality setting. In fact, a large number of them will probably be at 3.1 megapixel. I also plan to bring a waterproof one-time use camera as well as a point and shoot 35mm. I paid way too much for the digital camera to get sand or water in it! (I've got a Minolta X-700 which still has sand in the viewfinder from taking it to the beach one time).

The good thing about memory is that it is cheap and compact.

If you decide to transfer pictures to a CD, you can get it done over at Epcot for $11.99 for the first 40 images and $5.99 for each additional 40.

[WEDway Guy]

Mel,
One other thing, there is definitely a cost difference between the different sizes of memory.
I know in the US, our Sam’s Club Warehouse has the following prices...which are usually VERY good. ($US)

128MB - $37.28
256MB - $49.44
512MB - $99.34
1.0GB - $216.67

I have no idea how the pricing differs in the UK, but I hope this gives you an idea of what to spend. Best of luck with the camera...considering that same one myself!

[Colexis Mom]

Good comments Jeff!! I bought my 256s at Costco for I think around $59 and it was the cheapest around that I could find at the time (without doing mail order).

[Mel & Richard]

Thanks Jeff. Comet, a UK store has the best price on the camera but I haven't shopped around for the memory. I'll do that.

Stupid question maybe, but US memory cards would work as well wouldn't they?

Mel

[chezp]

Originally posted by Mel & Richard:
Stupid question maybe, but US memory cards would work as well wouldn't they?

<font size="2" face="Comic Sans MS, Arial">Mel, I was wondering this as well - because if the memory cards are the same in the States and they're a lot cheaper, then we'll get them there!

[WillCAD]

Mel, as far as I know, Compact Flash is the same standard in the U.K. as it is in the States. That means you can buy some more memory cards at the cheaper rates while you're here, as long as you can get out of WDW for a shopping expedition.

How many pictures do you normall take on a 16-day WDW trip? Look at that, multiply it by 1.5, and that will give you a rough idea of how many you will probably take with your new digital.

You might also be able to hook up with a fellow Passporter member who has a laptop and get your photos burned onto CD that way. I'm attending several meets on my next trip and I plan on volunteering my laptop PC to burn photos onto CD for any of my friends who need it.

[kadterp]

Just got another 128 MB card at the store yesterday for vacation! It cost about $47 US dollars and gives me more than enough for vacation! We have the A70 too and this is our first trip with it and Im not so sure about it! DH made a good suggestion that at the end of the day to hook up the cable to the TV and look at the photos that we took during the day. What you see in the LCD screen and what it looks like on the computer are two different things! I would price out the two 64 cards to one 128 and see which way would save you more money. Good luck!

[DaveH]

My camera uses Compact Flash cards. The best price per MB has been in the 128MB and 256MB sizes here. He get more for your money. The larger cards make it easy to keep going also.

[Dave W]

Hi Mell,

Don't forget good rechargable batteries!

I bought a digital camera back in May and I gave a lot of thought to the batteries before I purchased and I'm very happy I did.

I opted for a camera (Minolta Dimage S414) that supports AA batteries. I ended up buying some high power rechargable batteries and charger for about $50 US. The link for the product is: PowerEx 2200mAh AA rechargeable NiMh batteries

They also have the UK adapter for about $12.95 US.

The $50 package contains 8 batteries, charger, case for spare batteries and car adapter.

Lastly, Don't forget to budget extra $$ for lots of memory!! My camera came with 16mb or about what equals a standard roll of fill, depending on the settings. I've since sprung for 256mb that allows me to capture about 211 photos (good quality & size) on 1 memory card. I paid about $45 or so after rebate.

I just ordered a second card so I can capture 422 photos, 1600 x 1200 at my 'Fine' setting. Thats about 60 photo's a day on my next vacation to WDW!! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

For 16 days that would equate to roughly 26 pictures a day.

Good luck with the final choice!

David