How much memory do you have?

I'm trying to build up my stack of CF memory cards and I'm wondering how much

memory is sufficient to have at a wedding? Is 10GB enough? Should I shoot for

15 GB? How do you break up the cards? I know its not a good idea to have

everything on one card, but do you use 10 1GB cards? 5 2GB cards? Just trying

to get an idea.

 

Thanks!

Personal memory burned out in my youth.

Camera memory, using a 20D, I shoot about 2-3, occassional 4 2gb cards, but have another 6 or so gb in reserve.

depends on how much you shoot. Some people shoot over a 1000 per shoot and some do it in 2-300. I use about 7-9 gig on a full 14 hour shoot with a 5d.

I would HIGHLY recommend NOT using more than 2 gig cards. Last wedding I shot I was

using a 1 gig card and when I tried to look at a couple of images before taking more and

error code came up - after this I could not retrieve any of the images I had taken. Just

gone!!!!!

 

Another wedding, I had once experienced my second shooter using a different card and

when I tried to download her card it was telling me there was a corrupt file and I couldn't

download the images. We gave it all we could to salvage her card and nothing.

 

One card was from Lexar the other from Sandisk. These are the only two times I have

experienced this. To say the least, both brides are not happy, and for good reason. Cards

are computer chips, and like all computers there can be problems that arrise.

 

So I would be very cautious about putting all your eggs in one basket. God forbid this

similar things happen to you and all the images you took get automatically deleted.

 

One card was not retrievable, the other we're looking into sending it into Lexar to see if

they can recover any files. This is a huge pain and causes stress on everyone's end.

 

Hope that helps in your decision making,

 

Darice

We usually bring all of our cards with us to any event, no matter how big or small. We currently have four 2 Gb cards and four 1 Gb cards. Typically, we only use half of them (on average 1,000 to 1,500 shots using the large fine JPG setting).

 

There's been a lot of discussion and debate on the board concerning the size of the cards. To sum it up, there seems to be two different lines of thought: 1) Don't put all your eggs in one basket, keep multiple 1-2 Gb cards to somewhat protect yourself just in case of a card failure; and 2) Those who say that one 8 Gb card is better than having four 2 Gb cards because with the latter you are increasing your chances of failure (more cards = more chances of failure).

 

I think something else you need to consider is whether you are shooting JPG or RAW, and the type of camera you are using (megapixels). As you probably know, RAW uses more space on a card than JPG, and a 10 megapixel camera uses more than a 6 megapixel camera. Plan for having enough space accordingly.

 

Jen

I take twelve 1 gig cards to a 6 hour wedding and use 7 or 8 shooting RAW. That gives me 500+ images and my partner shoots about the same. I always have an extra card hidden away just in case I need it!

 

I might go to 2 gig cards the next time I start replacing.

What was the question?

I go with two 4Gb cards and selectivly shoot RAW and JPEG. I carry two 2Gb cards and two

1GB cards as back up memory. I format each card in the camera before use.

 

With my 5D I get ~250 RAW images on a 4Gb card. When I have the 2Gb in the camera I am

constantly worring that I do not have enough room for all the RAW shots I may wish to take at

the moment. I will shoot anywhere from 750 - 1400 pictures mixed between RAW and JPEG,

switching quality on the fly.

I carry about 10gb with me to a wedding. I've never used it all up, but I do use each card at least once for around 100 images. I try to limit my cards to one set of pictures, the bride alone, the bride with bridesmaids, the bride and groom together, the reception usually gets three cards, and the ceremony usually gets two or three. So bascially when we are doing formals, and there is a natural break in the shooting, I swap cards.

I take 19 gigs to a wedding. I get 77 raw pictures on one gig. I was using 15 gigs, and usually ended up swithcing to Jpeg for the dancing at the reception. I decided it is much esier to process the raw files, so I bought one more 4 gig card to finish the night without switching to jpeg.

Two 8 gig cards for the H2D/39, six 4 gig cards, four 2 gig CF cards and four 2 gig SD cards

for the 1DsMKII

 

It's all relative to how big the files you shoot are. For example, one 8 gig CF goes in the MF

digital back which records 39 meg RAW files.

 

I just read an article by one of the card makers that cautioned about using the same cards in

different cameras ... even if you reformat every time. I suspected that awhile ago, and

dedicated specific CFs to each camera used.

26 usable GB (not including Microdrives). Don't think I have used more than 16GB total.... though this will go up when I add another D200. If my card safe was larger I may opt for the smaller ones, but figure backing up most shots is the important thing.

 

8GB Ridata

 

8GB Ridata

 

4GB Lexar

 

6each 1GB of various manufacture

 

4GB Microdrive (kept only as last resort)

 

4GB Microdrive (last resort)

Would love a Mark2 dual writing capability. That is one of the most sensible and ingenious of all DSLR features I believe.

 

If ever I get paid for this stuff, and switched to Canon, that would be the first camera I purchased. Are you listening Nikon?

20 GB total, 3 4GBs for the 5D and 4 2GBs for the 20d, and considering adding another 4G just in case since the prices have dropped so much.

Well, we carry 76GB of CF with us (mostly Ultra II and Extreme III 4GB cards) and shoot about 60GB per wedding (about 5500 Raw images a wedding)...

 

The answer to the question "How much is enough" can be answered with another question..."How do I shoot"? If you shoot 5 set up photos per hour, then 6gb should be enough...If you Shoot ALOT more, then it will not be...

 

 

 

~brooks

This gets asked about once a week. Depends on your camera, more mega pixels= need for more memory, raw=more memory, etc. I use a D70s and D200, carry 15gigs in 1 & 2 gig cards and portable hard drive that clips to my belt for back up. I've never used more than 8 gigs at a wedding...that I can recall anyway.

I have about 12 Gig. I always format my cards, never selective delete. 10 hours of shooting-usually good.

8 Sandisk Ultra II 2GB

 

4 Lexar Pro 1GB

 

1 Lexar 512MB

 

20.5 GB Total

 

+ Laptop just in case

"robbie caswell , oct 05, 2006; 12:47 p.m.

Would love a Mark2 dual writing capability. That is one of the most sensible and ingenious

of all DSLR features I believe."

 

It was an important factor for me in yesterday's decision to buy the 1D...N.

 

Not sure how I'm going to use the 2 slots yet. The obvious one is to shoot RAW to the CF

and jPeg as a backup in the SD slot. But what size jpeg?

 

In addition to having an 'insurance file', does shoot jpeg as the prime file with RAW being a

backup for occasions when the file needs adjustment in the RAW converter..... Or jpegs to

both drives ?

 

Do you use similar capacity cards in both drives?

 

Robbie, life seemed simpler with the Leica M's. :-)

I've got 2 4GB Ultra II's for each of my 5D's plus a bunch of 1GB Ultra II for emergencies. I number all my cards either 1 or 2 and they are dedicated to a specific camera...

Two 4G cards and 1- 40G Epson P2000 straped to the belt :)

 

However, i bring 6 more 4G CF's as back-up.

5 - 8gb 150x

 

1 - 8gb 80x

 

8 - 4gb ultra II and Extreme 3's

 

8 - 2gb " "

 

some MD's (about 20gb)

 

and some misc. cards that are just hanging around.

 

I obviously am prep'd for anything. However, this stack has to cover 5 or 6 bodies at times (assistants use mine).

 

If shooting alone with an 8 or 10gb cam. I would say you need (for safety) about 16+ gb.

 

Best, D.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820183021&ATT=20-183-021&CMP=OTC-17exta6

I have 9 gigs, 5 1G cards and 2 2G cards, but I rarely shoot more than six. Of course I shoot jpeg. If I was shooting RAW, that would easily triple.

(2) 4GB cards, and (2) 2GB cards. I also have a 1gb and 4gb backup microdrives just in case.