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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Pixels or Compression?
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 07/19/2005 09:42:56 PM · #1
OK, say you're going on vacation and want to get the maximum number of shots with a finite number of CF cards. Both Smartypants and I use Canon 6.2 megapixel cameras, and we'll be spending 8 days in New Mexico starting next week. We both tend to shoot a lot, especially Smartypants. If we wanted to reduce our jpg picture quality to get more pics onto a CF card, what would be better:

Large/Normal (3072x2048 with high compression)

or

Medium/Fine(2048x1360 with low compression)

Both choices cut the file size down from ~2.5 megs per shot to about 1.2 megs per shot, allowing us to approximately double the number of shots we can store on our CF card supply (3 gigs worth of cards for two of us for 8 days).

Now, I've got a card reader doohickey on the way that will theoretically allow me to offload cards to my iPod during the trip, but at considerable cost in terms of time and iPod battery life. If that ends up not being viable, I'd like to take steps to maximize my CF cards.

Any and all opinions welcome. Extra points will be awarded for scientific rigor (real or make-believe).
 07/19/2005 09:46:48 PM · #2
I would do the 2048x1360, and take lots and lots of pics.

If you see something just awesome, and may think about making a huge print use the larger.

Have a great time !
 07/19/2005 09:50:30 PM · #3
2048x1360 and chimp :P

If you find a great image opportunity you can still increase the size.
 07/19/2005 09:56:35 PM · #4
I like shooting the largest and least compressed images I can. That means more cards or someway to offload. I spent 10 days in Arizona / New Mexico this spring and brought 3 GB worth of cards. I shot RAW (about 180 shots per GB) and had no problem. I was careful to delete any obvious bad shots each night.

So ..... you could go to Costco and buy a few more cards or you could stop halfway through your trip and have them off loaded to a CD at a camera store. Should not be a major problem finding one that can do it. I had planned on doing that but never needed to.

Good luck and have a blast. It is beautiful country (well, at least parts of New Mexico).

edit: Whoops - changed MB to GB

Message edited by author 2005-07-21 13:58:31.
 07/19/2005 10:00:37 PM · #5
J.B, your idea is great. I'm embarrassed that it never occurred to me.

Others, thanks for the input.
 07/19/2005 10:02:46 PM · #6
Shoot RAW and of course, CHIMP CHIMP CHIMP
3MB = 180x3 shots = 540 shots
540 shots/10 days=54 shots/keepers per day.

07/19/2005 10:03:14 PM · #7
Wish I had thought of it. I asked the same question before I left on my trip and someone gave me that advice.

Have fun.

edit: sp

Message edited by author 2005-07-19 22:04:24.
 07/19/2005 10:07:10 PM · #8
I'm not good at chimping and deleting photos on the spot. I often do this during spare time later in the day or at night in the hotel room. Therefore, I like to plan for more than the ~54 average shots/keepers per day. I have also not converted to RAW shooting yet for vacations where I'm likely to be shooting a lot at each stop. I only use RAW now when I'm shooting with a very specific goal in mind (like a challenge) and I know ahead of time approximately how many shots I'll need - or have the chance to chimp and delete.

Message edited by author 2005-07-19 22:07:53.
 07/19/2005 10:18:24 PM · #9
I get about 300 shots in fine JPEG with 1MB on my Rebel. With 3MB, you should have about 900 shots. Is 90 shots a day enough? If not, bring a laptop, buy more CF cards (Kingstons's Pro 50X 2GB is just over $100), burn to CD's at Kinko's or camera shops or at friends, or buy a 20GB data storage units ( they go for just over $200). Those seem to be your options. If you are going to store them or burn to CD, I still think shooting in RAW is a better idea, but I'm sick and like processing my images in RAW. Some do, some don't.
 07/19/2005 11:16:38 PM · #10
Ok, someone go through and do a global replace:

GB not MB. If you have a 1MB or 3MB card and your dSLR, your dOutOfLuck. ;)

In any case, it's better not to have the compression artifacts, so go for lower resolution and lower compression. The artifacts can't be removed and affect sharpening.

Finding somewhere to offload is the best idea. I always carry a laptop on vacation. On our Alaska cruise, I stayed up late nights offloading photos from my digital camera, and from both my children's cams. One day we had to do that mid-day between excursions.

Have a great time!

07/19/2005 11:25:42 PM · #11
Originally posted by nshapiro:
Ok, someone go through and do a global replace:

GB not MB. If you have a 1MB or 3MB card and your dSLR, your dOutOfLuck. ;)

In any case, it's better not to have the compression artifacts, so go for lower resolution and lower compression. The artifacts can't be removed and affect sharpening.

Finding somewhere to offload is the best idea. I always carry a laptop on vacation. On our Alaska cruise, I stayed up late nights offloading photos from my digital camera, and from both my children's cams. One day we had to do that mid-day between excursions.

Have a great time!

hmm i've read that more pixels is better...
 07/19/2005 11:33:34 PM · #12
More pixels is better if you're going to print larger. Better-quality but fewer pixels is better if you're going to print smaller.

When I've travelled, I take my laptop or have another computer available, AND burn them to CD when I can ... I try to always have two copies of a file in existence.

Twice this month I've filled up all my cards (on two cameras) during a (long) day's shooting (fireworks, County Fair)--around 500 frames total each time.
 07/19/2005 11:35:16 PM · #13
Originally posted by yido:
With 3MB, you should have about 900 shots.


Wait... what?!
 07/20/2005 01:13:02 AM · #14
Alright all you anal retentive correct spellers, everyone knows I meant GB and not MB.
:)
 07/20/2005 01:40:06 AM · #15
I always take my laptop with me on vacation. I want to see how I did each night and offload my CF cards to it. I get to see a slide show of my daily shots and I save on in-room movies. I have a tendency to shoot about 1 GB of photo's a day while at an event or on vacation. I would rather take the laptop and offload pictures than cut back on the quality of the pictures I take. If you are hiking or camping, things may not be that easy. My recommendation would be to buy a couple more 1GB cards. If you each had 2 cards + 1 spare, that would give you each about 600 shots, with a 300 overflow. Each night you could delete duplicate images, blurred images (if you take any. I do). Of course, if you are camping, you need to worry about your camera batteries too. Just my 2cents but I would hate to capture the shot of a lifetime only to have the camera capturing at half resolution. (I'm still waiting for my shot of a lifetime, BTW)
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