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11/05/2004 05:47:16 PM · #1 |
| I have a 1 gb SanDisk Ultra II CF card. When set to raw mode I only get 94 images. It says that the files are 5mb. Shouldn't I be getting more images? When I am set to Jpeg Normal mode I get 473 images. Files are about 1.6mb. Something doesn't seem right. |
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11/05/2004 05:53:28 PM · #2 |
Either the images are not the size you say they are, or there's something with your card, Most 1 gig cards are not 1024 megabytes, as they should be, usually less. Perhaps defragmenting your card would help?
Take an average of the sizes for your jpegs and RAW's, jpegs vary with ISO and color heat, I read, because it can't compress noise (from high ISO) and cooler colors (blue and purple) as well.
There's also a possibility that a portion of your card is damaged. Reformat it (after saving files onto your computer of course), and see how much space is on it while it's still empty.
With my Rebel, I've experimented on the causes of varying file sizes. The smallest file you can take is a lowest-ISO (100) picture of a red or black card, out of focus. And my 1 gb Kingston card has about 1 billion bytes (954 mb), as opposed to 2^30 bytes, which is equal to 1024 megabytes. Normal metric isn't typically used in computers, instead, 2^(10x) bytes are used instead, as they coincide more easily with binary, the base-2 computer language.
Message edited by author 2004-11-05 18:00:55. |
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11/05/2004 06:02:21 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by BADDBOYY21:
I have a 1 gb SanDisk Ultra II CF card. When set to raw mode I only get 94 images. It says that the files are 5mb. Shouldn't I be getting more images? When I am set to Jpeg Normal mode I get 473 images. Files are about 1.6mb. Something doesn't seem right. |
That is correct I have the same card.
What seems to happen is that the D70 looks at the largest file size possible and as you take photos it adjusts the amount of photo space available on the card. IE you may have 43 photos for the current space you take a photo and you may still have enough space for 43 photos. I think its good as you will always get at least the amount showing.
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11/05/2004 06:05:07 PM · #4 |
I can't explain why the numbers are what they are, but I do know the D70 (not sure about other brands, but assume it's the same) The size of the photo in terms of MB greatly depends on the amount of information being processed i.e. if you have a billion tiny leaves in one pic, and nothing but sky in another, both with the exact same settings, the leaves create more image which requires more space. I believe the camera leaves room for error (or finds an avg between busy and simple and uses that equation) To point out a tip I got the other day in a 'D70 to buy or not' thread, it could be the 'firmware'. I still don't know that much about firmware but think this could effect that equation?
While not fully understanding file size, resolution, and other technical stuff, I do think the camera creates that avg and bases the number of photos based on that. I have not paid enough attention to see if the final shot count matches that of the predetermined number, but would like to see if it does. My guess (without specific knowledge I might add) is that the less info each pic has, that number will grow. Maybe not on the info screen of your camera, but in the actual shot count.
P.S. I get 17 raw shots from a 256MB card. You could aslo make sure that you don't have it set to take a raw+jpeg combo. that could easily burn up some space. That's all I got for now.
Joe
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11/05/2004 06:09:43 PM · #5 |
Okay...checked the card...the drive reads 1024mb with 977mb free after format. According to the Nikon manual...NEF RAW files are approximately 5mb. It states that a 256mb card will hold approximatel 44 images.
In jpeg mode, normal resolution and 3008X2000 size is approximately 1.5mb. On a 256mb card, 144 images can be stored.
Something is not right if you use those examples. |
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11/05/2004 06:10:01 PM · #6 |
While waiting for my 1gb card I used a 256 and filled that, as I was getting toward the final few photos it would update and I would still have that amount of photos, I think I got an extra 3-5 shots.
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11/05/2004 06:24:33 PM · #7 |
Check your camera settings. The D70 will shoot raw in 2 modes: 1) Just the raw image; and 2) The raw image plus a JPG preview image. If your camera is set the second way, it won't hold as many images, obviously.
And the other posts are right about it being a best guess at how many more images the card will hold. |
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11/05/2004 06:37:54 PM · #8 |
| It gives you a close to number left. As you continue to shoot it does what is said before (staying at a certain number). I have 512mb Ultra II and have gotten about 65-80 in just RAW on it. |
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11/05/2004 06:49:20 PM · #9 |
Nikon is fair with you by reporting the possible amount of images on your card in the worst case scenario. That is: loads of detail causing a minimum amount of compression of the NEF file (compressed TIFF with Nikon header).
In the worst case you are not surprised. In the best case you will be surprised that the card can hold double the amount of images compared to what was reported at first.
If you are happy with that or not, at least you will never get in the situation that the card can take less than you expect by the reported number of possible frames.
So: What it reports is not the true amount, just worst case amount.
Message edited by author 2004-11-05 18:51:15.
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11/05/2004 07:00:05 PM · #10 |
Yeah, the D70 waaaaay underestimates the number of RAW images you can fit on a card. In my experience, by a factor of about 2. So you should be able to fit almost 200 shots on the card.
I think this is partly a bug where the size estimation doesn't take into account that the D70 NEFs are compressed, and may reuse code from the D100 that dealt with uncompressed NEFs.
Speaking of compressed NEFs, I really wish the D70 had an option to store images in a lossless RAW format :-( . D70 RAW mode is most definitely lossy. (Not to say it's not great quality, but having my pictures go from 12 bits to 9.4 bits of resolution kind of pisses me off.) |
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11/05/2004 10:28:40 PM · #11 |
Please... The image quality of the D70 is one of the highest in its class. To act as though its not up to your standards is a bit on the dramatic side. If it really pisses you off, buy a Canon. In the mean time, every other testing site on the 'Net seems to think the D70 captures amazing images. How about pros who shoot exclusively in JPEG? They seem to make a living using a format with far greater loss. And to take it a step further, plenty of pros are doing quite well with NEF.
Bottom line is that unless you like to shoot images which routinely get close to clipping highlights this argument isn't worth getting your camera bag in a ruffle. And if you do take that kind of shot on a regular basis, the amount of loss is probably not something your human eye will detect. If you're sincerely worried about how much of your image is lost in NEF, then you probably ought to spend more time working on taking pictures and less time reading stats.
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11/05/2004 10:34:16 PM · #12 |
Not to worry, I had this exact same problem when I started to shoot on a 1GB Lexar. It was saying I was getting about 90 shots.
I made a mistake about how many pics I had actually taken when I thought I had filled the card, and started a thread here about it. If you have the D70 set to Raw only ( not the Raw + jpeg ) it will probably tell you that you can take about 90 shots.
Keep shooting. It's a bizzare little bug in the camera, but as you keep shooting and get closer to that number it just keeps saying you have more images.
I was eventually so frustrated trying to figure out why I had so few images, I erased everything on the disc, pointed the camera into the woods and started firing away. Camera said I'd get 90 pictures, I actually took about 170 Raw images with file sized between 5 and 6MB each.
Give that a shot and see how many you get. |
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11/05/2004 10:58:55 PM · #13 |
| Just as a comparison, I recently got my first 1gb Lexar card and it shows as fitting 103 RAW files, which are about 9-10 meg on the D100. |
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11/06/2004 04:09:04 AM · #14 |
| Okay...sounds good to me. I will see how many I actually get with the 1Gig card. |
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11/06/2004 05:24:48 AM · #15 |
Originally posted by BADDBOYY21:
Okay...sounds good to me. I will see how many I actually get with the 1Gig card. |
Yeah its got me wondering now tooo..
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11/06/2004 05:31:49 AM · #16 |
| When the file size for NEF RAW on D70 range between 4Mb - 6MB, it would be impossible for the camera to tell how many are left unless it's the last few. The camera cannot predict the amount of imformation that would be present in the next shots you will be taking. I think when it says 94, what it means is that you can get at least 94 on it. |
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11/06/2004 05:41:38 AM · #17 |
i have a 256 card and it says 72 shots everytime its empty. but how many it actually shoots has varied between 82 - over 100 but never 72.
I like the way it reads the card as it was said earlier every pic taken will use a different amount of MBs so it will always say the least ammount possible. Keeps you on you toes. BTW i downloaded that BIBBLE software for RAW images seems to be free and does a great job, way better/faster than Nikons own IMHO. |
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11/06/2004 08:13:49 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by alionic:
BTW i downloaded that BIBBLE software for RAW images seems to be free and does a great job, way better/faster than Nikons own IMHO. |
Better, perhaps.
Faster, yes - much.
Free? No.
The download allows you to evaluate before purchase. Very gracious of the author to offer an uninhibited trial version. If you like it and decide to use it the basic version is $69, the pro version is $129.
That being said, I do believe it's worth the money. But it's definitely not free.
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