Digital Camera
 

Maybe a stupid question, I'll be using a digital camera for the first time while travelling in Europe, given the limited memory of the camera, what's the best way to save my pics but not run out space? More memory of course, but could I go to a internet cafe and dump the pictures onto a computer and email myself?....help, thx

With the price of the memory being as low as it is, do yourself a favor and buy the extra memory. You can purchase a 1 MB chip for under $100.

You would go to an internet center and get you pictures burnt on a CD. Do get more memory as Robert suggested (he probably meant a 1 Gig card, not 1 MB), and make sure you CD is good before you delete any pictures from your card.

I agree with Robert, but I think he meant 1 GB.

Most camera manuals have a chart with the number of photos at each setting that various sizes of memory cards will hold. So, you can guestimate the number of pictures you'll take at the highest setting and buy a card accordingly.

Pricegrabber.com is a fabulous resource for things like this.

Remember with a digital camera you can easily delete "bad" shots.

Most photo labs can burn pictures to a CD for you today. Internet cafés often cannot, since they don't want to take the security risk of allowing people to insert storage media into their machines.

I would definitely purchase more memory. What if the card goes bad? What if it fills up on a morning when you're heading to someplace you really want to photograph? I always have 3-4 media cards with me for such eventualities. It's like having 1 roll of film and hoping you don't run out or something happens to it.

Don't forget to play with the "quality" setting on your camera. This typically sets the degree of file compression, so a setting of "normal" will allow you to store more pictures on the card than a setting of "high." And I'd bet the difference in picture quality is not noticeable...

I don't like to downgrade the quality of the pictures in order to save memory, because I never know when I'll get that special shot I'd like to crop and/or blow-up. Even on a extra-fine quality level, a 1 GB and a 1/2 GB card are enough room for 2 1/2 or 3 weeks of photos for me.

The idea of getting a disc burned at a photo shop's a good idea as a back-up, and just in case you find yourself running low on memory.

Definitely buy an extra memory card, a 1GB card for sure. Considering all the expense in going to Europe, why not spend a little more on something you'll keep and use?

Most cameras allow you not only to change the image quality but the size. I prefer to reduce the image size not the quality - the effect is similar (smaller image files mean you can fit more on a memory card). If you have a camera with a lot of megapixels, remember that unless you are planning to print big enlargements you don't need a lot of pixels. 3 Megapixels is just fine to make the 4x6 prints most people make, 6 Megapixels is overkill unless you want HUGE prints. When I was in Europe this year with my digital camera, I often reduced the image size for different types of shots and used the largest size mainly for what I hoped would be "keeper" shots. Then again, I took almost 1700 shots in less than two weeks, so I didn't want tons of large files to keep and archive!

Be careful about getting a CD burned. CDs are not perfect, and a CD someone burns for you could be junk. CDs are not indestructible either - they sometimes go bad after a couple of years. Definitely don't assume your vacation CDs will last forever once you get home and leave them in a drawer - make copies.

Andrew

I read and re-read the User Guide. A professional photographer showed me his notebook. He made notes of each picture he took. He suggested shooting a practice roll of film (or a digital card). I suspect that few picture takers have ever read their camera's instructions or a 'how to' manual. Proof, a 'flash' is good out to 12 feet; watch a football stadium, camera flashes are going off at 100s of feet from the action. Limited memory? Hardly; discuss your needs with the camera shop. Capacity is now unlimited.

Wow, 1700 shots. How long does it take to view and edit them?

First of all, have a wonderful trip to Europe. Practice with your camera before-hand, learning how to change some of the settings, rather than just using "auto". If your camera allows you to change ISO and white balance, for example, you may find it useful in settings such as museums and art galleries where flash photography is forbidden.

As others have stated above, with the low cost of memory these days, the simplest solution is to just buy another memory card. They are light and virtually indistructable.

Alternatives are to carry a portable hard drive or have your pics burnt to CD, but honestly, why bother? Of course if you are embarking on an extended trip, and plan to take thousands of photos, that may be necessary.

As for downloading and emailing the photos to yourself from an internet cafe, how long would it take to transfer a full card of photos? I'm not sure, but too long, I suspect.

One more suggestion. Acquire a tripod and use it. Get one that can be collapsed and is light. Don't be hesitant to set up and take the time to get it 'right'. You can also use the self timer feature with the tripod to include yourself in the pictures. Again, practice.

Personally, I'd get a number of spare 512 mb cards, that covers a number of possibilities:
1) if a card gets corrupted you don't loose all your images
2) if you loose one you don't loose all of them!
3) you can get the burned onto cd quite easily - much easier than a 1gb card, as a cd holds 750-800mb.

You could think about sorting some online photo storage for some shots, or get your images burnt on to 2 cds - and post one home. The majority of shops are of good quality in europe so you shouldn't have many issues with them, just check before you leave that they're on it!

We have 2 256mb cards and have never filled them both up on 2 week trips and I think that we take alot of pictures. We also have 2 batteries for the camera and that also seems to do the trick.

Good suggestions above. Indeed, do practice with your new camera before going on a trip. I would even print some stuff from it so you really know what you will be getting. Just take your memory card to a place with a kiosk and get some 4x6 prints made. Realize (unless you are getting a digital SLR that has the same aspect ratio as film) that to print conventional 4x6-size photos you will lose stuff on the top and/or bottom of your pictures because most digital cameras take a more "square" picture than 35mm film.

Another good idea to carry multiple memory cards. They can go bad.

Tripods are indeed helpful (and you can get a release cord for many cameras instead of using the timer). Not only do they allow you to compose a photo more carefully, but if you want to take some dusk or night shots, you will need a tripod - but you can get some stunning pictures that way. Unfortunately a tripod can be bulky. I took one to Europe this year but used it mostly at dusk (and daybreak), because I usually had a camera bag too (digital SLR, four lenses) and that was enough to lug around.

Again about burning CDs: even the most reputable shop could screw one up. As someone else said, at minimum plug your new CD into a computer and view some of the shots before erasing your memory card. This is essential if you care about your pictures at all.

Heimdall, it's not practical to email your photos home from an internet cafe unless you aren't taking many. 512MB for example would be impractical to email, too large. If you have some web space somewhere you might upload them to a website but 512MB would take a bit of time.

GSteed, my 1700 shots were a lot of double-takes, poor exposures re-shot without deleting the old until later. I'd say I edited out 1/2 of these shots immediately after viewing them and wound up with only about 200-300 "keepers" when all was said and done. I did have my laptop with me so I could edit/review them at night as I traveled.

Andrew

ttt

Everyone here has given excellent advice. I would only add that on a recent trip to Italy, even the smallest village had a burn to CD service.

I had plenty of memory when I took my digital camera for the first time last summer and I had two batteries, but lo and behold I went thru both batteries before my trip (2 1/2) was over. I had not taken my third battery because I had no idea how fast the camera used up batteries. For the same reason I hadn't taken my battery charging base even though it would have worked in Europe with a European plug. SO, don't make the mistake that I did. I went to numerous camera shops and NO ONE could re-charge my batteries for me and buying a new one was no answer since they come uncharged!

What? New batteries come with no juice in them? Or am I completely misunderstanding what Kristenelaine just said? Please clarify. I was recently given a digital camera, and have only played with it long enough to see if I liked it. I'll be addressing the battery issue in a few months as I prepare for my next trip. Please explain what that battery comment meant!