How To Manage Digital Camera Memory When Hiking
Camera Storage Capacity For Photos Must Be Managed When On A Hike
When hiking with a digital camera, apart from taking the perfect shot, there are two matters that must be well managed:
- Managing Digital Camera Memory; and
- Extending Digital Camera Battery Life.
The importance of these are dependent on the length and remoteness of a hike. Generally, the longer the hike, the more management of digital camera memory and battery life becomes essential.
Managing Digital Camera Memory
A digital camera relies on memory cards to store photos. Therefore it should be easy to manage camera storage capacity when hiking and the opportunity to download the photos onto a computer is not available. Simply carry enough memory cards!
However, there are times a hiker may need to manage digital camera memory:
- Not enough memory cards for the number of photos. This can occur from simply bad management, and hiking in remote places. For example, on the South Coast Track in Tasmania (Australia), there is no civilisation around to go off and buy extra memory cards.
- Memory cards may get lost or damaged on a hike, for example if a backpack leaks in the rain, is accidentally dunked in a creek, or a wayward trekking pole lands on it when changing cards.
- Failed memory cards. A memory card simply may not work, making it wise to test cards before heading out on a memorable hike.
- A memory card lent to another hiker. Helping another hiker can be a Good Samaritan act, but can reduce the amount of memory available to the hiking party.
Increased digital storage capacity can be obtained by reducing the size (in mega-pixels) of the photos taken. In many instances the photos may be stored on a computer and only looked at as a reminder of the hike in years to come.
The size of the file is mainly related to the quality when the photo is printed as a hard copy, so if not needing to print a large copy, then the size of the photo can be reduced.
Reduce The Quality Of the Photos To Manage Digital Camera Memory
Reducing the quality of the photos can free up space on the memory card.
The camera compresses the digital information of each photo before storing it on the memory card. The lower the compression, the higher the quality and therefore the more storage capacity is needed.
As with the size of the photo, the decision needs to be taken as to what the photos will be used for in the future, and at what quality.
A camera’s instruction manual will explain how to change this setting. Different manufacturers use different terms, but “fine” is usually the highest compression (and quality) and requires the highest storage capacity.
Some Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras can be set to store photos in a RAW format. This is useful for manipulating images on the computer when back at home. A decision will need to be made to sacrifice this capability for more memory space. Again, this is related to what the images will be used for.
Reduce The ISO Setting To Manage Digital Camera Memory
The ISO setting on a camera (film or digital) is related to the amount of available light in which the camera can operate. The more light, the lower the ISO setting needs to be.
The principal is the same with a digital camera, with the added problem that the higher the ISO setting (less available light) the more memory is needed to store the image.
Camera Memory Is Needed For Hiking Photos
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