File size is another significant factor to consider if you take many photograph during the day. A high megapixel counts for the camera result in a large amount of data recorded for each photograph. This large amount of data can result in problems with the storage capacities for that camera.
File size isnt just dependent on the number of pictures that are taken, but the size of each individual photograph are also essential to consider when it comes to file size. There are three factor that determine the file size of the photographs that are taken with a camera. The sensor in the camera determines file size by the number of pixels that is recorded.
What Makes Photo Files Big or Small
File size is also determined by the amount of information that is recorded by each individual pixel. Lastly, the method that the camera use to pack that information into a file also determines the size of the files that are recorded. The more pixels that the sensor records, the more larger the file size of the photograph.
For these two reason, medium format cameras create files that are larger in size than files that is recorded from full-frame cameras. The three different format for cameras result in files of different sizes. For example, a 45-megapixel full-frame camera often results in files that are more smaller in size than the files that are recorded from a 100-megapixel medium-format camera.
This is due to the difference in the bit depth and sensor size for each type of camera. When selecting memory cards or backup drive for the files that are recorded from the camera, you should consider the bit depth and sensor size of the camera. The megapixel count for the cameras is often the only specification that is considered when selecting cameras, but it is not the only specification that determine the size of the files of the photographs that are taken.
RAW files contain almost all of the information that the sensor records for each picture. This allow for maximum control for editing the files, but it uses a significant amount of storage space for the files. The sensor discards some of the information in JPEG files, which allows for JPEG files to be of smaller sizes.
HEIF files use new methods for compressing the images so that they are of better quality yet take up less space in terms of file size. File size, in this case, is a trade-off between the control that is desired for the files and how much storage space are available for those files. Bit depth play a critical role in both the size and quality of the files that are recorded by the camera.
Files that have an 8-bit depth can only describe 256 level of brightness for each color channel in the picture. Files that have a bit depth of 14 bits can describe over sixteen thousand level of brightness for each color channel. This additional bit depth result in smoother skies and better recovery of the shadows in the picture.
This additional bit depth makes for an increased file size of the files that is recorded. When changing from files that use 12-bit depth to files that use 14-bit depth, there are sixteen percent more data for each picture that is taken. Some photographer will find the improved quality justifiable for the increased size of the files.
Others will not. When planning the storage for the files of the pictures that are taken, it is essential to understand how quickly the files can fill the storage media. It is possible to fill a memory card with a burst of high-resolution photographs, especially if both RAW and JPEG file are being recorded.
The main constraint for memory cards is the write speed. You should match the memory card’s write speed to the speed of the camera. High-speed cameras will require memory cards with high write speed to continuously write the data from each burst of photographs.
Cloud backup services impact the management of the files created by the camera. Some cloud backup service will compress the files to save space on the cloud server that stores the files. However, other cloud backup services will leave the data from the files as they is recorded by the camera and stored on the computer.
The cloud backup service will reduce the quality of the files when they are downloaded from the cloud server through the compression of files. Prior to choosing a cloud backup service for the files created by the camera, you should check the cloud backup service’s policy on file compression. Another decision that a photographer should make is the type of file that is needed for each photograph.
Depending on the use of the photographs, they can use JPEG, HEIF, or RAW files. If the photographs are only to be used as social media pictures, HEIF and JPEG files will be the best choice for the files. However, if serious editing of the files will be performed, RAW files will be the best choice.
Finally, the storage system that is created for the files should of have at least twice the amount of storage space as RAW files take up in storage. This allow for space for working files and backup files for the RAW files that are edited.