Remaining Image Storage Capacity ?

**hjoseph7** · 01-01-2016, 02:53 PM

What exactly is that number on the bottom right of the top and back LCD. On my camera(K5-IIs) it reads [1046] . The manual says it is the "Remaining Image Storage Capacity " but what does that mean ? When I hit the shutter the number turns to [1045] then it goes back to [1046] . I never paid it much mind, but I thought that was the number of actuations or the number of pictures I took, but that does not seam to be the case.

**jatrax** · 01-01-2016, 03:00 PM

It is the camera's estimate of the number of images that will still fit on the SD card. It is a rough estimate only and should not be treated as exact. It will change whether you are shooting RAW or Jpeg but the camera has to make some assumptions about the file size which will vary with each shot.

Giklab · 01-01-2016, 05:17 PM

This^. The camera assumes a larger image size to be safe.

Adam · 01-01-2016, 05:58 PM

Originally posted by hjoseph7

What exactly is that number on the bottom right of the top and back LCD. On my camera(K5-IIs) it reads [1046] . The manual says it is the "Remaining Image Storage Capacity " but what does that mean ? When I hit the shutter the number turns to [1045] then it goes back to [1046] . I never paid it much mind, but I thought that was the number of actuations or the number of pictures I took, but that does not seam to be the case.

It's basically the amount of space left on the card. In practice, you will probably be able to take more photos than what the camera estimates, since it uses the worst-case scenario.

Adam
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Zafar Iqbal · 01-01-2016, 06:24 PM

To put things in perspective:

Using 32GB card, my K-3 tell's me I have room for 600 photos when in reality, I top at 900.

**Digitalis** · 01-01-2016, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal

Using 32GB card, my K-3 tell's me I have room for 600 photos when in reality, I top at 900.

wow, pentax cameras fail at math.

Zafar Iqbal · 01-01-2016, 07:20 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

wow, pentax cameras fail at math.

Indeed

Mistlefoot · 01-01-2016, 08:38 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

wow, pentax cameras fail at math.

Looking in a recent folder my pictures vary from 13,956 KB to 20,232 KB, depending upon the subject, etc.

900 13,956KB photos and 600 20,232KB photos are pretty similar in total size.

12.5 vs 12.1 GB. I'd say that math is pretty good.

How does the camera know which photos I'll be taking? It doesn't.. So it assumes larger file size which ensures that no matter what I shoot I can trust that I'll have enough space to take the number of photos indicated. It would be folly to tell me I had room for 900 photos only to leave my pissed off when I filled my before hitting 700...

Fogel70 · 01-01-2016, 09:57 PM

What the camera tells you is the minimum amount of images left to store. But the average size of the images is usually much smaller that the largest possible size of an image.

01-01-2016, 02:53 PM	#1
hjoseph7 Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Minnesota Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,046	Remaining Image Storage Capacity ? What exactly is that number on the bottom right of the top and back LCD. On my camera(K5-IIs) it reads [1046] . The manual says it is the "Remaining Image Storage Capacity " but what does that mean ? When I hit the shutter the number turns to [1045] then it goes back to [1046] . I never paid it much mind, but I thought that was the number of actuations or the number of pictures I took, but that does not seam to be the case.

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01-01-2016, 03:00 PM	#2
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	It is the camera's estimate of the number of images that will still fit on the SD card. It is a rough estimate only and should not be treated as exact. It will change whether you are shooting RAW or Jpeg but the camera has to make some assumptions about the file size which will vary with each shot.

01-01-2016, 05:17 PM	#3
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	This^. The camera assumes a larger image size to be safe.

01-01-2016, 05:58 PM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	Originally posted by hjoseph7 What exactly is that number on the bottom right of the top and back LCD. On my camera(K5-IIs) it reads [1046] . The manual says it is the "Remaining Image Storage Capacity " but what does that mean ? When I hit the shutter the number turns to [1045] then it goes back to [1046] . I never paid it much mind, but I thought that was the number of actuations or the number of pictures I took, but that does not seam to be the case. It's basically the amount of space left on the card. In practice, you will probably be able to take more photos than what the camera estimates, since it uses the worst-case scenario. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

01-01-2016, 06:24 PM	#5
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	To put things in perspective: Using 32GB card, my K-3 tell's me I have room for 600 photos when in reality, I top at 900.

01-01-2016, 06:55 PM	#6
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal Using 32GB card, my K-3 tell's me I have room for 600 photos when in reality, I top at 900. wow, pentax cameras fail at math.

01-01-2016, 07:20 PM	#7
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	Originally posted by Digitalis wow, pentax cameras fail at math. Indeed

01-01-2016, 08:38 PM	#8
Mistlefoot Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia Photos: Albums Posts: 328	Originally posted by Digitalis wow, pentax cameras fail at math. Looking in a recent folder my pictures vary from 13,956 KB to 20,232 KB, depending upon the subject, etc. 900 13,956KB photos and 600 20,232KB photos are pretty similar in total size. 12.5 vs 12.1 GB. I'd say that math is pretty good. How does the camera know which photos I'll be taking? It doesn't.. So it assumes larger file size which ensures that no matter what I shoot I can trust that I'll have enough space to take the number of photos indicated. It would be folly to tell me I had room for 900 photos only to leave my pissed off when I filled my before hitting 700...

01-01-2016, 09:57 PM	#9
Fogel70 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Photos: Albums Posts: 3,062	What the camera tells you is the minimum amount of images left to store. But the average size of the images is usually much smaller that the largest possible size of an image.

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