Fujifilm xD-Picture Card media

Hi,

I recently bought a 64Mb card for a FinePix A210. The card formatted to
the stated 81 available frames for HiRes, but I found that during use
some frames would be dropped e.g. after taking the first shot the frame
count drops from 81 to 79. The card shows full after taking 75 pictures,
suggesting that of 3 shots taken, 6 frames have been used.

The 16Mb card that came with the camera doesn't show this behavior.

Has anyone had similar experiences?

Thanks,
--
t@k
(Invalid return address. Please reply to newsgroup).

t@k wrote:
Hi,

I recently bought a 64Mb card for a FinePix A210. The card formatted to
the stated 81 available frames for HiRes, but I found that during use
some frames would be dropped e.g. after taking the first shot the frame
count drops from 81 to 79. The card shows full after taking 75 pictures,
suggesting that of 3 shots taken, 6 frames have been used.

The 16Mb card that came with the camera doesn't show this behavior.

Has anyone had similar experiences?



Hi...

The camera is "guesstimating" the number of pictures
remaining based on it's average compression level, so
will correct itself as the card begins to fill.

To prove this to yourself, as a test take a dozen pictures
of a blank wall, see how many remain. Erase them, then
take a dozen pics of multi colored dense flowers and
see how many remain.

Take care.

Ken

Hi Ken Weitzel, you said...

Hi...

The camera is "guesstimating" the number of pictures
remaining based on it's average compression level, so
will correct itself as the card begins to fill.

To prove this to yourself, as a test take a dozen pictures
of a blank wall, see how many remain. Erase them, then
take a dozen pics of multi colored dense flowers and
see how many remain.

Take care.

Ken

Thanks for your reply which makes perfect sense in theory, but in
practice...

Remaining frames after 12 shots of blank wall =67.
Remaining frames after 12 shots of busy scene =68!!!

Remaining frames always drops from 81 to 79 after the first shot, no
matter what the scene. Then random other shots will take 2 frames. I
also tried the same test with the 16Mb card, and the remaining frames =7
(from 19) in both instances. The 16Mb card has never displayed the above
behavior.

Thanks,
--
t@k
(Invalid return address. Please reply to newsgroup).

I wonder whether you might be seeing the effect of numerical roundoff
errors - The 'frames remaining' must always display as an integer even
though the actual answer is probably has decimal places.

t@k wrote:
Hi Ken Weitzel, you said...


Hi...

The camera is "guesstimating" the number of pictures
remaining based on it's average compression level, so
will correct itself as the card begins to fill.

To prove this to yourself, as a test take a dozen pictures
of a blank wall, see how many remain. Erase them, then
take a dozen pics of multi colored dense flowers and
see how many remain.

Take care.

Ken


Thanks for your reply which makes perfect sense in theory, but in
practice...

Remaining frames after 12 shots of blank wall =67.
Remaining frames after 12 shots of busy scene =68!!!

Remaining frames always drops from 81 to 79 after the first shot, no
matter what the scene. Then random other shots will take 2 frames. I
also tried the same test with the 16Mb card, and the remaining frames =7
(from 19) in both instances. The 16Mb card has never displayed the above
behavior.

Thanks,

"t@k" wrote in message
.. .
Hi Ken Weitzel, you said...

Hi...

The camera is "guesstimating" the number of pictures
remaining based on it's average compression level, so
will correct itself as the card begins to fill.

To prove this to yourself, as a test take a dozen pictures
of a blank wall, see how many remain. Erase them, then
take a dozen pics of multi colored dense flowers and
see how many remain.

Take care.

Ken

Thanks for your reply which makes perfect sense in theory, but in
practice...

Remaining frames after 12 shots of blank wall =67.
Remaining frames after 12 shots of busy scene =68!!!

Remaining frames always drops from 81 to 79 after the first shot, no
matter what the scene. Then random other shots will take 2 frames. I
also tried the same test with the 16Mb card, and the remaining frames =7
(from 19) in both instances. The 16Mb card has never displayed the above
behavior.

This is because of rounding errors. The 16 mb card doesn't allow for enough
pictures for this effect to show. A rule of thumb is to always subtract at
least one from the amount shown. Not too hard, not unique to xD cards or
Fuji cameras

/Helge

t@k wrote:

Hi Ken Weitzel, you said...


Hi...

The camera is "guesstimating" the number of pictures
remaining based on it's average compression level, so
will correct itself as the card begins to fill.

To prove this to yourself, as a test take a dozen pictures
of a blank wall, see how many remain. Erase them, then
take a dozen pics of multi colored dense flowers and
see how many remain.

Take care.

Ken


Thanks for your reply which makes perfect sense in theory, but in
practice...

Remaining frames after 12 shots of blank wall =67.
Remaining frames after 12 shots of busy scene =68!!!

Remaining frames always drops from 81 to 79 after the first shot, no
matter what the scene. Then random other shots will take 2 frames. I
also tried the same test with the 16Mb card, and the remaining frames =7
(from 19) in both instances. The 16Mb card has never displayed the above
behavior.

Thanks,

The camera is estimating the number of shots, and doing it poorly. I
suspect the camera is set with an average file size, and if the picture
actually takes less space than the average, it counts the picture as an
average, and if it is larger than the average, then it assumes all
future pictures will be that size. This is a strongly conservative
approach, but would explain your results.

The image count is an approximate, best use figure. Each image stores
different amounts of information. If you look at several images in your PS
or PSP software you will see that although the dimensions are the same, the
file size differs - according to each shot.
If you want to check the card, simply take a shot of something blank and
keep taking it, if the count drops by the same number each time, the cards
fine. But if it drops by different numbers then it's a problem.
Hope this helps?
--
www.kasstzam.com & www.kasstzam.com/photo
--


"t@k" wrote in message
.. .
Hi,

I recently bought a 64Mb card for a FinePix A210. The card formatted to
the stated 81 available frames for HiRes, but I found that during use
some frames would be dropped e.g. after taking the first shot the frame
count drops from 81 to 79. The card shows full after taking 75 pictures,
suggesting that of 3 shots taken, 6 frames have been used.

The 16Mb card that came with the camera doesn't show this behavior.

Has anyone had similar experiences?

Thanks,
--
t@k
(Invalid return address. Please reply to newsgroup).