D300 and compressed RAW files

[Duke Leto]

Question, when you select RAW compressed for Quality which reduces the file with a reversible algorithm, why doesn't the counter in the LCD display increase? if the file sizes are less surely the camera should store more per Gb?
Actually I think it does as I often download more than what is on the display so is it me or does the camera report the wrong number of images?

[pduxon]

Question, when you select RAW compressed for Quality which reduces the file with a reversible algorithm, why doesn't the counter in the LCD display increase? if the file sizes are less surely the camera should store more per Gb?
Actually I think it does as I often download more than what is on the display so is it me or does the camera report the wrong number of images?

I've never understood the counter. when i got a d300 I only had a 1gb cf card first day and it took many more photos than it said it could.

[Gentoo]

I've run into the same thing. I think the counter may have more to do with an estimated number of shots that can be taken on the current battery charge. Even then it's still a little weird.

[seaspirit]

File size depends on the image contents. In jpgs a lot, in raw less.

The number of images that can be taken seems a fairly conservative estimate assuming the largest possible file size. Even a few % less will add up to additional fiels that can be stored.

In the real world it means that one can usually get a few more frames on a card than initially estimated/shown. As the ramaining space on the card gets progessivly smaller the remaining number should get more and more accurate.

Current battery charge has nothing to do with it ...., unless it runs out and one can't take any pictures no matter what size card is in the camera and how many pictures are already stored on it :)

[Duke Leto]

Nope still don't understand, I plug in a 4Gb CF card and the D300 counter reads 197 when shooting in RAW, change to compressed RAW and its still 197, fire the shutter and the counter changes to 196 (in both modes).
Are you all saying that Nikon D-SLR's read the actual card size and quotes accordingly? This can't be right as in jpeg mode changing file size is reflected in the counter. I think that on the D300 it doesn't understand RAW file compression so assumes it to be always uncompressed.

[Watts]

On my D300 changing from uncompressed to compressed (40-50% reduction in file size) does alter the counter. But changing from uncompressed to the default lossless compressed (20-40% reduction ) does not. I assume that 20-40% falls within the variation of file size dependent on the image content, so with an empty card any attempt to calculate a saving would be pointless. As has been said, as the card fills the counter shows a greater predictive accuracy.

For my part I'm very happy with a conservative estimate of card space remaining.

Bill

[Duke Leto]

yep not a problem, will shoot till its full but on occasion it takes a tad longer that I expect......