If you’re shooting in JPEG format with a 20-megapixel camera, you can store around 5,333 photos on a 32GB storage device. However, changing factors like the megapixel count will raise or lower that number.
My name is Caleb, and I’ve been a sports photographer for more than four years. I’ve shot games at multiple levels in sports ranging from basketball to soccer.
In this article, I’ll go over how many pictures you can fit on a 32GB storage device and what factors can make the number higher or lower. If you’re wondering if 32GB is enough storage, read this for a full breakdown.
Contents
How Many Photos Can 32GB Hold?
A 32GB memory card or flash drive can hold around 5,333 JPEG format photos with a resolution of 20 megapixels.
The key here, however, is the megapixel count. Cameras with a higher resolution will produce larger files, while lower resolutions lead to smaller file sizes.
Twenty megapixels is a middle-range resolution. It’s nothing special, but it’s still a large enough size to take “professional” looking photos. Many cameras these days, even at the entry-level, have higher resolutions than this and will produce larger files.
Basically, make sure to check your specific camera’s resolution when figuring out how much storage you need, as the 5,333 number is only an estimate based on a middle-range resolution.
How Many RAW Photos Can 32GB Hold?
Another thing that determines file size is the format. RAW photos are significantly larger than those stored in JPEG format. If you’re using the RAW format, you’ll only be able to fit 533 photos on the same 32GB storage device.
So why use RAW in the first place if the files are that much larger? Well, RAW has several advantages, like storing more data to facilitate more in-depth editing later.
For example, when using the RAW format, correcting something like the lighting in a particular photo is easier after taking it. But this comes at the expense of a larger file size.
If you’re planning on shooting RAW and taking many photos in one session, you might want to consider a larger storage device.
FAQs
Here are some other frequently asked questions about storage space.
Is 32GB Enough Storage?
For many photographers, 32GB is enough storage. If you aren’t taking thousands of pictures, after all, it gives enough space to shoot comfortably. But you may want more space if you’re shooting at a very high resolution or shooting RAW.
How Many Photos Can 32GB Hold On iPhone?
The iPhone 14 features 12-megapixel cameras. Going off that resolution, we can assume an iPhone with 32GB of storage can hold around 8,900 photos, assuming it was used exclusively for photo storage.
Conclusion
A memory card or flash drive with 32GB of storage can generally hold around 5,333 photos, assuming they’re stored in JPEG format and were taken with a 20-megapixel camera. This number will change accordingly if the camera resolution is higher or lower.
Is 32GB enough storage for your own photography? Let us know in the comments!
