What StorageCalc is
StorageCalc exists because most memory card buying decisions are made on impulse — at checkout, with vague information, hoping the card will fit the work. The calculator on the homepage replaces that guesswork with concrete numbers: how many RAW photos fit, how many minutes of video, and which US retailers stock the right format.
The Site is not a marketplace. We do not sell memory cards, take commissions from manufacturers, or accept payment for inclusion of brands in the calculator output. The retailer list is editorial — it represents the practical universe of US-based authorized resellers where a working photographer can buy a real card without ending up with a counterfeit.
What the calculator does
The estimator takes three inputs — your camera model, the file format you shoot in, and the card capacity you are considering — and returns the photo count and video duration that combination yields. It uses average file sizes drawn from manufacturer specifications and independent testing data, with a 7 percent overhead deducted for file system and metadata.
The number is directional. Real-world file sizes vary by 10 to 30 percent depending on scene complexity, ISO setting, and individual camera firmware. The estimate is honest about this — useful for planning, not for guarantees.
Why memory card guidance matters
The memory card market is one of the most counterfeit-saturated categories in consumer electronics. Fake cards from auction sites and uncertified marketplaces look indistinguishable from real ones on the outside. Their failure mode is not immediate — they appear to work, store data successfully, and then silently corrupt files when the apparent capacity exceeds the actual one. This is particularly devastating in wedding, event, and assignment work where there is no second take.
The defense is mundane: buy from authorized US retailers, choose cards from manufacturers with track records (SanDisk, Lexar, ProGrade Digital, Sony, Delkin), and verify capacity after purchase. We point at the retailers; the rest is up to you.
Editorial principles
- No paywalls. The calculator and all editorial content are free.
- No accounts. No signup, no email gates, no membership.
- No paid placements. Brand and retailer inclusion is editorial.
- Transparent uncertainty. When estimates are heuristic, we say so.
- Light pages. Fast loading, no autoplaying video, no aggressive popups.
How the Site is funded
StorageCalc displays advertising through Google AdSense. This is the entirety of our monetization model. We do not run sponsored content, do not write paid reviews, and editorial output is independent of advertiser identity.
Where the data comes from
Camera file size data is compiled from manufacturer specifications, published RAW file size reports from professional reviewers, and our own measurements of common shooting scenarios. Video bitrate-to-capacity ratios are derived from published bitrate specifications and rounded to industry-standard values.
The retailer list is curated based on authorized dealer status with major memory card manufacturers, US warranty support, and reputation for handling counterfeits. We do not include marketplace third-party listings even when the parent platform is reputable.
Contact
Press inquiries, methodology questions, correction requests, and partnership questions all go through our Contact page.