Camera Numbering Options

Photo Tips Podcast: Camera Numbering Options #35

iTunes Google Spotify Tune In Stitcher RSS Pandora

Last week I talked about the 9,999 digit problem. It dawned on me that I needed to address the numbering problem too. We all know that all cameras will number the images you take sequentially. However, most cameras will give different options on how this happens. For instance you can choose to have the camera just count from one to 9999 which is the usual upper limit and then start over when it hits that limit. However you can also set your camera to start over every time you put a new memory card in your camera. And by new I don’t mean new out of the package I mean simply mean a different card. However you should be aware that if you set your camera to start over when you insert a different card and you have photos on that card shot on the same camera from an earlier shoot it will pick up the numbering where you left off on that particular card. In other words if your last frame on your card was number 15 when you removed it from the camera it will go to 16 when you return it to the camera. If you then remove that card and put a different card that left off at 102 it would pick up at 103 when you return that card to the camera. If you format the card it will start over at 1. If, however, you set your camera on continuous numbering it would continue its sequence whether or not you format the card, and whether or not you put in a new or different card in your camera. You should know that you can force your camera to start over at anytime by doing a manual reset in one of your menu settings.

I’m not saying any of these options are good or bad, it’s just how you work. For me personally it’s best just to keep it on continuous numbering. I also make sure the time and date on my camera is set to the local time zone. The combination of these two things helps me keep everything in order. That’s it.