The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

Nikon DSLR have folder set-ups within. The folders have certain capacities as to how many (I guess) pictures it can hold. Once that number is reached, you have to generate a new folder.

Question - Is the tracking of the number within a folder dependent on the number of clicks/activations OR the number of saved pictures?

For example, if you reached the number of activations allowed, BUT did not save any, would it still trigger the need to open a new folder....even though it had no pictures.

This inquiring mind wants to know.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

The serial number is incremented with each image saved, and is not related to shutter activations. The starting number is determined by the highest numbered file name currently in the folder.

Note that if a you use a computer or other device to add a file to a folder, if the camera views the file's name as appropriately formatted it will use that as the starting point. If what the camera sees is the highest number allowed it will not write to that folder. If that folder is the highest number allowed the camera will not write to the card. That happens even if there are no valid image files on the card.

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

Apaflo: I think I understand, but not really sure.

If I understand correctly, the folder keeps adding on with every picture taken, and that number continues...even if you delete them all?? So, once the folder's maximum number is reached you have to generate a new folder?

If this is correct, is there a way to "empty" out the folder so that it is of use again? Sorry if I'm thick on the subject.

dannac Loc: 60 miles SW of New Orleans

I have two Nikon's. Your statement is new to me.

I've always thought image capacity to be determined my sd card size.

The smallest cards I've used are 8gb, and never had the need to make a new folder.

Once I have downloaded my images from the sd card ... the card is put back in the camera and formatted.

The count for the next shoot starts at 1.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

Deleting images one at a time will not change the number used for the next image.

The last number used is saved in the camera's non-volatile memory and will be used next time the camera is turned on, even with a freshly formatted memory card... unless that number conflicts with the maximum files per folder (999) or highest sequence number of file already in the selected folder!

If the camera wants to write next to file DSC_9000.NEF it will for any card, or folder with less than 999 files, unless there is an existing file that has a greater sequence number. If an existing sequence number is higher the camera will skip to one past that number.

Hence if there is are fewer than 999 files and file XXX_9100.JPG in that folder the camera will see it and jump to number 9101 for the next image it writes, whether that is a JPEG, TIFF or NEF file. If there 999 files in the folder or the highest existing file number is 9999 a new folder will automatically be created and the next number in sequence from the stored number in the camera (not the folder) will be used. If it was going to be DSC_0005.NEF and written to folder 101ND810, but that folder has a file named yyy_9999.JPG, what happens instead is the camera automatically creates a new folder (102ND810 if available) and uses the name DSC_0005.NEF. If that 9999 file had been 9998 instead, then the camera would have put DSC_9999.NEF into the 101ND810 folder, and then the next file written would cause 102ND810 to be created and the first file would be named DSC_0000.NEF.

Once you see the whole pattern it makes sense, but until all the pieces fit into place it does seem mighty strange. The point is that the camera always adds to the end, either with folder or image numbering, and will never start with a number that leads to a later conflict. The one single "gotcha" in the whole scheme is being able to create a folder 999ND810 and putting a file named DSC_9999.NEF in it will cause the camera to be unable to write to the card. (That also happens if the 999ND810 folder has 999 or more files, regardless of the sequence numbers.)

All of the above assumes a Nikon D810, and the folder number will be different for other models.

Look up "File sequence number" in the index of any Nikon user manual.

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

[quote=Apaflo]

Once you see the whole pattern it makes sense, but until all the pieces fit into place it does seem mighty strange. The point is that the camera always adds to the end, either with folder or image numbering, and will never start with a number that leads to a later conflict. The one single "gotcha" in the whole scheme is being able to create a folder 999ND810 and putting a file named DSC_9999.NEF in it will cause the camera to be unable to write to the card.

--------------------------------------------
Sooo, if that were to happen, you be unable to take further pictures, unless you set up folders with a different prefix ie. ABC instead of DSC?

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

[quote=PCity]

The prefix is ignored, simply because you can set it to anything.

If you have a folder with the 999 sequence that contains 999 files or has a file with the 9999 sequence number... you can delete the file, you can format the card, or you can put the card in a reader and have a computer remove it.

I don't know of any reasonable circumstance where that is ever going to be important. The camera can use 900 different folders each with 1000 images. 900,000 files seems reasonably large... you would probably need to replace the shutter in your camera at least twice by the time you get that many images on a card.

The Villages Loc: The Villages, Florida

I'm trying. I just need to make sure that you are around to tell me what to do next. Here is a web page by Darell Young that you might find of interest.

http://darrellyoung.blogspot.com/2011/08/using-nikons-file-naming-and-file.html

Thanks for your feedback. When I see your response to questions in the forum, I always know it will be insightful.

Apaflo Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

That is indeed a good discussion on file naming. Each photographer can choose something useful for their work flow. I name each camera differently, and save all images from a shoot (or an entire day) to a directory that is unique to the date. Works for me...

I'm pleased to hear my commentary is useful. Thank you.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I save all most all my images to the card and have never reach a threshold on my Nikons.

Have experienced it on Canon.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My two cents -

Most cameras give you the option to use continuous numbering, up to a certain limit, like 99,999, or begin counting from zero every time a card is inserted. (I'm not certain what causes the count to revert to zero because I've never had a camera set that way.) I always use the continuous setting. Otherwise, I would wind up with duplicate image names. As others have said, this does not equal shutter count, but if you never reset it to zero, the two figure could be the same.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

When the max number of numbers is reached Nikon starts again from 0001 and since each day's shoot is in a different folder and keyworded duplicate file numbers are not a problem for me

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

My Canon does that. I set it on continuous count and it gives each shot a number in order. Also a handy way to keep track of your shutter count.