my Pentax X90 says that the In-built Memory is full and wont take photos - have plugged into my computer and deleted old photo

[judy.even]

my Pentax X90 (just bought second hand) says that the In-built Memory is full and wont take photos - have plugged into my computer and deleted old photos but will only let me take about 8 photos and then I get the same message. Can anyone help please.

 

[Ubrales]

This is not memory - this is storage. What is the built-in storage capacity?

And, set the photos files to jpg/jpeg, not raw; raw files are 10 to 15 times larger than jpg files.

 

[kenrivers]

According to the User Manual internal memory is only 31.2MB. If you look on page 255 it will give you the approximate number of pictures for each shooting mode.

 

[judy.even]

This is not memory - this is storage. What is the built-in storage capacity?

And, set the photos files to jpg/jpeg, not raw; raw files are 10 to 15 times larger than jpg files.

Thank you for your reply. I have been all through the menu and cannot find any place to see if the photos are set to jpg and not raw - is there a way to do this that you know of?

 

[Ubrales]

Judy, here is the manual - http/www.camera-usermanual.com/manuals/pentax/Pentax_Optio_X90.pdf

As Ken mentioned above, one page 254, it states that the built-in storage (wrongly referred to as "memory" in the manual) is 31.2 MB) - this 31.2 MB will be adequate for the storage of a few fine quality .jpg photos. Depending on the file size and the picture quality setting (medium, fine, large) the file size may be around 4 MB (as in my Nikon camera).

From the manual (page 254) -

(4000×3000), D (4000×2672)
(4000×2256), F (2992×2992)
6 (3072×2304), f (2592×1944)
h (2048×1536), l (1024×768), m (640×480)

From the above, it appears that the photo size and quality is set at 2048 x 1536 which translates to about 3 MB. This is why you are getting only about 8 photos before the built-in storage (not memory) is full.

The solution is to install and SD or SDHC card -

On page 255 of the manual there is a table that charts out the number of photos that can be stored on the built-in storage (wrongly referred to as memory), and also on the SD/SDHC card at various camera settings that control image (photo) quality and size. See page 54 - The "Menu" button controls all the camera settings. It took me about 6 hours to read and understand the settings on my new Nikon even though I am an experienced pro photographer well versed in technology. It will take you about the same time to learn about your new (second-hand) camera.

Go through the manual and look for the specified SD/SDHC cards approved and the capacities approved.

If you need more info please ask.

 

[Ubrales]

This is not memory - this is storage. What is the built-in storage capacity?

And, set the photos files to jpg/jpeg, not raw; raw files are 10 to 15 times larger than jpg files.

Thank you for your reply. I have been all through the menu and cannot find any place to see if the photos are set to jpg and not raw - is there a way to do this that you know of?

See pages 120 and 121 of the manual - http/www.camera-usermanual.com/manuals/pentax/Pentax_Optio_X90.pdf

 

[Ubrales]

On page 257 of the manual, it states that the SD or SDHC card is limited to 2GB. This is not much but it is a lot more than the built-in storage of 31.2 MB.

I still have an older Nikon camera that has a 1 GB storage SD card (CF card actually) and at my settings I get about 280 photos on it

 

[mjslakeridge]

I don't know about that specific camera, but in many cases when a SD card is installed, the camera defaults to saving pictures to the card, and not the internal storage. If not, there will be a selection in the menu somewhere to designate the SD card as the place pictures are saved. Also, before buying a SD card, check the manual to see what class (speed) it supports (class 4, class 10 etc.).

 

[Ubrales]

Class 10 since the camera has video capability. I did not easily find the list of approved SD/SDHC cards by manufacturer. Maybe this info is buried somewhere in the manual.

 

[mjslakeridge]

There may not be a list of approved SD cards, or if it does exist, it may be outdated. As cheap as the SD cards are nowadays, I would think as long as we know the max size (2GB) and Class 10, any currently available card that meets those criteria would work (hopefully).

 

[Ubrales]

^ Yes agree!

Hard to find SD / SDHC cards in the 2 GB capacity - most start out at 8 GB, and I don't know whether the camera will support a card with higher than 2 GB capacity. I found this out when I was trying to buy an 8 GB CF (Compact Flash) storage card for my older Nikon. Currently it has a slow (quite slow read/write) 1 GB CF card.

 

[madmatt30]

X90 will take upto a 32gb sdhc card no problem at all

Just be careful not to buy sdxc by mistake !!

 

[mjslakeridge]

I have a multi card reader in my computer and it will not recognize any SD/micro SD card over 2GB. The workaround for me was to get a cheap usb card reader "stick" from MicroCenter, but that isn't going to help with the camera. I remember the first SD card I bought was a 512MB card and it cost around $40.

It would be a good idea for the OP to buy a few 2GB cards now, before they are completely unavailable.

 

[Ubrales]

If it takes up to 32 GBs then this will work well - https/www.bestbuy.com/site/sandisk-ultra-plus-32gb-sdhc-uhs-i-memory-card-black-gray-red/3142553.p?skuId=3142553 - priced right too!

 

[mjslakeridge]

I just looked at page 255 of the manual linked above. The 2GB limit mentioned is the maximum size of a single recorded video, not the maximum size of card the camera supports, which is good! I didn't see the max card size, but MadMatt seems to know from experience, so I would go with that.

 

[Ubrales]

I just looked at page 255 of the manual linked above. The 2GB limit mentioned is the maximum size of a single recorded video, not the maximum size of card the camera supports, which is good! I didn't see the max card size, but MadMatt seems to know from experience, so I would go with that.

Good info! Thanks!

 

[madmatt30]

^ I used to own an x90 is all , think I had a sandisk class 10 ultra 16gb in there , it held around 1100 photos at max res .