A flash drive, also known as a USB drive, is a small storage device that connects to computers and other devices using a USB port. Flash drives are commonly used to store and transfer photos, videos, documents, and other files.
With the high resolution of modern digital cameras and video cameras, photo and video files can be quite large in size. A single high-resolution photo may be 5-10 MB, while video files are often hundreds of MB per minute of footage. As a result, collections of digital photos and videos can quickly add up to many gigabytes (GB) of data. To store these large files, sufficient flash drive capacity is needed.
Typical Photo and Video File Sizes
Photos and videos can vary greatly in file size depending on the resolution, length, and compression used. Here are some typical file sizes:
JPG photos: Between 3-6 MB per image on average (Average File Sizes). A high resolution 16 megapixel photo can be over 10 MB.
PNG photos: Around 0.5-2 MB on average, but can be larger for high resolution images (Average File Sizes).
RAW photo files: 10-50 MB per image typically.
MP4 video (1080p): Roughly 300-600 MB per minute of footage (Source).
MOV/AVI video (1080p): Around 200-300 MB per minute (Source).
4K video: Up to 1 GB per minute or more.
Resolution and File Size
The resolution of an image or video determines how much detail it contains. Higher resolution photos and videos have more pixels, resulting in clearer images and sharper detail. However, more pixels requires more storage space, leading to larger file sizes.[https://support.boldbrush.com/faso-images-other/difference-between-image-size-and-resolution] When it comes to photos, a higher megapixel camera will produce larger images than a lower megapixel camera. Similarly, 4K or 8K video has a much higher resolution than 1080p or 720p video, resulting in dramatically larger file sizes.[https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/the-truth-about-image-resolution-and-file-size-in-photoshop/]
The reason higher resolution images and videos take up more storage space is because each pixel is encoded and stored in the file. More pixels means more data to encode and store. For example, a 12 megapixel photo can be over 4 times larger than a 3 megapixel photo from a lower resolution camera. Similarly, a short 4K video clip can easily be hundreds of megabytes while a 720p video of the same length could be under 10 megabytes.
So when determining the size of flash drive needed, it’s important to consider the resolution of the photos and video footage that will be stored. Higher resolution equals larger file sizes.
How Many Photos and Videos Will Be Stored
One of the biggest factors in determining the size flash drive you need is how many photos and videos you plan to store on it. This includes how many you currently have, how many you expect to take over a certain timeframe, and how often you add new photos and videos.
According to recent statistics, the average smartphone user takes about 182 photos per month or 2,184 photos per year (Source). The average number of photos stored per person is estimated to be around 7,000-10,000 including both digital and print photos. However, avid photographers or those who take a lot of videos will likely have higher quantities.
Think about how many photos and videos you currently have across devices that you want to store on the flash drive. Going forward, estimate how frequently you will be adding new photos and videos – whether daily, weekly, monthly or just for certain events or trips. This will give you a sense of the total quantity you’ll need to store short-term or long-term.
For example, storing just 1 year’s worth of average photos for 1 person would require around 2GB of space. Storing 5 years of an avid photographer’s collection could require anywhere from 50-100GB or more of storage space.
What Other Files Will Be Stored
In addition to photos and videos, most people also need to store other types of files on their flash drive like documents, spreadsheets, presentations, music, etc. According to GreenNet, a typical Word document can range from 20KB for a very basic file up to 2MB for one with images and complex formatting. PowerPoint presentations are usually 2-5MB each. Music MP3 files are approximately 1MB per minute of playback time.
So when estimating total storage space needed, it’s important to consider not just photos and videos, but also how many of these other file types you may want to store as well. Setting aside a certain amount of space for documents, music, and other non-photo/video files is usually a good idea.
Duration of Storage
Flash drives are generally best suited for short-term storage rather than long-term archival storage. The typical lifespan of a flash drive is around 3-5 years of moderate usage before performance starts to decline. However, that lifespan can vary substantially based on usage patterns and environmental conditions.
For optimal lifespan, flash drives should be stored in a cool, dry place and should not be subjected to extreme heat, cold, or humidity. Frequent writing and erasing of data tends to wear down the memory cells faster over time. The type of memory technology used, such as MLC or TLC NAND flash, also impacts longevity.
High-end flash drives using MLC NAND memory tend to last longer, withstanding more write/erase cycles before failure compared to cheaper TLC drives. But no flash storage is archival; gradual data degradation still occurs over time even on the shelf. For long-term storage of important data, external hard drives or cloud backups are more reliable.
In summary, flash drives are better suited for shorter-term storage and transfer of files that will be reused or replaced within a few years. For permanent archiving of photos, videos, or other data you want preserved indefinitely, utilize redundant storage solutions like external drives or cloud backups.
Recommendations for Storage Space
Here are some general recommendations for choosing an appropriate flash drive size based on typical use cases:
For storing documents, presentations, text files, and small spreadsheets, a 16GB flash drive should suffice. This provides enough room for thousands of Word docs, PDFs, and other basic files.
For a medium photo and video library, a 64GB flash drive is a good option. This allows you to store around 16,000 photos or a few hours of HD video.
If you need to store a large photo or video collection, opt for a 128GB or 256GB flash drive. At 128GB, you can store over 30,000 photos or up to 10 hours of HD video. The 256GB size allows double that – 60,000+ photos or 20+ hours of HD footage.
For maximum storage, look for 512GB or 1TB flash drives. The 512GB size provides room for over 100,000 photos or days’ worth of video, while 1TB allows double that again.
Keep in mind, larger flash drives are more expensive. Evaluate your actual storage needs before spending extra on massive amounts of unnecessary space.
When to Use External Hard Drives
For most casual photo and video storage needs, a flash drive in the 64GB to 512GB range is sufficient. However, external hard drives become necessary for massive storage of hundreds of gigabytes or terabytes of data.
According to Lifewire, external hard drives are better suited for storing extremely large numbers of photos, videos, and other files than flash drives. While flash drives max out at around 2TB, external hard drives are available in multi-terabyte sizes up to 10TB or more.
An external hard drive allows you to archive years and years worth of memories in photos and videos. Lifewire recommends using an external hard drive once your storage needs exceed 256GB. At that point, the larger capacities and faster transfer speeds of external hard drives make them preferable to flash drives.
External hard drives are also better optimized for frequently accessing and editing stored files. So if you plan to regularly work with and organize the photos and videos after storing them, an external hard drive is recommended over a flash drive.
Cloud Storage Options
For additional or long-term storage needs, many consumers are turning to cloud-based storage services instead of local storage devices like flash drives or external hard drives. Some popular cloud storage options include:
Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, and Apple iCloud provide free storage tiers from 5GB to 15GB, with paid plans available for expanded capacity. Prices for 1TB of storage generally range from $6 to $10 per month. These services allow you to access files from any device via the internet.
Amazon Drive offers unlimited full-resolution photo storage for Prime members. Non-Prime customers get 5GB of free storage with paid plans up to 30TB.
Specialized storage services like Flickr and SmugMug cater to photographers, offering unlimited photo uploads and sharing capabilities. Prices start around $7 per month.
The main advantage of cloud storage is accessibility – you can access your files anywhere there’s an internet connection. Cloud services also handle redundancy and file backups. The downside is monthly fees for paid plans. For large media collections, local storage like flash drives may be more cost effective.
Summary
Flash drive size is determined by a couple key factors. First, consider the file types you need to store such as photos, videos, documents, etc. Photos and videos take up much more space than documents. Next, determine how many files you need to store and the timeframe. Storing thousands of high resolution photos and videos will require a large drive versus a few dozen photos. If long term storage is needed, larger drives are recommended.
For most average use cases, a 16GB or 32GB flash drive is sufficient. This will store a few thousand photos and a dozen or more videos. If you need to store many high resolution photos and long videos, go with a 64GB or 128GB drive. Only choose larger capacities if you have an extensive media library to store long term. For access to files from any device, cloud storage may be a better solution than larger flash drives.