Why does my 32MB memory card only hold 8 pictures from my camera

I keep deleting all the photos on it and reformatting it but it still only ever hold 8 pictures. I have a Canon PowerShot SX150 IS, but that's irrelevant since my old camera was a Nikon and I had the same problem. And it's not my memory card that's bad either, because I also have a 63MB one that has the same problem. What do I do to maximize the capacity of it?

Added (1). *64MB, not 63.

You have very little space on there. Buy at least an 8gb card for pictures.

The reason is because 32 mb is a tiny card as is the 64 mb.

Most of us use 4 gb cards and they can hold enough for a full days shooting. Once we copy all the images at the end of the shooting day, we format the card using the format feature on the camera, making it ready for the next photographic adventure

Since memory card are so inexpensive now, buy two Class 10, 4 gb cards and to to town

You need to buy a much larger capacity memory card because 32 or 64MB is nothing at all. According to your User Guide (page 55) each Large/Fine image is approx. 3.6MB in size… So, it's no wonder you can only store around 8 images on your 32MB card.

If you want to shoot more, you will need to buy a larger capacity card. I recommend you buy (as a minimum) a 4GB (4, 000MB) SDHC card or if wanting to record some videos… 8GB (8, 000MB) would be a better option. Each 4GB will allow you to shoot approx. 1000 images or up to 20 minutes of HD video. I recommend a fast card… Class 10 SDHC.

Remember to Format your brand new memory card (via the camera Menu) before using it the very first time.

Canon provides those little cards just to show you that the camera works. They expect you will buy a bigger card.

You can't add to the capacity of the memory card. You have to buy bigger sizes. You have maximized the 32MB card with 8 pictures.

Most memory cards today are in the GB sizes. 1GB is 1000MB. You should see the difference outright.

http://kb.sandisk.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/69

Are you using a MAC?

If so, you have to "empty the trash" for your card to recover space. Here is one time when the MAC is brain dead vs. Windows. Windows does not save photos in the "trash bin" on memory cards - just hard drives.

However, a MAC saves them in the trash bin for both hard drives and memory cards, which is a dumb idea.

And, yes I own both a Windows PC and an iMac. I don't favor one above the other. They are just tools, not a religion.

It's because they're tiny and also ancient. Buy a new one!