Format memory cards

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lee D
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Lee D

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This is a simple one... how often should you reformat your memory cards and does it make the cards less reliable if you don't?

Thanks in advance for any advice. :)
 
I do it every time I put it back in the camera after downloading images. I would think that if you never do it, it would get 'clogged' up with messy leftovers? Bit like having to defrag your hard drive?
I could be wrong........:-)

Kev.
 
On the Z2, I always used to use the windows picture downloader (I can't remember it's official name) to delete all the images on the card after download and never had a problem in something like 4 years. Now, due to the size of the 450d images, I tend to format the card in camera, as it's a lot quicker.
 
cards are formatted in camera after images transferred.
 
ideally format the card in the camera after the images have been downloaded. This keeps the card clean and tidy. It also checks ( very simply) that the card is in good working order.
 
Transfer your images to your computer, make sure they are there, back them up, back them up again, then when you know you are safe to delete them pop the card back in the camera and format it. Then you can be certain that you have transfered the images to the PC and a clean card is safe to use, instead of picking up a card full of images while you are out and being unsure if you have transfered the images to your PC or not!
 
Lightroom is set to "Move image and add to catalogue", so the card is always empty when it goes back into the camera.
 
generally after exporting pics to pc.
 
I always format cards on return to Camera after downloading images, including multiple cards from one session. Keeps it clean and tidy
 
Once in a blue moon. Cards come pre formatted and I just leave them that way unless I've read some tosh on here about how formatting makes them faster and I decide to try it out ;)
 
Cards should always be formatted in camera before use. Why risk anything else? It only takes 2 seconds...
 
Where's the risk? I've been using digital cameras for umpty five years, I've got cf cards as small as 16mb and I can't remember ever having had a problem with one of them.
 
I've had instances a couple of times when brand new cards, supposedly formatted have started losing data. Once formatted by the device it's worked perfectly ever since. I now format every card when it arrives regardless what it says on the packaging.
 
I've just got into the habit of formatting cards everytime I download images, even for several cards. It works for me.:)
 
Steep said:
Where's the risk? I've been using digital cameras for umpty five years, I've got cf cards as small as 16mb and I can't remember ever having had a problem with one of them.
Click to expand...

As with any storage device there is always a risk of the FAT table becoming corrupt - so best to make sure you start off with a fresh new one each time.

Not formatting has worked fine for you, and formatting has worked fine for me.

My point of view is why wouldn't you - its only 2 seconds....
 
Upload images from camera then format card every time ..
 
Thanks for the replies... and so many!

I have previously fallen in to the camp of adhoc formatting but having read a few stories about togs losing data, its interesting to find out what others are doing.

I think the general opinion is that formatting does no harm and I am going to make this part of my prep from now on.

Thanks to all who commented.

Lee
 
i format every time the card goes back into the camera i nearly lost all my holiday pics (98% recovered) because what i think was a dirty card not been formatted in ages just had pics taken on and off it for a long time, not had the problem since i started formatting the cards and like its been said its only 2 seconds
 
I have 8 cards, so thats 80 billion times they haven't been formatted :lol:
I move files not copy them, I've never had a problem.

The tosh count is high in this thread...:)
 
Hi i format my card every time it goes back in the camera, to test this i used the option on my card reader software to delete the file on the card which i did, put the card in the camera and formatted it still had 64mb on the card from 1.3 gig so all the data had not been removed, after a while you would get the milk bottle affect. as with batteries.

Regards Mark.
 
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