BIG ROB Loc: Princeton, NJ 08540

I just filled another 16 GB card, with about 1,500 really great images on it, they are all on both my desktop, and laptop computers, and I'm about to format that memory card as usual, and I'm wondering, if I should really just be saving these full memory cards, as a sort of elemental primary form of basic back up, of my images? Do any of you people, save your memory cards, rather than simply reformatting them? It just seems like a crazy thing to do, with memory cards so inexpensive. What do you think, about this?
I'm looking for some feedback, ideas, and opinions...thanks, Rob.

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

I never format a card. Just buy another. Just saying.

travisdeland Loc: deland, FL

I erase the JPGs from my cards, and save the raw files for a year, or so-and I'm still backed up on a couple of computers and external HDDs. When I get to it, I'll do a raw file dump into an HDD-all sorted by folder with the start and stop dates for the card, as well as the image number range for each card. just my way of organising. I also shot 16gb cards and buy them in lots of 10 or more

Rongnongno Loc: FL

If you consider your card as a backup, anything goes.

If you use them as intended (temporary storage until used) you reuse them.

Formatting vs delete?

A useless debate, if you know what is going on.

Format
- quick option deletes the master boot record (MBR), quick 'unchecked' - rewrites everything (returns data to 00)

Delete?
Only delete the record entry of a file

Result? It does not make any difference.

Can you recover data from a quick formatted drive? Yes, no problem (same as recovering a deleted file that has be removed from the recyclable bin).

Can you recover from the non quick option? Yes, much more difficult and you need forensic tools.

So, the real question is how secure you want your card be from... Prying eyes?* It is not about the health of your drive.

So, formatting vs delete? Formatting is the quickest way to delete.
Delete after transfer? Why? Just use 'Move' instead of 'Copy', same difference**.

Personally I move from A to B.

-----
* Commercial software 'secure delete' by rewriting the file deleted with non-sense data (sometimes encrypted) several times before deleting the file making it nearly impossible to recover, even with specialized tools. The only 'secure' protection is still destroying the drive ~ heat works better than anything else.
** Some obscure data for the normal user changes (flag, date and security/sharing options)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Most professional shooters I know, including myself, will go to a job with a few cards. Once they get back to their computers they make a copy to their hard drives, and then two backups, one for easy access, and one that goes off-site. I do the same for my personal work.

Once the cards' contents are copied to other media, they are formatted in the camera and reused. Fast cards are expensive, so it is a matter of economics. BTW, I shoot raw files that are typically 45mb each, so cards could get filled up pretty quickly if I were to use your approach.

picsman Loc: Scotland

I always reformat my memory cards as I mainly take sporting images uploaded to other websites for viewing, sale and archive. They tend to have a short shelf life, about a week, or between events. I use separate external hard disc for photos exclusively and back this up as well with all other files on another external hard disc. I have no reason not to reformat my memory cards except that personal images are not kept on the previously mentioned websites. On reflection I could also upload the personal stuff to one of the websites and make them private.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

To me they are like a roll of film, sort of. I download the files from them and then back up those files. Once I verify that the files have transferred and backed up, I format the card and back to a new roll of film.

I figure three backup copies plus the working files, I've no reason to save a myriad of memory cards.
--Bob

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

I couldn't afford not formatting cards and reusing them.

warrior Loc: Paso Robles CA

format after choices: external HD-Disk-On line storage EX-Cabonite

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Download, back-up, verify backups, then reformat the card in the camera. :thumbup:

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

Interesting question.
As a backup, it would be nice to know for how long the card could be relied upon to keep the data viable. I have no idea how long the data on an SD card will remain viable SO.... I sent an e-mail to TRANSCEND asking that question. I'll post the response when I get it

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I format my card in the camera AFTER they are downloaded on the computer and backed up

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I format my cards after I upload the pictures to my desk top computer (iMac).
The pictures are backed up to Time Capsule via Time Machine and to iCloud. The photos are easy to find and access.

Dngallagher Loc: Wilmington De.

I unload my cards to my computer, importing them into my post processing and catalog system - Lightroom, once they are imported into Lightroom they are ON MY HARD DRIVE... I then format the SD cards in the camera so they are ready for more shooting.

Once the images are on my computer system, they are backed up in several locations, including a cloud backup service, Crash plan. Between Time Machine, Chronosync and Crashplan I have original images stored on my hard drive, 2 local backups and a cloud backup.

I do not know why I would want to save the SD cards and always go out to buy new cards.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

They won't know the answer. There are too many factors involved to give any sort of figure (or set of figures) you can depend on. A slight difference in storage humidity or temperature can make years of difference. And the research for something like this would be prohibitively expensive and not worth it for Transcend. Besides, the last thing they want is a lawsuit because a memory card failed to meet the life expectancy estimated by their research department.