Festus Loc: North Dakota

Has anyone used this software? From what I can gather, using SDFormatter speeds up several facets of SD memory cards.

ronwande Loc: Hendersonville NC

What Software? You didn't specify. Or maybe it is SDformatter, the title of your post. In general cameras don't all use the same format so it is best to format the card in the camera. Cards formatted in the camera are all readable on a PC or Mac, but the converse might not always be true.

Cards formatted in one camera may not be readable in another camera.

Someone who knows more about this than I do, will probably provide more information.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Buy a quality card, such as sandisk extreme pro and just format in your camera. Skip the program.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

The program is put out by the the international SD card manufacturers association. It is what they recommend be used to format SD cards. It does not erase certain security features all the better cards contain. Standard formats, whether in your camera or computer usually do. That said, those security features are rarely an issue with cards used in cameras. As far as speeding up the card, yes and no. If you do a quick format on a computer or a standard format in a Canon (and probably other makes) you will end up slowing down the card over time. That's because a quick format only formats the directory. All other data is left intact. A full format in a computer or a deep format in a Canon (there's a box you have to check on the menu screen) formats the entire card. Otherwise, because of the way data is written to an SD card, the program writing to it has to format on the go as it writes, slowing things down. Once all the clean space has been used up on a card you will start to see a slow down. That's why periodic full or deep formats are recommended. SD Formatter only does full formats, as I recall. It's a good program. Companies such as Sandisk recommend it, but not really necessary for a camera. A computer or camera format works just as well. They all format to the same FAT standard, depending on card size. Any necessary files are added as soon as you start shooting. You are going to hear a bunch of horror stories, but the fact is that all good quality SD cards are plug & play. Unwrap it, put it in the camera, and go shoot.

cmc65

How do you know all this stuff? I'm always impressed with your replys, and thank you by the way!

Festus Loc: North Dakota

Thank you for your reply.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

It is suggested to only format your card in your camera and not on your computer.

Festus Loc: North Dakota

I have dozens of "quality" cards. (SanDisk, Lexar, Sony, from the old slow cards to the most current speed demons) The software meets international SD formatting standards. As I stated in many cameras using the SDFormating software decreases camera startup time, read-write times, etc. My question is who has used it and have they noticed these claims made by the software provider.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I reviewed their website. It appears this software is intended for those you want to format SD cards on their computer, rather than from within their camera. Although I may have missed it, I found nothing on their site which suggested that formatting SD cards on a computer using their software was in anyway better than formatting the cards in a camera body.

http://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Exactly which claims are you referring to. I see no claims related to performance that can't already be achieved in camera. The problem is many people attempt to format their cards inappropriately on their computers. This software is intended to address that issue. If you format your card in camera, as I do 100% of the time, then there is no need or advantage to using SD Formatter.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

You'd be amazed (or not) at the useless information I have gathered over the years! Sometimes some of it is actually useful! I have used SDFormatter in the past and did some research on it. It's put out by SD Association, composed of all the major SD card manufacturers. www.sdcard.org
Pretty much anything you want to know about SD cards can be found on the site. I also contacted Sandisk with some questions. They are the ones that told me about the plug & play (their words) aspect of SD cards. Obvious in hindsight, since I've never formatted a card before using it in a camera. Never have had a problem with an SD card either.
Thank You, and, you're welcome!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

It sounds like this is intended for SD cards used in computers, not cameras. It may provide advantages if you are using SDXC cards.

http://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/

hswader Loc: Bedford, PA

I use the software myself when I download photos from my SD card. It's ( the card) is already in the computer,so I usually go ahead and reformat the card while it's there. Doesn't seem to degrade the card any. BTW, in my case, the software doesn't do a full format of the card, although it does give you the option to do so. I have a Canon EOS T3, and it seems to work alright for me, IMO, of course. Of course, if I'm not sure, then I'll do a in'camera format.

tbetress Loc: Skippack, Pa

I have used it and I like it, no problems with it as of yet.
If I have a problem with a card, thumb drive, etc., I use Hard Disk Drive Low Level Formatter 4.4 (HDDLLF 4.4) to low level format the card, then use sdformatter.

No matter what I do above, the final thing I always do is put the card in the camera and use the camera's format option to format the card.

Overkill, but never had a problem yet.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Of course, if I'm not sure, then I'll do a in'camera format.

How do you determine if your sure or not?