bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

A little story of my weekend adventure.

The wedding itself was an adventure, and if I shared all the drama, people would think I was making it up…. And I LOVED every second of it. There was bickering, name calling, threats, and even the father of the bride and father of the groom both got removed after the police were called. What’s not to love?

Anyway, this is about something more serious. Unlike most, I have actually had issues with Scandisk SD cards. I have been using Transcend for a while now, and have not had any issues. Thankfully, the issues with the Scandisk were that when the cards were put in, I got card read errors, grabbed a different card, and moved on.

Well, first, my D7000n and D7100 both have 2 card slots, and I ALWAYS have had slot 2 set to “back up” Just in case. When I shot the marathon, I had forgotten my carrier with all the extra cards, so I changed slot 2 on my D-7000 to “overflow” Basically, when slot one is full, it just keeps going to slot 2. Yes, the moron here, forgot to change it back immediately after that event.

I had The 7100 set up to shoot in the dark church and the D-7000 for the shots in the hallway of the reception hall for some of the family portraits that I had promised the couple. Normally the 7000 is what I use for the event photos, but I didn’t set up the booth for this wedding.

OK, I got the family portraits done, and was shooting the dancing, and all the fun reception stuff. For some reason, I’m still not sure why. I decided to grab the 7000 because I wanted a different lens, and didn’t want to change lenses. I went to switch out the memory card, and….only part of it came out. I didn’t even realize it. I couldn’t get the new card to go into the slot, and didn’t want to mess anything up, so I figured I should just switch lenses, and stick with the 7100.

Well. Sunday, I went to start downloading photos, and noticed that I only had part of the memory card. I thought about the “stuck card” issue, and thought.”thank goodness for the second card slot” Uh..nope. We got the pieces out (fortunately, but the back cover still doesn’t seem complete, so I will be taking the camera in for service.

Tim Stapp recommended a good recovery program for the “slot B” memory card, but I ended up realizing that it wasn’t a faulty card in slot B as well, it was that it didn’t record anything.

OK, so, being the adventurist type, I actually carefully took an old 256 mb card apart, and put the 32 gb SD card guts in it and taped it back together with some scotch tape, and put it into an older memory card reader that I didn’t care about. (in case the pins were messed up or anything) That actually did the trick. I did recover my missing photos from this past weekend’s wedding, but don’t EVER want to go through that again.

Lesson I learned,
Always use a camera with dual slots, and
ALWAYS make sure slot 2 is set up for “back up”
Don’t ever rely on just one memory card, just in case the unthinkable happens, and slot B isn’t working right.
If you lose some photos from a card, at least you won’t lose a whole wedding.

Tim showed up Sunday to the open house my daughter had for her new reception hall. I was actually so sick at that time, I couldn’t even go out to eat with my wife, him and his lovely bride.
It was all I could do not to throw up from being upset that I had actually experienced the loss of some wedding photos. Not even in film days, had that happened to me.

Well, we all survived, and the family photos that I was so concerned about are now going to be a part of the album. YAY!

Tim Stapp Loc: Mid Mitten

I'm just glad that you were able to get them.

Tim Stapp Loc: Mid Mitten

Thanks for this. You reminded​ me to change my focus settings back after the soccer game this past Saturday.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

What a story and a miracle... especially the Scotch Tape episode! I am beginning to believe in God again, either that or Scotch Tape! I am pleased to hear that all ended well and
that you are feeling better. It goes to show that your resourcefulness, improvisation and savvy paid off.

Thanks for sharing!

All the best, Ed

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I'll add this to my list of 100 reasons why I no longer do weddings. Now at 101!!

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Sorry to hear that. I honestly missed it over the past year that I took off. I didn't realize how much, until I got a chance to "shine."

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Quick update. I did get the card back out of the reader without incident. Took the tape off, and put all the pieces back in an SD card case. Got an RMA number from Transcend, and it is now on its way to California. Maybe it will stop by and see Jerry while it's there... Anyway, they don't do data recovery, so I'm glad I got the info off it, but we'll see what their warranty looks like. I have ton of SD cards, but figure if they say lifetime warranty, we'll give them a test. Might get a replacement $12 SD card (their cost is probably pennies) but it's better than nothing.

Going to be posting soon in the main forum about another issue with a new flash. I figured there may be more Yongnuo users over there. Just didn't want you all to think I was "going to the dark side"

Lastly, I will keep you posted on how Transcend handles the warranty, and if they stand behind their products.

bk

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

I got a sick feeling in my stomach just reading this. I hope you can recover from that trauma. I got a message from my camera during my last event that the memory card may be damaged. I popped it out and back in and it was fine. Probably should have replaced it, but I did have the back up slot going.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

At this point, since I use the smallest memory cards I can get my hands on. (preferably 8gb, but I'm normally stuck with 16gb or even higher...depending on what's on sale) It's all pretty cheap. I have done what you say in the past, or when I insert it to download and I get the message saying that it needs to be repaired, I go ahead and do that, then toss it in the trash once the pictures are off it. I used to keep every single memory card as additional back up in an envelope with the client file. Of course, it didn't dawn on me for the longest time, that since I back up in 5 other places, and THOSE are all edited, if I were to download from the card, I'd have to try to re-create what I did. I just started using those cards again. I just always figure in the cost of the event, that I'm going to buy a few cards, just in case anything happens. If it doesn't....well, I have a few extra bucks.

I'm just glad that I don't seem to have any issues with the card slot. I will also be relying on the second slot (just in case) because I'm too busy to send it in right now. I have a marathon to shoot on Saturday, some One year old photos on Tuesday, Senior photos on Thursday, and another Wedding on the 20th. After that, I'm done until June 6. Not sure I'm comfortable giving just a couple of weeks to get the camera back. I'm toying around with renting a D-500 for the June wedding, to see if I want to go with that, or stick with the 7xxx series. I miss my D-200, and the D-500 sure looks close.

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

People seem to love the D-500. Quick autofocus and high ISO abilities. My preference would be a D5, but hard to justify that many $$$.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

If it weren't for the glass, and having to start all over again, Nikon just dropped the D-810 to $2500. Anyone want to buy a motorcycle, and a crap ton of DX glass? Kidding. At this point in my life, I'm done chasing megapixels, I just need whatever I can get in my budget that will handle low light as good as possible. I have no problems focusing, it's all in the Catholic Churches that don't want any flash, any time, not just the ceremony. Not sure if that is a local thing, but I'm "this close" to just not accepting any more jobs where I don't know for sure that I can't use my flash before and after the ceremony itself.

Does anyone know if it is an "ultraviolet light" thing with all the expensive artwork and statues, or did I miss the part in the bible that said "thal shalt not use flash?"

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

Bob, I am a full frame fan. Low light capability and dynamic range is so much better. My D-610 does a great job and it can be had for less than the D-500. I bet you have some full frame lenses you currently use on your D-7000s. Yeah, I think thal shalt not use flash is in there somewhere. Worse yet are the reception halls that are dark and then they turn the lights even lower.

I was doing an event last week (break dancing one) where teams were presenting in a well lit room. Look at what they did to me while I was getting pics of the teams presenting! Cell phone pic of what I had to deal with.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

You are right, I do have a "smattering" of FF glass, but nothing in the 2.8 arsenal. I sold that stuff (probably stupid) to help fund my newer 2.8 lenses with IS that were all Crop frame. Most of it was bought when the D2 was the "big dog" professional model, so who thought that they would introduce "full frame?"

I do wish that I had the low light capability of a FF sensor, but on the other hand. I shot weddings with D-70s, and then D-200s, so you learn tricks on how to deal with the noise. The D-7000 and D-7100 are a piece of cake compared to those older models.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

Just yesterday afternoon, I received a brand new Transcend card. The one I sent in that failed, was a 16gb, Class 10 UHS 1, but the write speed was like 300mbs.

The one they sent to replace it was a 32gb Class 10 UHS1, write speed is 600mbs. They don't do data recovery, but they replaced the card with something twice as good, very quickly, and no questions asked.

Some may doubt any card that isn't a Sandisk, but I've heard a lot of stories of people buying those from reputable stores, only to be told by Sandisk that it wasn't replaceable, because it was counterfeit.

Just passing along some good news, and a little plug for a company who stood behind their product.

bk

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Though I have a bunch of fast prime glass and a camera that feels healthy at ISO-2500 when shooting in a Mission (dark church) where no flash is permitted, not even for the processional ... I shoot @ f/4 - f/5.6 but ahead of time I have told the wedding party to watch for my sign to stop. I hold out my hand in the stop command, fire a few pictures, and then wave them to continue their walk down the isle. This allows me to shot with my 50mm at 1/60, f/4.0 - f/5.6, but with a lower ISO in the 640 - 1250 range.

No body has an issue with me doing this ;)

BTW, I lost 1/3 of a wedding because of a corrupt card and it wasn't recoverable. I got sued ... lost the case. Judge said even if one picture was lost he would of given them the money they asked for. This is why I'm going to buy a full frame double slot, probably a used Canon 5DIII with a low shutter count. It's only happen once but I don't ever want to go through that again. I know many wedding photographers who shoot with a 6D as I do, they aren't worried about it but then again they've never lost part of a wedding.