Another Formatting Question
Mar 19, 2018 11:55:23 #
I was updating software for my D810 and D500 with a card. I used it an erased the stuff on there after using (the updates). My question is, if I have formatted a card in my D810, and then decide I want to use it in a different camera, the D500 or even the Canon I have, does it matter? I usually don't format cards to begin with, I just stick them in the camera and they work fine.
Mar 19, 2018 11:57:47 #
DSLR formatting is camera model specific. Your SD card formatted in D810 will not be reliably read/writable to a D500 (my opinion, since I only have a D850 but I would not trust it). And forget Canon.
Mar 19, 2018 11:59:08 #
There is no need to format anything.
Every camera will write on its own directory, ignoring blissfully what the 'other guy' does.
Every camera will write on its own directory, ignoring blissfully what the 'other guy' does.
Mar 19, 2018 11:59:58 #
rgrenaderphoto wrote:
DSLR formatting is camera model specific. Your SD card formatted in D810 will not be reliably read/writable to a D500 (my opinion, since I only have a D850 but I would not trust it). And forget Canon.
I have used different cameras (brand/model) on a single card. Not a single issue.
Mar 19, 2018 12:05:47 #
I guess my next question is, can I unformat it? I have one brand new that I formatted in the D500 just to get the updates off it. I just want my extra card to be able to be used in any of my cameras.
Mar 19, 2018 12:07:03 #
Rongnongno wrote:
There is no need to format anything.
Every camera will write on its own directory, ignoring blissfully what the 'other guy' does.
Every camera will write on its own directory, ignoring blissfully what the 'other guy' does.
Same experience here, though I'm sure there are reasons not to do this.
Never had a problem.
Mar 19, 2018 12:10:56 #
My cards are camera specific. I do format them in the camera in which they are intended, after transferring the files to hard drives and verifying that the files transferred error free.
--Bob
--Bob
texaseve wrote:
I was updating software for my D810 and D500 with a card. I used it an erased the stuff on there after using (the updates). My question is, if I have formatted a card in my D810, and then decide I want to use it in a different camera, the D500 or even the Canon I have, does it matter? I usually don't format cards to begin with, I just stick them in the camera and they work fine.
Mar 19, 2018 12:31:03 #
texaseve wrote:
I was updating software for my D810 and D500 with a card. I used it an erased the stuff on there after using (the updates). My question is, if I have formatted a card in my D810, and then decide I want to use it in a different camera, the D500 or even the Canon I have, does it matter? I usually don't format cards to begin with, I just stick them in the camera and they work fine.
Just format it with SD Formatter - takes all the guesswork out of it.
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
Also, the answer to your question is yes, you can use a card formatted in one camera in a different camera.
You should format them periodically in any case.
Mar 19, 2018 12:31:21 #
texaseve wrote:
I guess my next question is, can I unformat it? I have one brand new that I formatted in the D500 just to get the updates off it. I just want my extra card to be able to be used in any of my cameras.
Each time you reformat in a camera, it is like starting over. Move it to another camera? It might work immediately, but will always work if formatted in the next camera.
Mar 19, 2018 12:38:27 #
There is "formatting" and "FORMATTING".
The SD card is a little solid state drive. It can be FORMATTED with your operating system to FAT16, FAT32 or EXFAT. (Apple may be different). It is slow and done at a "low" level. It blanks the card from having any data on it. I don't think many, if any, cameras will do this.
Cameras formatting rearranges some of the data on the card and build a files structure for storing what you shoot. It does not really wipe the card. That would take too long. It rebuilds the card so that it appears and functions as if it is blank.
It seems that early digital cameras were picky. You had to format the card in the camera. Current cameras seem smarter. They will add their own folder(s) and structure without a formatting process. Most cameras now will take a blank card and you can start shooting as soon as you put it in.
The SD card is a little solid state drive. It can be FORMATTED with your operating system to FAT16, FAT32 or EXFAT. (Apple may be different). It is slow and done at a "low" level. It blanks the card from having any data on it. I don't think many, if any, cameras will do this.
Cameras formatting rearranges some of the data on the card and build a files structure for storing what you shoot. It does not really wipe the card. That would take too long. It rebuilds the card so that it appears and functions as if it is blank.
It seems that early digital cameras were picky. You had to format the card in the camera. Current cameras seem smarter. They will add their own folder(s) and structure without a formatting process. Most cameras now will take a blank card and you can start shooting as soon as you put it in.
Mar 19, 2018 12:53:31 #
Gene51 wrote:
Just format it with SD Formatter - takes all the guesswork out of it.
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
Also, the answer to your question is yes, you can use a card formatted in one camera in a different camera.
You should format them periodically in any case.
https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/
Also, the answer to your question is yes, you can use a card formatted in one camera in a different camera.
You should format them periodically in any case.
This has been popping up a lot recently. I've been doing it for a couple years and no ill effects with FAT32!Mar 19, 2018 13:23:29 #
bsprague wrote:
There is "formatting" and "FORMATTI... (show quote)
Just to clarify. High level (quick) formatting deletes the INode pointers in the allocation table - the data is still on the card, just the allocation table has been changed. A low level format (which takes longer) typically writes zeros to every location on the card and the data is typically irretrievably lost. The format creates a file system (not an operating system), which may be FAT16, FAT32, ExFAT, NTFS or APFS (Apple), etc., and the particular file system you choose will govern the max file size you can write and whether multiple different compute platforms can write to the card. Each camera creates a folder under that file system, so there may be multiple folders from different camera manufacturers on the same card. I have never found this to be a problem - I have cards that have been written to by different manufacturer’s cameras and can be read without issues, but I cannot guarantee that is true in all cases.
Mar 19, 2018 13:51:09 #
TriX wrote:
Thank you for adding to what I was trying to say. Did I typo "operating system"?Just to clarify. High level (quick) formatting del... (show quote)
Mar 19, 2018 13:57:37 #
bsprague wrote:
Thank you for adding to what I was trying to say. Did I typo "operating system"?
You said it just fine - just adding some additional info.
Cheers
Mar 19, 2018 15:37:36 #
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