SD Card Question
Dec 22, 2015 21:48:29 #
Apaflo wrote:
THANK YOU, Apaflo. I suspected that this wasn't true, but I lack the sophistication of an EE or Computer Engineer.The whole idea that one needs to reformat, and spe... (show quote)
By the same token, what you refer to as "one small advantage" is likely what the other respondents in this thread refer to as THE reason for "religiously" reformatting. As for my prior statement that I use SD cards interchangeably among same brand cameras, I thought I read elsewhere on the Hog that one could or should Reformat and Relabel SD cards with the simultaneous aim to prevent Image File Number Duplicates from being downloaded to a computer's Photo Management System with ensuing havoc. Anybody care to comment?
This might be a rhetorical question, but then again, I only use Sony Cameras (save my pathetic G.E. U/W camera.) Specifically, am I correct that SD (& CF) cards must be reformatted for use in a different brand of camera?
Thank you, lev29
Dec 22, 2015 22:30:31 #
oldtigger wrote:
See tip #10
http://photonaturalist.net/11-tips-for-avoiding-memory-card-problems/
Of course these people suggest never formatting in camera:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/accessories/memory-cards/best-way-to-format-a-sd-memory-card/
http://photonaturalist.net/11-tips-for-avoiding-memory-card-problems/
Of course these people suggest never formatting in camera:
http://www.digicamhelp.com/accessories/memory-cards/best-way-to-format-a-sd-memory-card/
Of course any opinion you want can be found of the Internet, where everything is correct.
The list of 11 "tips" has 4 that are pure BS, and a couple that are questionable as stated. It's a brain dead list!
The second link is correct, though it is also clearly overkill too! And it applies only to SD cards, not to CF cards. The main significance is that knowledgeable sources clearly contradict the first link.
Dec 22, 2015 22:40:38 #
lev29 wrote:
THANK YOU, Apaflo. I suspected that this wasn't true, but I lack the sophistication of an EE or Computer Engineer.
By the same token, what you refer to as "one small advantage" is likely what the other respondents in this thread refer to as THE reason for "religiously" reformatting.
By the same token, what you refer to as "one small advantage" is likely what the other respondents in this thread refer to as THE reason for "religiously" reformatting.
The "advantage" is of very little significance at best. Normally it has exactly zero significance.
lev29 wrote:
As for my prior statement that I use SD cards interchangeably among same brand cameras, I thought I read elsewhere on the Hog that one could or should Reformat and Relabel SD cards with the simultaneous aim to prevent Image File Number Duplicates from being downloaded to a computer's Photo Management System with ensuing havoc. Anybody care to comment?
I set the file name prefix in each camera to be unique.
lev29 wrote:
This might be a rhetorical question, but then again, I only use Sony Cameras (save my pathetic G.E. U/W camera.) Specifically, am I correct that SD (& CF) cards must be reformatted for use in a different brand of camera?
Thank you, lev29
Thank you, lev29
I see no reason you would necessarily ever have to format a card. They come, out of the box, formatted. If they are reformatted properly by any method they will be just that, properly formatted.
The only exception might be that some older cameras might not be able to format a large capacity card. But they probably won't be able to use such a card anyway.
Dec 22, 2015 23:25:32 #
Apaflo wrote:
The whole idea that one needs to reformat, and spe... (show quote)
I agree but have also wondered if regular reformatting of cards shortens their life, here's why:
If we accept there are a limited number of writes to flash memory, waiting until the card is full (or nearly so) ensures the entire card gets used evenly. If we use 1/4 of the card, reformat, use 1/2 the card, reformat, use 1/4 of the card again and reformat, we have now used the first 1/4 of the card 3 times, the 2nd 1/4 of the card once and the last 1/2 of the card not even once.
If we reformat a card 100 times it's quite likely the first portions of the card were used every time while the last portions rarely get touched.
I too have each body configured with unique names and have never had problems moving cards around.
Dec 22, 2015 23:35:00 #
Apaflo wrote:
Thank you, Apaflo, for your running commentary, and thank you, oldtigger, for that 2nd link regarding SD cards. It looks like a good website.The "advantage" is of very little signif... (show quote)
Dec 22, 2015 23:58:33 #
sloscheider wrote:
If we reformat a card 100 times it's quite likely the first portions of the card were used every time while the last portions rarely get touched.
The on card micro controller takes care of that. It is called "wear leveling". The Logical Block Address (LBA) that the operating system uses to find a sector is dynamically mapped to actual physical sector addresses to prevent non-uniform wear. Hence every time you write data to sector 9,213 it actually gets written to a different physical sector.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_leveling
Dec 23, 2015 00:08:28 #
Apaflo wrote:
The on card micro controller takes care of that. It is called "wear leveling". The Logical Block Address (LBA) that the operating system uses to find a sector is dynamically mapped to actual physical sector addresses to prevent non-uniform wear. Hence every time you write data to sector 9,213 it actually gets written to a different physical sector.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_leveling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_leveling
I wasn't sure SD cards were that sophisticated. I new SSDs did that
Dec 23, 2015 07:04:25 #
I thought the OP asked if he could place the old card in a different camera and not lose the photos on the card. If you reformat the card you will lose your photos. If the card is placed in a different camera without reformatting to the new camera, chances are good the card will not work.
Dec 23, 2015 07:29:20 #
icemncmth wrote:
On my Nikons its pretty easy to reset them. Two button push. I learned the hard way on resetting the camera. I had played with a lot of settings trying to get a pic. Ended up getting what I wanted and didn't think anything about it. Few days later pulled out camera and did a few shots. None came out because of the settings I had left.
When you are you talking about "Resetting the camera" do you actually mean "Reformatting the SD card" which is accomplished by the 2 button push?
Dec 23, 2015 07:39:17 #
jarneyd wrote:
I have a newly acquired D7100, I am giving my son my D90, Can I take the sd card from the 90 and put in the 7100 without reformatting and losing the photos on it?
I keep all of my SD cards as a backup, it way less expensive than having prints made ever was.
Thanks In advance.
I keep all of my SD cards as a backup, it way less expensive than having prints made ever was.
Thanks In advance.
the sd card will work in the new camera..however the photos will not show in the display from the other camera
..you are better off using a new card and marking them all in the future..if you should put let's say one of the cards used in the D90 it will show that there are no photos on that card..the new camera doesn't read them..make absolutely sure that you have a blank SD card by checking them in both cameras ..i personally found that out..i have the D7000 and D7100 and use different cards for them..
Dec 23, 2015 07:39:39 #
Capn_Dave wrote:
... If the card is placed in a different camera without reformatting to the new camera, chances are good the card will not work.
I use the same card in my D40, D3100, D7100, D800 and D810 without reformatting.
Dec 23, 2015 07:55:39 #
jrushphoto
Loc: Flint, MI
BigBear wrote:
You shouldn't have any problem using the card in different cameras.
In the case that you take several pictures and then transfer them to a computer or other storage, the card should be formatted in the device that regularly writes to it which will keep files from getting corrupted from writing and re-writing.
As far as long term storage, I recommend an external drive.
You can get a 1 or 2 TB drive for much less than the equal amount of SD storage.
In the case that you take several pictures and then transfer them to a computer or other storage, the card should be formatted in the device that regularly writes to it which will keep files from getting corrupted from writing and re-writing.
As far as long term storage, I recommend an external drive.
You can get a 1 or 2 TB drive for much less than the equal amount of SD storage.
Absolutely spot on advice! :thumbup: :thumbup:
Dec 23, 2015 07:57:39 #
I would recommend saving pictures to a external hard drive but if you choose to keep your photos on a card retire the card and purchase a new one they are not that expensive compared to what we spend on equipment
Dec 23, 2015 07:59:23 #
SonoraDick wrote:
Yes, but...
I believe the constant advice is to format the card every time you take it out and then put it back in your camera (after saving your photos, of course), and this is especially true when you're using it in a DIFFERENT camera.
I'd save the photos to a hard drive (or two) first, and then reformat in the D7100... but, that's just me.
I believe the constant advice is to format the card every time you take it out and then put it back in your camera (after saving your photos, of course), and this is especially true when you're using it in a DIFFERENT camera.
I'd save the photos to a hard drive (or two) first, and then reformat in the D7100... but, that's just me.
:thumbup: :thumbup: I agree totally, do not use your SD cards for back-up, purchase one or two external hard drives. I format my SD card every time I insert it in my camera.
Dec 23, 2015 07:59:50 #
Capn_Dave wrote:
I thought the OP asked if he could place the old card in a different camera and not lose the photos on the card. If you reformat the card you will lose your photos. If the card is placed in a different camera without reformatting to the new camera, chances are good the card will not work.
True about what happens to the images when the card is formatted.
But there is no reason at all a card used on one camera will not work in another until it has been reformatted.
What commonly does happen is that the images already on the card cannot be seen by the new camera. Typically that might be corrected by proper configuration of the camera to allow viewing any image as opposed to only the specific directory of images the camera is writing to.
That may or may not allow viewing images from cameras of different brands, but it does not disallow writing new images from a camera of a different brand.
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