Boy, I appear to have got your attention!
First, the OP's question was
I'm trying to find out the best way to format my sd cards....I am using a d7200 with 2 cards....please helpThe general consensus appears to be "format the card in the camera" which I and others have repeated 'ad infinitum'. So the advice to format in a computer is mostly irrelevant and unhelpful, unless people actually really do know what they are doing.
BigDaddy wrote:
All SD cards that can be read by your Win computer can be formatted by your win computer, and have files written to and deleted by your Win computer. There are older cameras that cannot read newer style of SD cards, but the camera can't format the card either. If the newer style card can't be read in your camera, it can't be read/formated or anything else by your camera, so what is your point?
The point, Sir, is to suggest that SD card types need to be matched to the intended end use device, and formatted appropriately. Taking a latest tech SD card and putting an exFAT file system on it may work on the appropriate PC, but may not work on the target camera, which is the essence of the OP's question.
BigDaddy wrote:
Please advise a situation where your camera, and your Win PC can both read your camera card, but the PC can't write to, erase files, or format the card correctly.
There are two situations I will offer as examples. The first, exFAT, I have already addressed. If you have multiple cameras with differing SD file system support levels, then you need to format the cards appropriately. FAT32 seems to be widely adopted, but with a 4GB file limit may not be the default for all cameras, especially newer models. Some newer cameras support exFAT but are still restricted to 4GB files as a result of import restrictions limiting still cameras to less than 30 minutes of continuous video. It gets complicated.
The second is the use of runtime camera software, namely Magic Lantern on certain Canon cameras. Reformatting on a PC will remove the ML software. Reformatting in the camera will reformat the SD card and then restore the ML routines to preserve the desired functionality. ML can also overide the 30 min video restriction, but something like exFAT is required to make that seamless. Not all cameras support exFAT. So, formatting in camera is the simplest and most efficacious option.
BigDaddy wrote:
While everyone's knowledge has it's limits, including mine, I highly doubt whatever experience you have trumps my 35 years computing experience, including 10 years as a Unix administrator, 10 years experience as a Sysop running a BBS under DOS and OS2, and 17+ years developing commercial web sites, as well as programing in 8 languages. I'm always willing to learn though, including from you, so let me know the "full situation" and I promise not to let my "Nikkors further twist". As for "what I'm smoking" It's none of your business, but I'll tell you anyway, it's nothing, I don't smoke. Thanks for asking though, it shows what a twit you are.
While everyone's knowledge has it's limits, includ... (
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Well, clearly you need a vacation after all that hard work. May I suggest one including both sex and travel!
35 years puts you at starting out in 1982. You are more than a decade late to the game. If I'm a twit, you're a twit to at least the power of two, maybe an order of magnitude. How's your RPN - reverse polish notation? Smalltalk? Ada? Pascal? Algol?
More seriously, you appear to be more of an admin mentality or developer, rather than an engineer or system architect. I do not care about any of your personal indulgences, and you are correct that it is none of my business, but shouldn't we focus on the OP's request and needs, rather than get down into the weeds of computer technology? From your experience you should know that there are always exceptions and reasons to keep environments as simple as possible to reduce unwanted problems. Formatting in the camera makes things simple and functional.
BigDaddy wrote:
Don't think I ever said what the best approach was. I said there is no NEED to reformat your card over and over, and there isn't. You can delete the files on your PC if you want, or format your card in your win pc if you want. Also said if you are "required" to format your card, you will likely be buying a new card in short order. In fact should do so sooner rather than later rather than risk losing your pictures to a failed SD card.
I disagree. There are times when a card needs to be reformatted, and when it is desirable to do so. Does the same card used in the same camera need to be reformatted regularly? No. Transferring to a different camera, possibly. It does no harm, and it may resolve or prevent some potential issues. File systems do sometimes become corrupted, and reformatting can isolate some problems. Reformatting is certainly not an indication of imminent disk failure. It may be, but it equally well may not be.
However, this is a discussion that is down in the weeds, and most people do not need to go there. The OP's question has been addressed. Format the card in the camera, and enjoy photography!