SD Cards: Can anyone tell me how long an SD card can last or how often can the same one be used? I always format my card after I have downloaded the images to my computer. I think some...

Light Red

Can anyone tell me how long an SD card can last or how often can the same one be used?

I always format my card after I have downloaded the images to my computer. I think some of my cards may go back four years.

When travelling and taking lots of pictures, I change the card weekly. I now have the capability of downloading to my iPad for back up.

Thanks

Light Red

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

In ten years I've never had any problems with any cards, Compact Flash or SD...use them over and over hundreds/thousands of times...
Ron.

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

Light Red wrote:

Can anyone tell me how long an SD card can last or how often can the same one be used?

No, but longer than you will ever want to use them.

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

Light Red wrote:

Can anyone tell me how long an SD card can last or how often can the same one be used?

I always format my card after I have downloaded the images to my computer. I think some of my cards may go back four years.

When travelling and taking lots of pictures, I change the card weekly. I now have the capability of downloading to my iPad for back up.

Thanks

Light Red

At least 10,000 write cycles (which includes erasures/formats). And the built in circuitry evens that out across the entire device.
So, in your usage, 100 years+.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

The average card will most likely outlive your camera, assuming you keep it safe from the extremes - such as leaving it bake in the sun all day, accidentally washing it with your laundry, etc. And prolonged exposure to moist tropical climates supposedly can cause rapid corrosion to all electronic devices, including memory cards.

ahzwizerd2 Loc: Willowbrook, ca

Just buy to an expensive SD Card that is fast, and holds alot
and you can use it over and over again with no problem as long as you don't abuse the card. I had mine for 15 years and is still working good.

natron

no need to format it every time, that is unnecessary read/write cycles...whatever the number is, no need to waste them!

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

Good care of memory cards will make them last longer and keep your images from corrupting. After each download of images, always reformat the card in the camera. Never, I repeat, never, delete images in camera and continue to shoot, that is the most common means of getting error messages and corrupt imgages.

natron

[balderdash!]

Wahawk Loc: NE IA

chapjohn wrote:

Good care of memory cards will make them last longer and keep your images from corrupting. After each download of images, always reformat the card in the camera. Never, I repeat, never, delete images in camera and continue to shoot, that is the most common means of getting error messages and corrupt imgages.

I ALWAYS delete the files in camera! I have a few shots I want to keep on the card, so just delete what I don't want. Have been doing it several years and NO problems!

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

chapjohn wrote:

Never, I repeat, never, delete images in camera and continue to shoot, that is the most common means of getting error messages and corrupt imgages.

Where in the world did you get this info? I've never heard of this. The most common way to get errors and corrupt files is by deleting in camera? So, I guess you are suggesting that camera mfgs should remove this as an option/feature from every future camera? Sorry, I'm afraid I'm gonna need to see more qualitative evidence of this, and I strongly suggest others do to.

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

That's the great thing about digital photography. ...a good card will last longer than alimony.

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

ahzwizerd2 wrote:

Just buy to an expensive SD Card that is fast, and holds alot
and you can use it over and over again with no problem as long as you don't abuse the card. I had mine for 15 years and is still working good.

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Wall-E Loc: Phoenix, AZ

mdorn wrote:

Where in the world did you get this info? I've never heard of this. The most common way to get errors and corrupt files is by deleting in camera? So, I guess you are suggesting that camera mfgs should remove this as an option/feature from every future camera? Sorry, I'm afraid I'm gonna need to see more qualitative evidence of this, and I strongly suggest others do to.

There have been a fair number of UHH members that have reported issues when they do in-camera deletes repeatedly and don't reformat their cards.
Formatting refreshes the File Allocation Table (FAT) and clears any mis-indexed file pointers. I *ALWAYS* reformat IN-CAMERA after confirming correct download of images. And *NEVER* do in-camera deletes. Why take the time to delete, just shoot another one!
Actually, I did delete an image once. A vendor at a craft show asked me to remove an image I had made of his artwork.
I complied.

Danoj Loc: Winnebago Co. Illinois

I am reading all these posts indicating SD cards last for ever. But I had a card failure within a year. And the week after I posted asking if this was normal, another UHH member indicated he's experienced his first card failure as well. So... I guess, just be sure to back up you pictures and have a spare card. Because you can never know when the card will quit.