Formatting Memory Card: I'm not understanding the purpose of re-formatting my SD cards all the time. My Nikons have always formatted the cards when I turn the camera on when the card...

steffro1 Loc: Murrells Inlet, SC

I'm not understanding the purpose of re-formatting my SD cards all the time. My Nikons have always formatted the cards when I turn the camera on when the card is new. Either that or it come pre-formatted, because I never use the menu to do it. They always worked right from the start. I just delete the older images with Windows Explorer from the card to make space. Is there a real reason to format vs just deleting them?

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

You can format or delete, formatting just does the job a lot
faster if you have a bunch of images on there. There is no
reason to format all the time or ever. I only format mine
when I first get the card.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

The reason that you should format the memroy card in the camera after each time you download all the images is that makes that card last longer and keeps all the images new images from merging and corupting the card. Just deleting images does not clean the memory card of previous images information, it only allows the device to overwrite that previous information. After a while of overwriting all that information become tangled with the new information resulting in memory card faillure.

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

chapjohn wrote:

The reason that you should format the memroy card in the camera after each time you download all the images is that makes that card last longer and keeps all the images new images from merging and corupting the card. Just deleting images does not clean the memory card of previous images information, it only allows the device to overwrite that previous information. After a while of overwriting all that information become tangled with the new information resulting in memory card faillure.

:thumbup: Very good explanation and advice. I agree.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

chapjohn wrote:

The reason that you should format the memroy card in the camera after each time you download all the images is that makes that card last longer and keeps all the images new images from merging and corupting the card. Just deleting images does not clean the memory card of previous images information, it only allows the device to overwrite that previous information. After a while of overwriting all that information become tangled with the new information resulting in memory card faillure.

A little of this and erasing a lot of files is much faster, especially with large cards. While formatting each time may not necessary, It is faster, cleaner and can prevent chances of problems.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

chapjohn wrote:

The reason that you should format the memroy card in the camera after each time you download all the images is that makes that card last longer and keeps all the images new images from merging and corupting the card. Just deleting images does not clean the memory card of previous images information, it only allows the device to overwrite that previous information. After a while of overwriting all that information become tangled with the new information resulting in memory card faillure.

That advice is what I have heard for HD's and removable disks, however I have read that formatting SSD's can shorten their life, cards are SSD's right? personally I allow my Canon software to erase the cards after transfer and so far no problems, Bob.

wisner Loc: The planet Twylo

One of the reasons that it isn't wise to delete photos on the card is that all of your photos are slightly different in size. When you delete a file, you don't actually delete the image, you just erase the address and allow the camera to fill the space with a new image. When the camera tries to write a photo to the space you cleared out, it often has to split the new image into a couple of pieces. This isn't a problem because it keeps track of where all the pieces are. BUT if your card becomes corrupted, some of the address information can get wiped out.

The recovery software works by searching for the start and end of files without using the address information. If the imaged is stored in a single place, it can be recovered. If it is stored in several places, it often cannot be recovered. This is why it is better to reformat your card than it is to delete images. When you reformat, you can start with a new address book and each new photo can be stored in the amount of space it requires.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

wisner wrote:

One of the reasons that it isn't wise to delete ph... (show quote)

I believe that when you erase or delete a file it actually only removes the first bit of the file, if you have used file recovery software that shows you the names of the files being recovered you notice that the fist character is missing, erasing may remove the file allocation table as well , not sure on that, The scenario you describe of the photo being stored in two or more areas of the card would only occur if you only partially erased the card as when you delete blurred or accidental shots during a shoot session, at least IMHO, Bob.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

bobmcculloch wrote:

I believe that when you erase or delete a file it ... (show quote)

What Wisner is describing is what happens on your hard drive on your computer and why you have to run the defrag program. Writing a file to disk will try to keep the gaps to a minimum and write a file and store to many different tracks. Over time as files come and go, it takes longer and longer to access a file it spans many different slots. Defrag rewrites the files contiguously and thus speeds up performance.

I do not think cameras use this sophisticated an algorithm with photo cards I would suspect something as you are describing such as pointer to the start of the file and it's length in bytes. In any case I would suspect the file is always contiguous.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

Think of it this way:
Your card is a giant file room.
Going through and picking up the clutter doesn't clean up the dust and paper clips on the floor.
Formatting does.

Formatting is like taking an empty room (storage), and putting filing cabinets in it. (Actually, partitioning puts the sections in.)
Then the data files can be sorted and placed by your cameras computer.

Formatting also cleans out all those filing cabinets so the new files (pictures) don't get mixed up with the old ones.
(When data gets stored, if a bit or byte gets mixed up or damaged, the file can become corrupted. Then it doesn't work right.)

Personally, I format my camera's card as a routine. After I download the picture files to my computer, I format to delete the cards files and be ready for the next batch.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

steffro1 wrote:

I'm not understanding the purpose of re-formatting my SD cards all the time. My Nikons have always formatted the cards when I turn the camera on when the card is new. Either that or it come pre-formatted, because I never use the menu to do it. They always worked right from the start. I just delete the older images with Windows Explorer from the card to make space. Is there a real reason to format vs just deleting them?

Is there a reason you don't format the card in the camera after downloading the pictures? It only takes a few seconds.

steffro1 Loc: Murrells Inlet, SC

I generally leave the last days shot on the card so I can show fellow birders the images. I have bought a couple of new cameras in the last few years and always buy new cards as the file size has grown exponentially. The D800s raw files are 45 mb and I store them on the SD and the Jpgs on the CF card. I never take that one out anymore because I had to have the camera repaired due to a bent pin. I used the cable connection to delete them all. I purchased a 64gb sd for my recent trip to the Utah and Arizona parks. So many new cards is why I guess I never have a problem. I must have a dozen cards mostly at 32gb. Thanks everyone for your valuable input. That's the main reason I read this site. Lots of helpful people!! I'll try the format step in the future!

Mac wrote:

Is there a reason you don't format the card in the camera after downloading the pictures? It only takes a few seconds.

steffro1 Loc: Murrells Inlet, SC

Thanks for you explanation!! I appreciate your taking the time!!

wisner wrote:

One of the reasons that it isn't wise to delete ph... (show quote)

steffro1 Loc: Murrells Inlet, SC

Thanks Chapjohn, That makes perfect sense. I guess because I buys so many cards I rarely fill them up.

chapjohn wrote:

The reason that you should format the memroy card in the camera after each time you download all the images is that makes that card last longer and keeps all the images new images from merging and corupting the card. Just deleting images does not clean the memory card of previous images information, it only allows the device to overwrite that previous information. After a while of overwriting all that information become tangled with the new information resulting in memory card faillure.

SX2002 Loc: Adelaide, South Australia

Yep, always format mine...first thing I do when I get home from a shoot is burn a master disc with all my shots on it and one set on my PC to "play" with and then format and reset my pic count all ready for the next shoot... :-D