Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Some have suggested to me that while shooting, do not delete files directly from your memory card while it is still in your camera. They suggest, alternatively, wait until after you have downloaded the files to your computer, make you selection of what you want to keep there, and reformat you card with your camera and start afresh during your next shoot. The suggestion makes sense, however I am wondering, what is the problem associated with deleting files in the field in your camera. What kind of problems can that create with the card you are using before you ultimately go thru the download process and reformat the card. Just curious.

SoftLights Loc: New Orleans, LA

I've heard varying opinions on this as well. Some say format the card after every use and some say no need to format if it is to be used in the same camera as before. I can't recall having a single issue with a card in the past 15 or so years.
I'd like to hear others thoughts on this as well since I delete images in camera for a variety of reasons. My reasoning is why waste time downloading files that you know you're not going to keep.

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

"My reasoning is why waste time downloading files that you know you're not going to keep."

Exactly!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I delete what I don't want in the camera.
After I transfer the files to the computers via the card and they have been backed up by Carbonite,
I use the computer to delete the files on the card.
I have never re-formatted a card yet. (I always format a new one in the camera though.)
Been doing this for almost ten years.
(To each his own...)

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I don't delete anything. I download all the files per my filing scheme. Once I've verified that they are in backups as well, I format the cards in camera.
--Bob

Bill_de Loc: US

Just don't do anything your owner's manual has a specific warning against doing.

No matter what method you use there will be somebody who had an issue. Maybe they caused the issue. My Uncle Charlie ruined his camera deleting images while the card was inserted! He was looking at the screen and walked in front of a car. So, don't walk in front of a moving car while deleting images.

---

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Good advise. At least it was only the camera he ruined!

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

For me why waste the battery deleting files on the camera. I batch delete in LR. But... if driving or flying and my wife gets the camera she deletes away...

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

There's the reason for you to buy your wife her own camera!

bgrn Loc: Pleasant Grove UT

For me I will transfer to my computer first then format the card in the camera. I have almost deleted a few in the camera and when I opened them on the larger monitor I was glad I kept them. It's sometimes a little more difficult for me to make the determination on a relatively small screen. Although I do delete regularly in the camera the ones that are extremely obvious bad ones. But really the best way is whatever works for you.

Hank Radt

Really not much of a practical difference either way. The processes are different though: if you erase with the camera, you don't really erase the file, you erase the entry in the file system that tells the device where the data is located - when you shoot a new photo, because there is no entry in the file system to tell the camera not to overwrite the deleted file, it can be overwritten with a new image (depending on how many images you deleted...). Note: if an image is not overwritten, it can be recovered using a file recovery program - if you accidentally delete some files you want to recover, DON'T shoot any more images; if you're on a computer, STOP doing anything until you run a file recovery program.

On the other hand, a format (in the camera) wipes the card clean; if you use the computer, you have a choice of a quick format, which is similar to an erase in that it only deletes the file system, or a full format which wipes everything, so the card is basically fresh. But you can't recover anything either...

As for reformatting each time you put the card in the camera, it shouldn't be a problem - see the note at the end of this article: https://improvephotography.com/749/memory-cards-sd-cf-replaced-old-reliability/ : "Every memory card does have a theoretical limitation to how many times it can be reformatted (less so on cheaper cards which use a lower quality of Flash Memory), but the number is huge. Unless you format your card 10 times a day, it should last a lifetime."

Finally, some manufacturers offer lifetime warranties, so if cards go bad, they'll replace them. However, keep in mind that 5 years ago, cards were only available in mbs (or maybe big kbs), vs multiple gbs today - you can even get a 512 gb SD card today ($300 on amazon); in 5 years, SD cards will probably be measured in tbs.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

The use of battery is a good point. But really, your unique situation and needs dictate the approach. If you have an extra card and battery on hand, you can judge whether to just shoot freely and change cards when you run out of space. Or, you can inspect images and delete knowing you can change batteries to a fresh one. But, if you miss shots while playing with your camera, that's the situation you don't want to experience ...

Format is relevant to using a card in multiple cameras. With just one camera, deleting all images on the card is functionally equivalent to formatting.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Ew.
I'm always stationary when I delete.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I normally don't worry about wasting the battery. I even let the camera go into standby a lot. I just tap the shutter button to wake it up. I have multiple spare batteries, two at a time in the grip.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

If there was an issue with deleting images in camera, there'd be no delete button. Just saying.