Formatting memory cards (Page 5): Trying to take the fun out of UHH? :sm09: --...

Bill_de Loc: US

Gene51 wrote:

This will provide the information you need, without the myths and misinformation:

Trying to take the fun out of UHH?

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Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Longshadow wrote:

I've seen may people misinterpret posts.

In the short time I have been on UHH, I have seen more misinterpretations and misunderstandings here than in a first grade classroom. Just like political or religious discussions, there are those who delight in reading how they want to read it and are willing to beat any minor fluctuations to death. Think why we often seen the same people responding.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

James Slick wrote:

(Memory card, SSD...) never needs defragging (and it's a waste of write cycles). OTOH, Formatting a memory card (in the camera it's to be used in) is not only OK, it's recommended as routine maintenance. (I do it when I'm done transferring the photos to the PC).

Never said anything about defragging a SD card - was using a computer disc as an example to explain a point. And, never was stating what was recommended but what **I** had been doing for 15+ years without a problem and what **I** preferred because of the ability to control, in respond to the original question. To each their own, what works for them.

Paul Moshay Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Formatting/reformatting a card does not erase the images on that card, it only removes the markers for the images leaving that space to be overwritten by new images. That is the reason SanDisk can sell an app that will make it possible to recover images from the card when it has accidentally been formatted but not had new images written to it. As others have correctly stated, it is always best to format a card in the device it will be used in. Formatting in a computer may be OK, but still not the best way.

Paul Moshay Loc: Los Angeles, CA

I say that "bulk erasing" is best done with a hammer! Actually, there is no such thing as bulk erasing a memory card.

Paul Moshay Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Using a memory card will not cause it to lose capacity. It will either function or fail, it is an electrical device, so it is either good or not good. Only purchase the best quality brands of cards and you will be happily making pictures without worries.

julian.gang

Thanks to all replier...Julian

wwright Loc: Tucson

Stardust wrote:

Never said anything about defragging a SD card - was using a computer disc as an example to explain a point. And, never was stating what was recommended but what **I** had been doing for 15+ years without a problem and what **I** preferred because of the ability to control, in respond to the original question. To each their own, what works for them.

I understand the point you were making. Simply deleting files, frees up an area where something equal, or smaller can be written, losing space. A basic format clears the table of contents, and usually the bit map, allowing sequential storage to occur again. In the "old days" one could do a low level format, that also rewrote the header info and wrote all 1's or 0's on the data fields. Security programs would make multiple passes alternating the patterns, to eliminate the possibility of reading old data from varying magnetic fields. But, those were the days of washing machine size 300 meg drives, and pretty thick ferrous coatings. I imagine that in theory one could format a memory card enough times to compromise the magnetic media; but, that would take a fair amount of effort.

julian.gang

Thanks for the reply...Julian

William Hill55 Loc: Roachdale Indiana

Had many cards over the years CF, SD, SDXC. I low level Canon formatt my cards in camera. I find with the 7D Mk2 it writes 10 fps faster on a clean formatted cards always Sandisk. On my Canon 5D Mk3 I do the same. However as i'm shooting maybe 5 fps with the 5D Mk3 it's not important. I never delete files on memory cards from computer so I don't mess with the file allocation table. You do what works for you.

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

bsprague wrote:

"I have heard formatting or bulk erasing memory cards will cause a certain percentage memory loss....."

That's the answer! Now I know why I can't today remember the new Photoshop trick I learned yesterday. I've been formatting too much!

I took a class from one of the local experts who works at a large photo store. He told those in attendance to format our cards two or three times, in order to remove as much of the remaining electronic data as possible, because some always remained after formatting just once. (???)

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

julian.gang wrote:

I have heard formatting or bulk erasing memory cards will cause a certain percentage memory loss from whatever kind of memory card and after the memory card is used up it should be discarded, is this true?...Julian

No, that is utter nonsense, formatting cards in-camera is the proper method to get it ready for the next round. I have formatted most of my cards a many thousand times and they perform as new, I don't discard them, unless they're corrupt (which so far never happened to one of mine))!

Paul Moshay Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Format the cards in your camera. Multiple reformats will have no effect on the data. Formatting just removes the address on each individual image so that section can be overwritten by the next image you shoot. Don't make the formatting process into voodo.

wwright Loc: Tucson

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

julian.gang wrote:

I have heard formatting or bulk erasing memory cards will cause a certain percentage memory loss from whatever kind of memory card and after the memory card is used up it should be discarded, is this true?...Julian

I have multiple cameras and many, many CF, SD and XQD cards. They have all been formatted many times in camera only for about 8 or 9 years. They seem to survive my abuse and frequent formatting in camera. I have never had one fail.