lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

In all the threads I have read in the last 15 months, it seems that the majority of people who have card failures are those who download, backup, reformat, and reuse the same card every day.

My preferred method for a vacation would be to purchase a 16 or 32 gb card for each day plus 2 extras. Format each card in the camera it will be used in and take a couple of test shots to make sure they work. Store the cards in a card carrier, along with paper tabs pre-dated. At the beginning or end of each day while quietly in my room, chance the card and check it for photos and take a couple of test shot.

I consider my memory card to be my first backup. I've got enough to carry, I leave the computer and backup drives at home. I'm there to enjoy my vacation, not work on photos. That I will do when I get home.

This method seems so much easier, less stressful, and less chance of failures. How many Hogg's agree? Or am I missing something?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

While I don't fill cards everyday, I've been using the same cards for eight years with no problem.
I have only done the initial in-camera format when I first got the cards.
I also delete what has been transferred from the cards to the computer using the computer delete file function.
Then I place the card back into the camera or the wallet without additional formatting in the camera.
I delete in-camera when I KNOW I don't want to keep the image.
Never lost a card or an image.
Eight years... If there was going to be a problem, it would have shown up way before now.
I store the initial images on the desktop, with a backup copy on an external pocket drive, another copy on the laptop, and the desktop is backed up by Carbonite.
But, everyone does what they feel most comfortable in doing, and that is good.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Yes, you are missing a critical step, having all your memory cards in one place. I have a LaCie DJI Boss 2 Tb drive with built in SD slot. Each day, returning to base, I switch out cards and back up everything to the Boss drive. THe added benefit is, if you travel with only an iPad, you can use the DJI Boss utility to view images in RAW format.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I have never had an SD card fail because I never take my cards out of my cameras, my photographs are transferred wirelessly to my phone as they are taken.
To do this transfer I use EyeFi SD cards, I have been using these for several years, they cost more than a normal SD card but in my opinion, they are worth every penny.
Toshiba also sells a similar WiFi card known as Toshiba FlashAir:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-FlashAir-Wireless-Flash-Memory/dp/B00V6XZOPG

You will also need the Keenai App to make it work:

https://www.keenai.com/applications/

You can use the Keenai app to transfer to your phone ot PC.

And you will never have a failure.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

You appear to already take a pile of cameras and lenses so what's the problem with a phone especially when you already have one with you.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I still don't understand carrying a pocket full of cards when one 128 will make your life easier. Never had one fail and since I don't have to take it out to carry, never lost one either.

Nikon1201

What an expense, ive been using the same cards for 1 plus years, I Carry spares but I also buy from Sandisk and they can verify their cards.

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

Since you have all of your eggs in one basket, we all hope you never suffer a failure.

On my trips, I carry several cards and change them every few days or when they get about 3/4 full. And, no, I've never had a failure either, but having extensive experience in electronics and reliability engineering I prefer not to test probability.

Nikon1201

A failure is a failure. I’ve put in new cards that failed and have older cards that are fine . There is no guarantee whether new or not . So after you use your card do you throw it away or use it?

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

Have had only one card failure. It came apart. Like eggs/pics, I don't keep 'em all in one basket/card. I wear a seatbelt when driving but so far, it has never saved me. I also buy life insurance, which has kept me alive.

Steve Perry Loc: Sylvania, Ohio

I've been doing this a LONG time and shoot tens of thousands of images each year. In something like 15 years of digital photography, I've only had two card failures (one was defective out of the box) and even then never lost an image.

My system is this:

1. I start the day with a card I've used numerous times before and format it in the camera.

2. At the end of the day, I empty those cards onto my laptop.

3. I then copy those images to a pair of external SSD drives, one of which is kept on my person at all times, the other is kept in another location. I keep all my copies as far apart from each other as possible in order to mitigate loss in the event of theft. My gear is insured, the images are not.

4. Once everything is backed up and verified, I load the cards back into the camera, format, and start over.

This system allows three different copies of the images instead of just the single copy you have on the memory card. It saves money on cards and even allows you to purchase high quality, faster cards than you may otherwise purchase since they aren't treated as a single-use item. I also tend to use very large cards when I can as well - I have a 256 XQD card in my D850 that I have yet to fill.

Also, I disagree about not looking at photos while on a trip. There have been times I've discovered camera or lens issues that were not readily apparent on the back of the camera. Checking my images allowed me to spot those problems and make adjustments for the reminder of the trip. That, and I find looking over the day's catch highly enjoyable in the evening.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Hi Steve, nice to hear your response and know that you are back in the states from muggy Costa Rica, although the weather may be just as hot but not so muggy! There is no way I could take a trip and not look at my photos, as you probably now know, or play with them. That is what I enjoy most so I always take my laptop to see what I've got.

lmTrying Loc: WV Northern Panhandle

Wow. Ok, you guys have already given me a lot to think about. You've also prompted some new guestions. I hope some other Hoggers are learning from this, too. Keep sending comments, I'm still reading, and learning.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

And all the cars that have problems are ones that are driven occasionally. Filling a card and then buying a new one seems like an expensive way to do photography. I've been using all sorts of memory cards for over ten years, and I've used them to take many thousands of pictures. I have never had a failure.