Need I delete photos off my SDXC cards as I download them onto my computer? Each time I download photos onto my computer the iMac asks: “Delete photos from card after downloading?” I...

photoam Loc: Fergus Falls, MN

Each time I download photos onto my computer the iMac asks: “Delete photos from card after downloading?”
I never do, and my SDXC card currently contains about 3500 images, going back to when I bought the Canon G9X, mark 1, 4 yrs ago.
I do have my photos backed up onto iDrive, Time Capsule, and another external hard disk.
What is the downside to using a card that is partially full?
Does a partially filled card write new images slower than a blank card?
Suggestions?

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

You'll eventually run out of space. Are you leaving the images on the card as a form of backup? Instead, I'd recommend either backing them up to a separate hard drive (I use a solid-state hard drive and don't leave it attached to my computer), or, back up to one of the cloud storage services, such as Dropbox (or, do both). What I do after a shoot is to upload the most recent photos to my computer, then return the card to the camera and reformat it each time.

photoam Loc: Fergus Falls, MN

Well, I haven’t run out of space in 4 years.
They are backed up.
Why reformat?
Does an almost full card work slower?

BebuLamar

photoam wrote:

Well, I haven’t run out of space in 4 years.
They are backed up.
Why reformat?
Does an almost full card work slower?

I don't think it would make it slower. If you don't run out of room the only down side is that you have to know which are the new files to transfer to your computer. You don't want to have to transfer all of them every time.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I copy the images to my hard drive and Carbonite backs them up, I also copy them to the laptop.
Then backup to an external drive.
After Carbonite backs them up, I delete them from the card.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

photoam wrote:

Well, I haven’t run out of space in 4 years.
They are backed up.
Why reformat?
Does an almost full card work slower?

The main question is: Why do you leave all your photos going back four years on the camera memory card? Doesn't it make sense to free up the card space for new stuff, after you have saved the contents to multiple other places?

The only reasonable reason I can think of is if you want to be able to show photos when you are out and about with the camera. But four years' worth? C'mon.

Jimbo1947

photoam wrote:

Each time I download photos onto my computer the iMac asks: “Delete photos from card after downloading?”
I never do, and my SDXC card currently contains about 3500 images, going back to when I bought the Canon G9X, mark 1, 4 yrs ago.
I do have my photos backed up onto iDrive, Time Capsule, and another external hard disk.
What is the downside to using a card that is partially full?
Does a partially filled card write new images slower than a blank card?
Suggestions?

No problem keeping them on the card. Eventually it will fill up, then put in a new card and put the full one in a safe place, it's another backup media, and never hurts to have.

bkyser Loc: Fly over country in Indiana

It won't slow down your card at all, but it will slowly slow down the download process, because your computer will have to check each one to see if it's already downloaded or not. The download itself shouldn't be that long either, just the part of figuring out if the photos are new or not takes a bit longer. If you don't worry about 3500 taking longer, then I doubt it will bug you when you get more.

For years, I saved my CF cards in an envelope after a wedding for the SOOC shots, downloaded them to my working computer and 3 external drives that I disconnect and kept one off site.

I still shoot weddings, and back ups are extremely important, but I no longer keep the cards, I just download my XQD card, put it back in my camera and reformat the card. I download to one external drive that I keep offsite, and back up a copy to my Amazon cloud drive (unlimited storage) I know hard drives and computers fail, and there's even a chance of an issue with Amazon, but I doubt all 3 go down at the same time.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

I think of my SD card as a carrier designed to transport my image files from my camera to my computer. Then, just like a shopping bag, when it has successfully transferred those files, i reformat the card in camera. For backup I have an external drive. I don't want my Lightroom program to have to guess if those card files are new.
For safer storage offsiite secondary backup is safest.

Also, if my card fails, which all electronics sooner or later do, all I lose is that day's shoots.

le boecere

Jimbo1947 wrote:

No problem keeping them on the card. Eventually it will fill up, then put in a new card and put the full one in a safe place, it's another backup media, and never hurts to have.

This is the answer that makes the most sense to me. Thanks for posting it.

JoeN Loc: East Texas

Do you carry a spare card with you because when you fill that card you will not be able to continue taking pictures until you install a new card or you delete files from the full card. Normally once I download files to the computer I will delete the files from the card and then format the card using my camera’s software to do both. I don’t think there is any “right” way to manage your memory card so do what you want. I don’t think the card will slow down when recording but that’s an opinion and not based on any facts.

I don’t remember where I read this but I did read an article that said deleting files and periodically formatting the card will lessen the chances of having corrupted files on your card. But, you have been doing ok for 4 years so why change what works for you.

photoam Loc: Fergus Falls, MN

OK, guys.
You experts have convinced me the folly of my ways.
I already have a new SDCX card. But I will delete photos and reformat the card.
Thanks for your help.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

photoam wrote:

OK, guys.
You experts have convinced me the folly of my ways.
I already have a new SDCX card. But I will delete photos and reformat the card.
Thanks for your help.

My camera is ten years old and won't work with anything over 16Gb.
Consequently, I have eight cards.

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

Jimbo1947 wrote:

No problem keeping them on the card. Eventually it will fill up, then put in a new card and put the full one in a safe place, it's another backup media, and never hurts to have.

jamesyandre Loc: Greenville, SC

I’m a Mac user and am familiar with that message. I decline to delete just as a precaution. When I’m truly ready to use it again as a full memory card, I wait till it goes back in the camera. Then I just hit reformat from the menu options, and your camera will then treat it as a full memory card, overwriting what was previously on it.