dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I have honestly not ever had a problem with my cameras. Call me lucky I guess. Recently though I wanted to let those on UHH know of a minor problem I had while using my Leica M10. I had taken some photographs and then downloaded them to my computer. No problem there. I put the card, a Sandisk 64 GB Extreme Pro 95MB/s, into the camera, formatted it to get rid of the old photos and then put it back into my camera bag for the next time. The next time came the next day. I turned on the camera and pressed the shutter to make sure all was well before going on a walk with my granddaughters. The shutter would not press, nothing happened at all. I changed settings, took out the card and replaced it but still nothing. Rather than fuss with it I put it back in the bag and took my Nikon D800 instead.

After a week I finally decided to take a fresh look at the Leica. I tried everything again and changed lenses just to make sure it might not be due to a couple of non 6 bit coded lenses I have. Still nothing. I then checked in the instruction book and found a section that mentioned the locking tab on SD cards. I knew of the tab but had honestly never played with the tab. Sure enough, when I looked at the tab it was in the locked position. I unlocked it and put it in the M10. Still nothing. I tried the card in my D800. Worked perfectly. Definitely a GRRRRR moment.

As our local Samy's Camera is closing in Santa Barbara, today is the last day it is open, I went in yesterday to talk to John Brainerd, a good friend who knows everything about cameras of many types. He had given me the SD card as a gift when I purchased the M10. I told him of my card problem and he suggested reformatting the card in the M10. When I got home a few minutes later I did just that. Even though I had done it once before I did it once again. Lo and behold it worked perfectly.

This may have been discussed before here on the UHH forum but I don't recall seeing it. At any rate if you have an SD card that stops working suddenly take a look at the locking tab to be sure it is not locked. Also reformat it at least a couple of times if necessary.

I wish you all well,

Dennis

mcmama

I’ve had to reformat SD cards several times. Now that I know what to do, it doesn’t freak me out anymore.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Had the lock been pressed or was it just to reformat the card after normal use? I had never paid any attention to the lock before, having no need to ever lock an SD card.

Dennis

mcmama

When there were no photos on the card, my camera would tell me I only had maybe 20 captures left on the card. After researching, I found I should reformat the card and it worked.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Glad that worked out for you.

Dennis

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

I am guessing you never formatted it the first time if lock tab was on thus reason you had to do it second time after unlocking.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Sorry my friend but I formatted it the first time and many times thereafter whenever I downloaded pictures into my computer and then put the card back into the camera. I noticed the locking slider seemed looser than on other cards. I think, this time, I unintentionally slid it into the locked position.

Dennis

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Your camera must be set to refuse to take pictures if there is no SD card. That's how I set mine. I'm surprised it didn't tell you that the card was the problem. I'm also surprised that you had to format more than once.

FotoPhreak Loc: Whittier, CA

I'm glad you finally got your SD card formatted.

I hope the closing of the Samy's store in Santa Barbara is not the result of any financial problems. Samy's has several stores in Southern California and they are among the best camera stores in the region. Their store on Fairfax caters to the professionals but these days I go to their Pasadena store because it is closer to me and I don't have to contend with parking issues at the Fairfax store.

Nikon1201

Download photos and format card in camera , problem solved.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Thanks Man I would not have seen that coming I fear.

AzShooter1 Loc: Surprise, Az.

I always download my photos to the computer to work on them and then reformat the card. I did have the same problem as Dennis once. The locking tab had gotten loose on one card and it was a real pain. I replaced the card and never had another problem. I now keep 6 cards for when I go on trips and only use 16 gb cards so that if one goes bad at least I don't lose everything.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Jerry the camera is not set up that way and in fact there was an SD card. But through operator error the card was in the locked position. Do you not reformat when you delete pictures? Perhaps I have chosen the wrong word. But I don't think so.

Dennis

Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area

THANK YOU for the tip! That hasn’t happened to me, but if and when it does I’ll know what to try.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

You're welcome. It isn't a huge tip but as I am one of those people who have fortunately never had any camera/lens problems I thought I would pass it on. I assume everyone knew about the locking slider on the SD cards. I didn't.

Good shooting to you,

Dennis