Memory Card (Page 4): Nikon has and currently recommended formatting a card in the camera.

photoman43

Nikon has and currently recommended formatting a card in the camera.

https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-techniques/getting-started-memory-cards-and-batteries.html

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

Bill P wrote:

there are specific things that only the camera can do.

Please tell us what those are. The cameras of today use the same file system as the computers; otherwise they could not be processed by the computers. If a card does not have the DCIM and other folders, the camera will create them with the first use. Currently, the cards are pre-formatted by the manufacturer. I am using cards that have never been formatted in camera.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I was having trouble with my memory cards and it was across card brands (I accumulated a number of cards over the years). They were constantly in need of in computer "repair" before downloading. I didn't lose any images (I think/hope), but the possibility was always there. I decided to format the cards in the computer after downloading my photos. I then immediately format them in camera. Since double formatting I have not had the need to "repair" my memory cards in the computer. I know there will be people here who will say I'm wrong; they came out in droves when I posted my "discovery" many months ago. Again: I format in computer AND in camera. Failing to format in camera invites trouble.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

photoman022 wrote:

I was having trouble with my memory cards and it w... (show quote)

You aren't wrong when experiencing issues and finding a solution. But without knowing all the specifics, it almost sounds like file format incompatibility between your camera and computer (e.g. FAT32 and exFAT are just enough alike for most systems to pick up, but some limitations can occur when an operating system is expecting one or the other).

photoman43

While the risk is rare, when you format a card in a laptop or desktop, you can transfer a virus to the card that then gets transferred to the camera when the card is entered into the camera and then the camera's software is compromised.

In the past, I have had two Nikon bodies both the same model. One card formatted in one body is not recognized when used in the other body. To use that card in the other body I had to format it in that particular body.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

johngault007 wrote:

...
...
Again, everyone is free to follow their own best practices, but saying "must" and "never" are simply just spreading misinformation about how file systems, not cameras, truly function.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

photoman022 wrote:

I was having trouble with my memory cards and it w... (show quote)

Nope! I'm right behind you on this one for fixing your problem.

trapper1 Loc: Southside Virginia

I have 2 cards I used with a Canon point and shoot and now have a Nikon 5600 DSLR. Is there any reason to not format the two cards in the Nikon? All of the data on the two cards, overwhelmingly photos, has already been downloaded to my psycho Dell desktop, so in effect the cards are a backup storage device, not vulnerable to virus attacks.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

I'm lazy, so I import off the SD card using Lightroom, then use the camera menu to format the card, thus deleting image files I don't need there anymore. At some point I use my computer to backup the ones already transferred there, my least favorite file management tool - have to open too many windows. Maually deleting files is just too labor-intensive and leads to "Oops, I didn't mean to delete that one!"

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

bodiebill wrote:

How do Hoggers clear and format a memory card outside the camera?

I’m a dinosaur. I never reformat. It is the original and the perfect back up. Cards from 15 years ago still read perfect. I am also paranoid so images are on my hard drive, DVD, and alternate media (Epson drive which have gone away, so now a My Book and solid state drive. Has it ever saved me? Yes!

Bill P

[quote=TheShoe]Please tell us what those are.

Sorry, I read that about the time I got my Nikon D3, and I just remember the recommendation, not the needless details. What I read was from Nikon, who should know what their camera needs. And on top of everything all of my cards are over 5 or 6 years old.

Also, Not all of us have a single camera. I have in digital, Nikon, Panasonic, Olympus, and Sony. I have tried putting a card formatted in one camera in another brand and just shooting, and I note that a new file is made for each camera.

The bottom line for me is I'll trust what it says in my camera manual over whatever is posted on this website any day.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

trapper1 wrote:

I have 2 cards I used with a Canon point and shoot and now have a Nikon 5600 DSLR. Is there any reason to not format the two cards in the Nikon? All of the data on the two cards, overwhelmingly photos, has already been downloaded to my psycho Dell desktop, so in effect the cards are a backup storage device, not vulnerable to virus attacks.

Not sure where you're going with the question, but if you take a card out of camera brand A and put it in camera brand B, I would format it in its new camera (B).

Meganephron Loc: Fort Worth, TX

BlueMorel wrote:

I'm lazy, so I import off the SD card using Lightroom, then use the camera menu to format the card, thus deleting image files I don't need there anymore. At some point I use my computer to backup the ones already transferred there, my least favorite file management tool - have to open too many windows. Maually deleting files is just too labor-intensive and leads to "Oops, I didn't mean to delete that one!"

I have multiple brands too. Nikon, Canon, Panasonic. I just leave the cards where they are, buy new ones when full and tag each card. Never tried to cross formats. That would require re formatting.

Bill P

[quote=Meganephron]I have multiple brands too. Nikon, Canon, Panasonic. I just leave the cards where they are, buy new ones when full and tag each card.

Somebody's got too much money.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

ALWAYS format in camera.

Don