Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Since I like information from the horse's mouth, and not what is propagated all over the internet by people with who knows what engineering credentials, I contacted a major SD card manufacturer regarding formatting in a camera before each use. This is the reply I received:

" As per your query please allow us to inform you that reformatting the memory card after each use is not very necessary. We recommend formatting a memory card only in situation when the card behaves weird to troubleshoot and check if the issue resolves. Additionally since every host device has different specification and functionality, depending upon the supported specification when necessary formatting the memory card in this situation is recommended. Format is a data destructive process and will erase all data from your card, so please make sure that you have everything backed up prior to proceeding. Apart from such situation, normally using the delete option is more than okay and is completely fine.

Please reply to this email should you require further assistance. We are glad to help!

Best regards, "

This substantiates my belief that one only needs to do an initial format in a camera and deleting files on the computer is fine. Re-format when the card seems to hiccup. (Which is what I've been doing for ten years with no problem, and I've never had to re-format a card, either an SD or Memory Stick.)

But y'all should continue to do what you feel comfortable with doing.

-L

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Bill_de Loc: US

So which manufacturer said "not very necessary"?

I agree it isn't necessary, but easier or just as easy as deleting.

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DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Once I backup the card I always format unless I'm on a trip and want an additional archive. Necessity never really crossed my mind.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Sandisk.
(Which are all nine of my cards for the one camera.)
Yes, you can format to shotgun delete, just like I highlight all in Windows Explorer and click delete.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

So many people believe it is a must. Again, something that has been propagated via the internet.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Yes, I hear you. I also have no issue moving the same card between three different Nikons as I shoot. My wife and I sometimes share cameras on shoots and this allows us to keep our files separate. Lol, this was another discussion.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

So, my Canon cameras offer the choices to either "format" or "low-level format." From what I've read, "format" is really just deleting the files, while LLF is more akin to what is being described here. Do others agree?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

But the other discussion was up to five pages and I figured many people left.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

The reason I reformat cards in camera is because I use 3 or 4 different Canon bodies and I do not keep cards separated by camera body. All my cards are backed up and backups checked before they go back into my card cases. I choose a card for speed and capacity based on what I am shooting, not the body I am using.

I notice that from body to body, if not reformatted, the camera makes a folder for that camera body and I end up with multiple folders inside the DCIM. However, since my bodies are different ages and software generations, my preference is making sure the format of card and camera match. I have no scientific data to base that on, it's just my common sense thought process. Also, by doing this, it also deletes the file directory and I do not have to do a file deletion with my PC.

Your information totally makes sense about needless reformatting, so thank you for posting it. If I shot with only one body or a pair of the same bodies, I would reconsider my approach. But with multiple bodies, I would not want a hiccup happen to a card while shooting for work. So reformatting gives me that reassurance so far and I haven't had any glitches when shooting.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

LOL! I also know a couple long time shooters who NEVER format.

Sorry, we don't want to go for page six!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Switching bodies I probably would also, ya never know if there would be slight nuances between bodies, especially older ones and newer ones. Then I might just dedicate cards to each camera, only format when I need to swap use.

BebuLamar

I don't think it's necessary but it's easier than deleting hundreds of images from the card.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I just click on the first, go down to the last and hit shift-click, then click delete.
Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

The reformat in the camera or other device is a simple quick format. It deletes the filenames but not the data. This often makes it recoverable in the case of an accidental delete or quick format, BUT it causes data fragmentation. In the old days, it was necessary to routinely de-fragment a hard drive that had been subjected to lots of data writing/deleting/writing cycles. SD cards are no different. And formatting in a computer using the OS's format command often overwrites a "protected area" used for security purposes.

"In general, formatting tools provided with operating systems can format various storage media including SD/SDHC/SDXC Cards, but it may not be optimized for SD/SDHC/SDXC Cards and it may result in lower performance. SD/SDHC/SDXC Cards have a “Protected Area” for SD Card security purposes. The SD Memory Card Formatter does not format the protected area in the SD/SDHC/SDXC Cards. The protected area shall be formatted by an appropriate PC application or SD host devices that provide SD security function."

I'm not doubting your horse, but I think the words from the stable of Cydesdales that represent the SD Association carry greater authority. After all, the do set and update the standards - (Panasonic, SanDisk, and Toshiba)

https://www.sdcard.org/about_sda/index.html

I quick format in camera regularly or in the computer using the SD Formatter application, but once a month or sometimes more often, I will do a complete overwrite format using SD Formatter just to keep the cards performing at their best. Re-formatting regularly makes sense, but only if you do a full format. Deleting and quick reformat are basically the same, and they leave the same fragmentation "mess" on the card. So your horse wasn't wrong per se, but he may not have been giving you the whole story.