larryepage Loc: North Texas area

A low-level format on a computer will map around bad sectors, which survives subsequent format operations. I've never seen any evidence that the in-camera format has the capability to do that. Nor do they have the capability to do the diagnostics available on the computer. Best practice would be to then reformat in the camera, although most well-designed newer camera models seem to automatically set up the file structure whether one formats in-camera or not. And even though memory cards are much more robust now than even 5 years ago, they can still be corrupted by operator error, like physically removing a card before writing is complete. So never formatting, or rarely formatting, isn't really a good idea, either.

Is it possible to survive without following best practices? Sure it is. But in this case, something really weird has happened, and it's been pretty costly. And I really don't think it's just that Shutter Release without Card was enabled. But we also have never been told what kind of camera the OP was using, so we really don't know what should have happened if that were the case. It's possible that the camera was trying all day to notify the OP what was going on, but he had his camera's beep function silenced. Or like me, he sometimes has trouble hearing it due to tinnitus.

User ID

Its very clear that none of the pix were important. Hundreds were shot but not one was important enough to bother checking playback. Maybe hundreds of them might have been "winners", but actually important ? Obviously not.

gwilliams6

You are so wrong. I have a Masters Degree in Digital Photography, and am a Professor of Photography at a state university, as well as a pro photographer for over 50 years. I have to know the facts and teach the facts.

Always format your cards in the camera they are going to be used in, only. Never in a computer, and never use them straight out of the box without formatting in the camera they are going to be used in, NEVER.

From card maker ProGrade: Which Is Better: Format A Memory Card In A Camera Or Format A Memory Card In A Computer?
https://progradedigital.com/format-memory-card-camera-computer/#:~:text=So%20to%20summarize%2C%20it's%20always,image%20loss%20and%20file%20corruption

"So to summarize, it’s always best to format a digital memory card within the device that will use it. Not only does this help ensure compatibility, but it also sets a block size that is optimized for the host camera. Format in your camera to minimize the potential for image loss and file corruption."

Also dont format your card in one camera, and then use that card in another camera without formatting it to the camera it is going to be used in.

Know the facts, do the right thing, and avoid potential disappointment.

Cheers and best to you

srg

Maybe for him, the term "chimping" has a negative connotation.
I for one, am happy to be a primate.

ecobin Loc: Paoli, PA

Only format in camera!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

jdtonkinson Loc: Red Wing, MN

I have learned allot from all these comments. BTW my camera is a Nikon D800e.
From now on I will only format in camera, and spot check during a session.
I ordered another card as a backup

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

What I was thinking. If the card wasn’t seated correctly the camera may have not recognized it and if it’s not set to not shoot without a card those shots were never saved. I learned that lesson one day kayaking with friends. We rounded a corner and there were three eagles in a low tree, the closest I’d ever been to them. I fired off several closeups. A few minutes later when we landed for a break I went to check those photos and had nothing. Sure enough there was no card in the camera. Luckily I had a P&S with me tgg he at I took the card from so the rest of the day wasn’t a complete bust and I changed the setting to not shoot without a card.

Capn_Dave

Not necessary FAT32 format is FAT32 and that is what all cameras use

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

MDI Mainer

Ditto

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Not what OS, what file system? (NTFS, exFAT, FAT32, APFS?). You can find this by just plugging it into a card reader, clicking on the drive and right clicking on properties. Every file system has a different way of indexing and allocating space for files as well as its manner of changing the internal label to show the file is deleted and that space is available.

If your computer formatted the card with a file system that the camera doesn’t support, that would cause the exact issue you mention. The fix is to format the card in the camera.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

terrys1943 Loc: Illinois

Before you do anything else with the card, run an image recovery program on the card. There are several of these programs available. Chances are that the directory was damaged and the images are still there. I use a program called Zero Assumption Recovery (ZAR) that can be downloaded for free and is free for image recovery. For recovering other than image files there is a registration fee, but for images it is free. This has saved me and others several times. Best of luck

gwilliams6