Memory cards.
Dec 11, 2023 17:09:52 #
Do memory cards go bad with age? I have a Canon M50 camera for over 4 years and I have not replaced the memory card since I have started to use the camera. I don’t take it out of the camera for transferring the images I use the usb cable. Any thoughts on that?
Dec 11, 2023 17:16:13 #
Basically, no.
I have memory cards that are 12 years +old that work great.
I use them until I have a problem, then it gets replaced.
But I've never had to replace one, yet.
Card out, USB cable, whatever trips your breaker.
Just be sure the camera battery isn't low when using the USB cable.
Don't want to have power quit (camera shut down) before you're done transferring.
I have memory cards that are 12 years +old that work great.
I use them until I have a problem, then it gets replaced.
But I've never had to replace one, yet.
Card out, USB cable, whatever trips your breaker.
Just be sure the camera battery isn't low when using the USB cable.
Don't want to have power quit (camera shut down) before you're done transferring.
Dec 11, 2023 17:28:22 #
I couldn't remember so I googled it. Design life for heavily used cards is supposed to be 10 years. I've never had one fail. The common suggestion is that if you have any doubts, buy a new one. Cards with huge capacities have become very cheap.
Dec 11, 2023 17:32:33 #
I’m with Longshadow. I don’t have any cards that are that old. Some of mine are 7-8 years old but, I’ve never had 1 fail. I always put the card in the SD card reader in my laptop & move the pictures over. Have yet to format the cards.
Dec 11, 2023 17:37:12 #
bsprague wrote:
I couldn't remember so I googled it. Design life for heavily used cards is supposed to be 10 years. I've never had one fail. The common suggestion is that if you have any doubts, buy a new one. Cards with huge capacities have become very cheap.
Yes, large capacity cards are cheap.
Except, my <old> camera can't utilize 32+ cards....... I believe 16 is the limit.
So I suppose I should get a new camera to keep up with the cards?
I only have about ten cards. They should last me.
Dec 11, 2023 18:09:44 #
Ioannis wrote:
Do memory cards go bad with age? I have a Canon M50 camera for over 4 years and I have not replaced the memory card since I have started to use the camera. I don’t take it out of the camera for transferring the images I use the usb cable. Any thoughts on that?
My oldest memory cards are 20 years old and still work fine.
I had 1 fail from accidentally damaging it only.
Dec 11, 2023 18:30:03 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
Ioannis wrote:
Do memory cards go bad with age? I have a Canon M50 camera for over 4 years and I have not replaced the memory card since I have started to use the camera. I don’t take it out of the camera for transferring the images I use the usb cable. Any thoughts on that?
There was a time in the 1990s when the reliable life of nonvolatile memory was quite short...less than 100 write cycles. That pretty quickly got extended to hundreds, then thousands of cycles. Now no one really talks about it anymore.
I'm still using some of my original 1 and 2 GB CF cards in my D200 from 2007.
All that being said, nonvolatile memory cards are absolutely not "forever." They are a very poor choice for archival storage and for critical backup applications. They are for short-term working storage
Dec 11, 2023 18:43:05 #
larryepage wrote:
...
...
All that being said, nonvolatile memory cards are absolutely not "forever." They are a very poor choice for archival storage and for critical backup applications. They are for short-term working storage
...
All that being said, nonvolatile memory cards are absolutely not "forever." They are a very poor choice for archival storage and for critical backup applications. They are for short-term working storage
They are charge-coupled devices (CCDs).
At some point the cell charges bleed off, altering/corrupting the data.
How long? Dunno.
Dec 11, 2023 19:23:23 #
Ioannis wrote:
Do memory cards go bad with age? I have a Canon M50 camera for over 4 years and I have not replaced the memory card since I have started to use the camera. I don’t take it out of the camera for transferring the images I use the usb cable. Any thoughts on that?
Some of mine are 15 years old I'll get back to you
Dec 12, 2023 00:56:28 #
Longshadow wrote:
Yes, large capacity cards are cheap.
Except, my <old> camera can't utilize 32+ cards....... I believe 16 is the limit.
So I suppose I should get a new camera to keep up with the cards?
I only have about ten cards. They should last me.
Except, my <old> camera can't utilize 32+ cards....... I believe 16 is the limit.
So I suppose I should get a new camera to keep up with the cards?
I only have about ten cards. They should last me.
Of course you should by a new camera! No question in my mind.
SDHC cards are even cheaper. Since you have 10, you won't need any. On the other hand, you could buy 9 more cameras.
Dec 12, 2023 04:51:18 #
Ioannis wrote:
Do memory cards go bad with age? I have a Canon M50 camera for over 4 years and I have not replaced the memory card since I have started to use the camera. I don’t take it out of the camera for transferring the images I use the usb cable. Any thoughts on that?
I've never had one go bad (SanDisk). But none of the ones I use are 10 years or more old. Every few years I have purchased newer ones with more capacity, yet really not a huge amount compared to what some people use and is on the market. With my oldest digital camera and more, I have used 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and now 32GB and 64GB. I am happy with the 32GB and 64GB for all my cameras that can use them. I probably have a couple really old ones and cheapos that only can use 8GB or 16GB. I sometimes use the USB Cable but that does not work for some of my cameras and my newest camera is too knew and I need to get a newer version of Ps to DL my files from that camera, have to DL as DNGs.
Dec 12, 2023 07:05:18 #
I get more worried about damaging the pins by improperly inserting and removing the card from camera and reader. So i’m careful. I did have a card fail once. It does happen.
Dec 12, 2023 07:34:53 #
Robertl594 wrote:
I get more worried about damaging the pins by improperly inserting and removing the card from camera and reader. So i’m careful. I did have a card fail once. It does happen.
With CF I would worry, SD not so much.
Glad You're careful!
Dec 12, 2023 07:36:27 #
bsprague wrote:
Of course you should by a new camera! No question in my mind.
SDHC cards are even cheaper. Since you have 10, you won't need any. On the other hand, you could buy 9 more cameras.
SDHC cards are even cheaper. Since you have 10, you won't need any. On the other hand, you could buy 9 more cameras.
"Memory card is full, give me my other camera...."
Dec 12, 2023 07:38:23 #
Longshadow wrote:
With CF I would worry, SD not so much.
Glad You're careful!
Glad You're careful!
Yes. I agree. I use both.
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