brooklyn-camera I Loc: Brooklyn, NY

I shoot sports and take a ton of photos per game. Once I download the photos into my computer I return the SD and CF cards back into my camera and format the card in the camera that I'm going to use it in. Haven't had to replace either cards ever so far. Been shooting sports for about six years now. I shoot with the 6DMKII and the 7DMKII.

Ron 717 Loc: Pennsylvania

I have a Nikon D500, and it has 2 card slots. I have it set to record to both cards. I generally remove the XQD card and transfer photos to my computer, I then place it back in the camera and format the card so it is ready for the next session. I leave the second card an SD card in the camera until it is close to being filled as a backup in case I lose the images from the XQD card somehow. When the second card is nearing full, I then reformat it also.
It is my safety mechanism.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I can't remember discarding due to a problem more than one or two in the last 20+ years. Any cards I've tossed were because they were 4 or 8 gig and slow.

RonDavis Loc: Chicago, IL

Wow, this tread has been highly informative. The UHH community has a tremendous Body of Knowledge that can make all of us better shooters! Again, thanks to all of you for sharing your insights.

Sensei

I reformat cards if I switch to a different or more than likely a new camera. So far cards have outlasted some of my cameras. I have a few older cameras that can not handle the newer, larger cards. Other than that I have not had a problem. However there can be a few speed issues if you go to a newer camera using an old card.

JBRIII

Like the one person, I keep cards as backup. Spending a few hundred extra each trip is worth it. That said, they do have a limited number of cycles, based on use, not time, to my recollection. Each eraser, etc. leaves a small residual charge, eventually too much buildup and card can't be used, don't know if you get an error message or find out when trying to read.

I can see where unless one fills a card everyday that they would last a long time, probably decades. I just like lots of backup.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Um, the "residual charge"?????

Maybe too much of a charge buildup makes it zap itself...
I would not trust "they" at all if that's what they purport......

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

It is unlikely there is any exception to the Design rule for Camera File system. Quoting from Wikipedia, “Design rule for Camera File system (DCF) is a JEITA specification (number CP-3461) which defines a file system for digital cameras, including the directory structure, file naming method, character set, file format, and metadata format. It is currently the de facto industry standard for digital still cameras. The file format of DCF conforms to the Exif specification, but the DCF specification also allows use of any other file formats.”

This rule guarantees interoperability between cameras, computers, devices, operating systems and user software which benefits all. (Even Sony and Apple which have an inclination to use proprietary systems to close their markets to competitors follow this standard.) I have loaned a partially used (Nikon) card to a Cannon user with no fuss or problems. When importing into LR you select one or the other. Easy!

I reformat a card only after the imported images are backed up offsite. I always reformat in the computer because: 1. I never thought of doing it in the camera. 2. New cards come pre formatted so I just put it in the camera. 3. I now have a little script that formats the card, labels it with a unique identifier and keeps a little database of the date of each format. That way if and when a card fails I will know how much it was used.

I note that SD cards have a Digital Rights Management function that s destroys the card it you try to copy protected data but clearly Windows OS doesn’t trigger that function.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I delete all the extraneous software on the cards, if there is any.
DRM on the cards must be new. I never heard of it being there.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

I purposely threw that caveat in there in regards to FAT32 and exFAT. Cameras designed to record larger and/or longer video files over 4GB can't use FAT32 as there is a limitation in file size. So if someone owns a camera that is designed to read exFAT, and a second camera designed to read FAT32, the cards are not interchangeable unless the removable media is formatted for that specific camera.

And yes, it could be possible that the camera firmware can detect and use both FAT32 and exFAT. But to keep the firmware size to a minimum and as efficient as possible, most manufacturers tend to stick to one format. (That's a nice way of saying they are lazy in their programming)

As far as the DCF designed by JEITA. That is very true that the standard has been adopted to create a standard schema for file naming, directory structure, character set, and file format for removable media (memory cards). The firmware on the camera is still proprietary and it implements the DCF standard when a card is inserted.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Always reformat in the camera ONLY.
Always reformat the card in the camera in which it will be used.
After I transfer files to my computer and they are backed up, I reformat the card before the next shoot so that I am not surprised and run out of storage at an inopportune moment.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

And what is the technical explanation for the definitive statements?

I mean, those are very good options and they do work. But saying "always" indicates that if you don't, the removable media will not work..ever.

Hip Coyote

My canon created a folder and my Oly created a folder on the same cards...all worked out.
I agree with most of what everyone else said. I use the same cards unless I want more storage space or a faster write speed. The write speed helped my camera's speed considerably. But for landscapes and family pics, any speed seems to suit me.

SuperflyTNT Loc: Manassas VA

When I get back from a shoot I remove the card from the camera, import the photos to my computer, and once I’m sure I have everything successfully imported I put the card back in the camera and format. If I’m traveling I’ll swap cards in the camera if it’s full and do all the imports when I have access to my computer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I format ONCE when I put a new chip in the camera, and that's just for kicks & giggles, not needed for any of my cameras.
Some of my chips are ten years old, no problems with the "format" they had ten years ago.
(I delete images on the card via computer after transfer & backup, and stuff it back in the camera.)

But I DO use caution in handling, especially in the winter when the air is dry. A static electricity zap WILL kill electronic devices.