Memory Card Questions
Sep 2, 2022 22:23:02 #
The reason that I avoid swapping cards between cameras is that it creates gaps in the filename numbering sequence, both on the card and in the camera.
When mixing well used with relatively new cameras and cards the gap can be huge. A card with reeeeeally high file numbering on it will bump the cameras count up to match the card. This is to avoid duplicate numeric filenames.
When mixing well used with relatively new cameras and cards the gap can be huge. A card with reeeeeally high file numbering on it will bump the cameras count up to match the card. This is to avoid duplicate numeric filenames.
Sep 2, 2022 22:40:43 #
Once the file system is created, which as mentioned is typically (but not necessarily) FAT32, formatting doe not erase anything. What it actually does (if a file system exists) is change the file prefixes in the allocation table so that the files cannot be seen and those locations can be rewritten. It will also create a file system if one does not exist. Each new camera creates a directory within the existing file system and writes its files to that directory. There may be exceptions, but my experience has been that different directories from different cameras can coexist (and be written and read) within the same file system.
Sep 3, 2022 02:07:43 #
Alphabravo2020 wrote:
......hidden files built up on the card....
The reason why the manufacturers recommend formatting in-camera is because doing anything else is leaving you open to various possibilities that the manufacturer has no control over, and some of those possibilities could be potentially problematic. However, FAT32 is a standard format and that's the important bit, and as long as the card ends up with that file system the camera will be able to use it.
So yes, it's OK to use a card on one camera that's been formatted in another camera (or even formatted in your PC, although I haven't tried that yet). As noted by Alphabravo, a new format frees the whole card for use and any files on the card - including hidden files - can be overwritten. Any files left on the card will NOT be accessible via the operating system after formatting, but they may be partly or totally reclaimable using appropriate recovery software (as long as they haven't been overwritten).
Unless you think a card is being cluttered by hidden files, you don't need to format it each time you use it, but it's probably a good idea to do it occasionally.
Sep 3, 2022 05:51:22 #
vinnya
Loc: connecticut
Been to events where you can try different cameras and always just swapped memory card from one camera to the other and never had a problem not formatting the card in each camera.
Sep 3, 2022 07:53:34 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
You seem to have edited the horse pucky from the original text ... I was agreeing, but it had disappeared by the time of my <quote reply>. My point was mostly to do what's easier. There's no technical requirement for always format, including being a more complex / time wasting step for some cameras.
Sorry, I did edit that out and I thought you were referring to my comment.
Sep 3, 2022 07:55:29 #
Alphabravo2020 wrote:
On an old Canon Rebel, just deleting the photos in Windows Explorer would not always restore the space on the SD card. I don't know the cause exactly but somehow after many cycles of deleting images in Windows, hidden files built up on the card until it the camera reported that the disk was full. A format was required to clear the card.
Odd. I have Explorer set to display hidden files and have never seen any yet on a memory card. (an old programmer carryover, I want to see everything).
Sep 3, 2022 07:58:03 #
CHG_CANON wrote:
Try it yourself. I'm only speaking from a memory when I seem to remember swapping SD cards between Sony and Canon without formatting and no big deal. I seem to remember being a bit surprised the folders for both were available. Maybe tomorrow I'll try again. As said in my response, a best practice is format whenever changing cameras, followed by testing to see if truly necessary for the specific cameras involved.
"Best practice" may be so people don't try to use a full card and get stuck.
Some will format each time the card is put in the camera as that is cast in stone.....
somewhere.
Sep 3, 2022 08:00:08 #
User ID wrote:
The reason that I avoid swapping cards between cameras is that it creates gaps in the filename numbering sequence, both on the card and in the camera.
When mixing well used with relatively new cameras and cards the gap can be huge. A card with reeeeeally high file numbering on it will bump the cameras count up to match the card. This is to avoid duplicate numeric filenames.
When mixing well used with relatively new cameras and cards the gap can be huge. A card with reeeeeally high file numbering on it will bump the cameras count up to match the card. This is to avoid duplicate numeric filenames.
THAT could cause confusion if the cameras are the same brand (file naming method) and a different prefix has not been set for each camera.
Sep 3, 2022 08:09:19 #
Camera makers tell you to format the card before use. They say nothing about formatting it multiple times, although many people do. Just out of curiosity, I'vce put new cards into cameras and shot with them. No problem.
You can use the same card in different cameras. Each camera will make a folder for its pictures.
I wonder if there's any disadvantage to formatting a memory card hundreds of times. They tell us not to format SSDs.
EDIT: From Crucial - If unchecked, your computer will carry out a Full Format, which is safe for HDDs but would cause your computer to perform a full read/write cycle, which can shorten the life an SSD. I couldn't find a definitive answer about formatting memory cards many times - just opinions.
You can use the same card in different cameras. Each camera will make a folder for its pictures.
I wonder if there's any disadvantage to formatting a memory card hundreds of times. They tell us not to format SSDs.
EDIT: From Crucial - If unchecked, your computer will carry out a Full Format, which is safe for HDDs but would cause your computer to perform a full read/write cycle, which can shorten the life an SSD. I couldn't find a definitive answer about formatting memory cards many times - just opinions.
Sep 3, 2022 08:12:24 #
jerryc41 wrote:
Camera makers tell you to format the card before use. They say nothing about formatting it multiple times, although many people do. Just out of curiosity, I'vce put new cards into cameras and shot with them. No problem.
You can use the same card in different cameras. Each camera will make a folder for its pictures.
I wonder if there's any disadvantage to formatting a memory card hundreds of times. They tell us not to format SSDs.
You can use the same card in different cameras. Each camera will make a folder for its pictures.
I wonder if there's any disadvantage to formatting a memory card hundreds of times. They tell us not to format SSDs.
Maybe just in case a card was used prior in an Apple device? Is Apple format different than DOS (Windows)?
Sep 3, 2022 08:14:39 #
Longshadow wrote:
Maybe just in case a card was used prior in an Apple device? Is Apple format different than DOS (Windows)?
Do Apple devices still accept SD cards?
(Yes, I know the M2 MBP has an SD card slot.)Sep 3, 2022 08:15:27 #
Cameras use industry standard formats, such as FAT32 and EXFAT. The format is identical whether it is done in camera, on a laptop, a desktop, a Mac, a Windows based computer, etc. That is the only reason why you can pull a card out of any camera and read it in pretty much any computer. It's like a JPEG photo. Pretty near universal readability. The only thing the camera does in addition to the standard format is to add specific folders for the storage of images and any other data that the camera produces. That doesn't mean that your photo program will be able to open any image file on the card. RAW files are often manufacturer specific and require specific capability in order to open the image. Depending on the RAW format the computer may not even 'see' the image on the card but it will be able to read anything else on the card, such a manufacturer's folders, because of the standard format. That is not a format issue.
Cards come pre-formatted and can be used as is. The camera will simply add any necessary folders as soon as the card is inserted and the camera turned on. Sandisk will tell you, as they did me, that their cards are "Plug and Play". Here is something you can try: Format a card in your computer. Open it after formatting. There will be nothing on it. Insert it in your camera. Turn the camera on for a few seconds then turn it off and remove the card. Now put it in your computer and open it. The manufacturer's folders will now be on the card and you will be set to shoot. If you have a second brand of camera put the card into it, without reformatting it, turn the camera on and off and you will now find that manufacturer's folders on the card along with the previous set. You can swap the card between cameras without re-formatting because the format is identical in both cases.
Here is what most people don't understand: When you format in a computer only one process takes place- the format. When you format in a camera two processes take place- the format and the addition of manufacturer folders. Makes no difference because the camera will add the folders automatically.
The format, which of course includes the file system, HAS to be identical or there would be no interchangability with other devices, such as a computer. It is that simple. Your camera will tell you if there is a format problem. Early cameras usually can't read FAT32. Modern cameras have no idea what FAT16 is.
A note about Canon's formats: Canon, of course, uses the same industry standard format like everyone else, but, they go about it slightly differently. A standard format leaves ones and zeros on the card. Canon's Deep Format (an option on the camera's format page) leaves only zeros. It has to do with how Canons write to the card. Either method works just fine but Canon's method allows the camera to write to the card faster. Check your owner's manual under formatting and you will find a notice to do a deep format if your card seems to have lost speed. If you shoot video or long burst shots it will make a difference. Otherwise, no big deal.
Cards come pre-formatted and can be used as is. The camera will simply add any necessary folders as soon as the card is inserted and the camera turned on. Sandisk will tell you, as they did me, that their cards are "Plug and Play". Here is something you can try: Format a card in your computer. Open it after formatting. There will be nothing on it. Insert it in your camera. Turn the camera on for a few seconds then turn it off and remove the card. Now put it in your computer and open it. The manufacturer's folders will now be on the card and you will be set to shoot. If you have a second brand of camera put the card into it, without reformatting it, turn the camera on and off and you will now find that manufacturer's folders on the card along with the previous set. You can swap the card between cameras without re-formatting because the format is identical in both cases.
Here is what most people don't understand: When you format in a computer only one process takes place- the format. When you format in a camera two processes take place- the format and the addition of manufacturer folders. Makes no difference because the camera will add the folders automatically.
The format, which of course includes the file system, HAS to be identical or there would be no interchangability with other devices, such as a computer. It is that simple. Your camera will tell you if there is a format problem. Early cameras usually can't read FAT32. Modern cameras have no idea what FAT16 is.
A note about Canon's formats: Canon, of course, uses the same industry standard format like everyone else, but, they go about it slightly differently. A standard format leaves ones and zeros on the card. Canon's Deep Format (an option on the camera's format page) leaves only zeros. It has to do with how Canons write to the card. Either method works just fine but Canon's method allows the camera to write to the card faster. Check your owner's manual under formatting and you will find a notice to do a deep format if your card seems to have lost speed. If you shoot video or long burst shots it will make a difference. Otherwise, no big deal.
Sep 3, 2022 08:23:00 #
LFingar wrote:
...
... Either method works just fine but Canon's method allows the camera to write to the card faster. ...
...
... Either method works just fine but Canon's method allows the camera to write to the card faster. ...
...
How does that work?
The device using the card will write either 1s or 0s. It does not care what was there prior to the write, nor does it check to see if it "doesn't have to change a cell (bit)", it just <over> writes.
Sep 3, 2022 08:36:42 #
timbuktutraveler wrote:
Must you format a memory card before using it?
Also, if a memory card is being used in Camera A (ie: Sony)
can you take it out of A and use it in Camera B (ie: Nikon)?
If yes, do you need to do anything to the card once it is in Camera B?
Many thanks.....Larry
Also, if a memory card is being used in Camera A (ie: Sony)
can you take it out of A and use it in Camera B (ie: Nikon)?
If yes, do you need to do anything to the card once it is in Camera B?
Many thanks.....Larry
Yes you can. I used one in both my D7000 and my D7500. It will create a file for each camera. It was a SD card.
Sep 3, 2022 08:42:16 #
Sidwalkastronomy
Loc: New Jersey Shore
B and H has memory cards cheap so why bother. 64 G $18 and 128 G $29. Then one card each camera and shoot away.
My understanding is to format for each camera BUT watch erasing images
My understanding is to format for each camera BUT watch erasing images
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