jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Camera makers say to format a new card in the camera. That's it. Most camera users format the card after uploading and before shooting again. That's what I do.

sumo Loc: Houston suburb

SD...which I believe stands for scandisk

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Secure Digital

raysass Loc: Brooklin, On, Canada.

OK. Thanks. Ray.

raysass Loc: Brooklin, On, Canada.

On another note, can you then use that card in another camera after formatting in one?

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

You need to format the card in the camera in which it will be used

sbesaw Loc: Boston

Depends but usually yes

sbesaw Loc: Boston

Really. I work in a camera store and carry a 16Gb SD card in my pocket and move it from camera to camera for customers so that can shoot in the store. There is rarely an issue. Sometimes, when there is, I re-format. Not saying this is best practice, just a fact

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've heard here that people have done all sorts of things with cards, and they still work. I just formatted a card in a Sony P&S, took a picture, and then put it into a Canon P&S and took a picture. Both turned out fine. So, a card formatted in a Sony worked in a Canon. I still play it safe and format in the camera I'm going to use.

RichieC Loc: Adirondacks

This is getting to be an old thread, but rayass, you simply aren't grasping the two slots configuration... LOL The slots work perfectly. you CAN set it to use one slot first, the camera won't use the second till the first one is full, then it automatically will write to the second. It is a superior arrangement.

Memory can get corrupted or damaged. This is a much more common occurrence then a drive malfunction.

Lets say you are a wedding photographer. You just got the kiss.... and one stick goes bad- I don't know, a static spark when you slid it into its case when switching it... you dropped it and accidentally stepped on it or the dog immediately pick it up and chomped on it ( I actually have had this very thin happen!) The directory gets corrupted by the static surge, the images are garbled and un-retrievable... the stick itself is damaged beyond repair in the second. ahhh, but your Nikon has wisely included a second slot set to duplicate each shot.... the chances of two memory chips going bad are much less possible. I suppose it could happen once in 1000 years. With your technique, you have no shot.... with Nikons, you are saved. A simple concept.

So you don't trust the second slot... which do you choose to use, can you tell by looking at them? Lets say one drive stops working... but the other still does. Once again, you still have the kiss shot to sell.

But to each his own. I absolutely love having the two if nothing more than I have twice the capacity, stored safe and sound in camera, then you will. It was yet another reason I choose the Nikon in the first place.

However, perhaps you have seen something that concerns you on this arrangement. I truly like to know what that was- honestly! Lay it on us!!!

raysass Loc: Brooklin, On, Canada.

Thank you RitchieC for all the valuable info on the Nikons dual slots. If I ever was given a Nikon that would sure come in handy. I am however a Canon user and have never needed to change a memory card because it was full. I think the card gives a warning before it fills up anyway. I use 8GB cards and a32gb if I anticipate shooting a video( which doesn't happen very often).I am an amateur and retired so I have lots of time to try and get that perfect shot. It's a learning experience and I'm enjoying every minute of it. Thanks again. Ray.