Do I HAVE to .......
Feb 2, 2012 21:17:26 #
Feb 2, 2012 21:22:32 #
I never reformatted in the past and would delete the pics from the card in the computer after downloading.
Never had a problem.
Then I read you should reformat in the camera after every download. Now I do that, and still never had a problem.
I was thinking about using the full card as a back up as someone said here, but I dont see any reason to do that since buying an external drive.
Never had a problem.
Then I read you should reformat in the camera after every download. Now I do that, and still never had a problem.
I was thinking about using the full card as a back up as someone said here, but I dont see any reason to do that since buying an external drive.
Feb 3, 2012 05:32:33 #
After I download my pictures to my computer and backup drive then in camera I reformat the card. Otherwise I would not have the space to take more pictures
Feb 3, 2012 05:49:00 #
Not that it matters all that much, but I have never reformatted my camera's memory cards. Why should I? I've never had any sort of trouble with them other than learning in the middle of a fun shooting session that I have no memory space left. Purchasing a new, and larger, memory card takes care of that quite nicely - and gives me a spare card if I ever need it.
What I do do is move - not copy - all the images of a particular shoot to special folders on my computer. Moving them automatically deletes them from the memory card, thereby effectively reformatting (but leaving the camera's own intrinsic filing system intact. I then look at the images on the computer's much larger screen and delete those I just can't abide.
I've done this ever since I've had my DSLR and have never had any problem with it whatsoever. Of course, this is just my way of doing it. If another way works for you, good.
Dave K
What I do do is move - not copy - all the images of a particular shoot to special folders on my computer. Moving them automatically deletes them from the memory card, thereby effectively reformatting (but leaving the camera's own intrinsic filing system intact. I then look at the images on the computer's much larger screen and delete those I just can't abide.
I've done this ever since I've had my DSLR and have never had any problem with it whatsoever. Of course, this is just my way of doing it. If another way works for you, good.
Dave K
Feb 3, 2012 06:47:06 #
I am on my third digital camera and have always deleted through the computer. Makes no sense, you download with the computer and nothing gets screwed up so why would deleting be any different?
ddrum wrote:
I was told never to delete pics with the computer. Use the camera. The computer can screw things up.
judy 2011 wrote:
......reformat my card? And how often? I've only done it a couple of times. And never seen to have a problem. Some people I know never do. But someone said I have to reformat. So just wondering. Is it really important?
Feb 3, 2012 06:52:38 #
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1023&message=36963204
See what dpreview has to say about formatting.
See what dpreview has to say about formatting.
Feb 3, 2012 06:59:27 #
I download to the computer, save the files I want to save on external hard drive and a DVD, then reformat the card in the camera. Reformatting is a quick and efficient way of deleting the previous images.
Feb 3, 2012 06:59:27 #
usaellie101
Loc: Spring Hill, Florida
You don't HAVE to do anything. UP to you. Iwhile sending the photos to my computer I generally delete all photos from the card. If I do have a very precious pic on that card then I might save it on the card. I do not reformat mine. I usually start wiht an empty card with every new shoot. I have a16MG card. that's a lot of memory.
Feb 3, 2012 07:11:46 #
Formatting your card is nothing more than ensuring you are ready to go do your shoot. Falls into the same category as checking the charge on your battery, ensuring the flash batteries are fresh, ensuring you have the lenses you want for the shoot, etc. I copied this snippet from the "Gadgetwise" column of the New York Times:
Reformatting ensures that the data on the card and the file structure are clean, which will help you avoid error messages or missing images. And the longer you go without reformatting a card, the better the chances that it will become corrupted. Another reason to reformat is, over time, your card will hold fewer images if you never reformat.
The card is a critical component of the process and if we want to ensure that process goes smoothly, we should re-format our cards before each shoot. Doing so will instill some confidence in the card since if you are able to format it, there is reason to believe that at that point in time, the card is functioning as expected.
It's painless, takes 10 seconds and doesn't cost anything.
Reformatting ensures that the data on the card and the file structure are clean, which will help you avoid error messages or missing images. And the longer you go without reformatting a card, the better the chances that it will become corrupted. Another reason to reformat is, over time, your card will hold fewer images if you never reformat.
The card is a critical component of the process and if we want to ensure that process goes smoothly, we should re-format our cards before each shoot. Doing so will instill some confidence in the card since if you are able to format it, there is reason to believe that at that point in time, the card is functioning as expected.
It's painless, takes 10 seconds and doesn't cost anything.
Feb 3, 2012 07:15:29 #
judy 2011 wrote:
......reformat my card? And how often? I've only done it a couple of times. And never seen to have a problem. Some people I know never do. But someone said I have to reformat. So just wondering. Is it really important?
Judy,
Reformating just makes sense, what it does is give you a fresh card, clean of information. Now do you have to, no, but it sure makes sense not to have extraneous info.
George
Feb 3, 2012 07:19:19 #
steve_stoneblossom
Loc: Rhode Island, USA
jarneyd wrote:
I do not reformat. I fill the card and save it as a backup to my computer and external hard drive. The cost of an SD cardwith hundreds of photos on it, is about the price of one roll of developed prints. Anyone know of a reason not to save the cards? I do delete the images that I dont like and keep shooting till the card is full of stuff I do like.
My reason not to save the cards- cost. I'm not sure what you pay for SD cards, but your method would be expensive for me. On an average weekend during the summer I might fill 2 8gb CF cards.
I typically copy to one external hard drive, then move (not copy) images from CF to second xhd. I might reformat a few times a year.
Having now read the two prior posts, I will reformat more frequently. But always BE CERTAIN that the card is EMPTY FIRST.
Feb 3, 2012 07:38:39 #
Feb 3, 2012 07:48:23 #
Follow the advice of the engineers who design and build flash memory. DON'T delete images or reformat cards from the computer; these, for numerous rerasons, should be done only in camera. DON'T edit images in camera; transfer them to a computer, back them up to a secure, removable storage device and reformat the card for future use.
Storing images on cards is a relatively expensive way to back-up data; they are also more easily damaged and lost. Memory cards are designed to be only a temporary measure to capture data before it can be moved to a more stable environment, i.e. a computer.
Storing images on cards is a relatively expensive way to back-up data; they are also more easily damaged and lost. Memory cards are designed to be only a temporary measure to capture data before it can be moved to a more stable environment, i.e. a computer.
Feb 3, 2012 07:49:22 #
mborn wrote:
After I download my pictures to my computer and backup drive then in camera I reformat the card. Otherwise I would not have the space to take more pictures
This is exactly what I do. Sometimes on a big shoot I don't have a choice. Especially if I decide to shoot RAW which opens up an entirely new discussion, but we won't go there.
I use 3 memory cards and only 3. I download every chance I get and copy to an external back up drive on the spot. When I get home I upload everything to an external server this way if my computer and back up drive are destroyed I still have my photos.
I never understood keeping photos on the memory card. My mother and girlfriend do this I guess because they don't take nearly the amount of photos that I do nor do they "process" the images as frequently. I think my girlfriend has photos in her camera that haven't been downloaded from last year.
To each his own..
Feb 3, 2012 07:51:15 #
I always reformat after every download, it is cheap insurance and I know I'm ready for the next shoot. I delete obvious no keepers in the camera before downloading to computer and delete any otherwise bad shots on the computer. I do this mostly as a time saver.
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