JD750 Loc: SoCal

You went on a paid shoot with one flash card?

Yes it's time to buy another card(s) before doing anymore paid work.

rob s Loc: La Mesa, CA

Ironically I use 16, 32 and 64GB PNY Elite Performance SDHC cards and have never had a failure (so far). However, the only failures I've had were from from Lexar - 2 different 8GB cards went bad and images were not recoverable. Exactly the opposite of your experience.

Different makes of cards all go on sale periodically so I don't think you can read too much into this - I always price shop mine and buy when a deal presents itself.

I've also been well pleased with the Delkin CF cards - usually very competitively priced at B and H and Adorama.

Card readers are a completely different issue. Those I've owned have been variable in their reliability and make and cost don't seem to make a difference. Except for the $##&^ Lexar cards all the other cards I've owned have always uploaded flawlessly from my various Canons, using a USB cable.

weberwest Loc: Ferndale WA

With my D90 and only shooting JPEG fine, I used 4 and 8 GB cards for that very reason: fear of failure or loss. Now that I mainly use my new D610 and started to shoot Raw + JPEG fine, I bought myself 10 32 GB cards (we do a lot of extended travels) and feel confident with these, of course I back them up to my notebook for security, but keep the original for final direct loading to my desk top comuter. I mainly use SanDisk but do have a few Transcend cards as well, never had a failure thus far.

Brandmic Loc: Alabama

There is a good article about memory cards on "photography talk" but this is twice I've tried to post from their site and UHH has blocked the post?

It's "6 ways to protect your memory cards". I don't know why they always block this because there is a lot of good info there ??

Brandmic Loc: Alabama

Here is a copy of the content of article

1 Always format the card as soon as you buy it

Most memory cards are formatted before they leave the factory, but that doesn’t mean they are ready for optimal use. The best way to format a card is inside your camera (and not in your computer) because that’s where it will be doing most of the work. The card needs to be in tune with the camera’s file system.

2 Safe storage

The most vulnerable parts of a memory card are its contacts. Make sure to always protect them. Even the smallest grain of dust can cause problems. They are usually packed in small plastic cases. Those are pretty good options for keeping the cards safe, however, the best recommendation are card wallets and special cases.

3 Try to use one card with one camera only

Data corruption can easily occur if you use the same card in two or more different cameras. Even if they are made by the same manufacturer, the file writing algorithms could be different and that could ultimately lead to data loss.

4 Don’t delete. Format.

Deleting all the files from a card is one thing, formatting, while having the same effect, is another. Basically, when you format a memory card, you restart its use with without having the risk of previous errors.

5 Multiple cards are always better than one, large capacity card.

The temptation to buy a single, high capacity card is understandable. After all, it does seem logical to buy a single 64 or 128GB card instead of many 16 or 32GB memories. However, some people just aren’t fortunate enough, and that single, high capacity card they have postponed to empty for some time is the one that breaks without any warnings and thousands of photos are lost. It’s a gamble in my book. I know it’s not fun to change the card during a busy shoot or a wedding, but it beats losing an entire day’s work and possibly a client.

6 Don’t use cheap card readers

If you’re using a quality memory card (and you should) make sure not to get cheap on the reader. All the precautions in the world won’t be enough if you use a low quality reader, because it can cause damage to data or even the card itself. The best option is using a card reader made by the same manufacturer that produced the card.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

There is a "links" section on the home page for posting links to commercial sites.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

No I didn't go to a paid shoot with one card. (I didn't buy a DSLR last week and decide to hang sign over my doorway yesterday.) There were several in my bag, but as I stated every indication I had while on the shoot was that it was fine. I looked at the photos on the card during and right after the shoot and on my screen they were fine. It wasn't until I transferred them to my computer that I noticed the ones that were messed up.

coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

Use Sandisk Extreme Pro 16gig and have never had one fail since I've been shooting digital........

sshinn1 Loc: Phoenix

Good idea - but for me, I have the twin terrors running around (my 2 and 4 year old boys), so when I take out the card to down load the camera goes straight back in the bag to avoid any "curiosity accidents" while I'm not looking

Ranjan Loc: Currently Cyber-Nation!

Which camera/model...?

JC56 Loc: Lake St.Louis mo.

I prefer SanDisk cards.. I have never had a card crash and I don't buy them on eBay

wolfd Loc: Vancouver, Canada

Never.
I have even accidentally dropped my Canon G12 in the salt chuck. The camera was toast but all the images on the 16gb SD card were safe & sound.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Someone just emailed the following hints to me; while the list is not complete, it's a pretty good start:

1. Always format the card as soon as you buy it

The best way to format a card is inside your camera, not in your computer).

2. Safe storage

New cards are usually packed in small plastic cases. Those are good options for keeping the cards safe, however, the best protection is afforded by card wallets and special cases.

3. Try to use one card with one camera only

Even if the cameras and cards are made by the same manufacturer, the transfer algorithms could be different and lead to data loss.

4. Don’t delete images; format the whole card.

Deleting all the files from a card is one thing, formatting, while having the same effect, is another. Basically, when you format a memory card, you restart its use with without having the risk of previous errors.

5. Multiple medium capacity cards are always better than one large capacity card.

If that single, high capacity card you have neglected to empty for some time breaks without any warnings, hundreds of photos can be lost.

6. Don’t use cheap card readers

The best option is using a card reader made by the same manufacturer that produced the card.

Brandmic Loc: Alabama

This is what I had posted above.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Sorry, I didn't notice yours. Mine appears to be an edited version of yours. It's strange how you post one and I get an email from a friend (not a UHH member) with almost identical content. I had mentioned some solutions to concerns he had about SD cards, and he did some research on his own.

EDIT: In retrospect, the duplication is serendipitous. I see you posted your list 10 hours ago, but I had not read the thread in the last 12 hours.