SD Cards (Page 2): Questions...............Normally I remove the SD card from the camera and insert it into a card reader to download the images onto my computer or an external hard...

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Questions...............Normally I remove the SD card from the camera and insert it into a card reader to download the images onto my computer or an external hard drive. I then format the card to use again. Does reformatting the card shorten its life span? Under normal conditions,
what is the life expectancy of a good quality, (Sandisk), card? - All comments appreciated. Thanks.

David Taylor

martellgc wrote:

I just recently found this site. I have SO MUCH t... (show quote)

Hello and welcome. What make and model is your Chromebook? I was sure they all had USB ports.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

Questions...............Normally I remove the SD card from the camera and insert it into a card reader to download the images onto my computer or an external hard drive. I then format the card to use again. Does reformatting the card shorten its life span? Under normal conditions,
what is the life expectancy of a good quality, (Sandisk), card? - All comments appreciated. Thanks.

Formatting uses a portion of its "life" just as saving/reading images does. Many, many, MANY R/W cycles are available, so I wouldn't worry.
The cards could quite possibly outlast your camera.
I've been using Sandisk cards for over eight years now.

Skiextreme2 Loc: Northwest MA

martellgc wrote:

I just recently found this site. I have SO MUCH t... (show quote)

Yes and it's called a memory card, SDXC card or SD card. Most cameras will take 32-64 GB memory cards (aka SD or SDXC cards). If your camera is capable of recording video or you take fast action photos, the fastest cards are best.

A good example of a 64 GB fast SDXC card is an example of a fast card - https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA12K6KF9945&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Memory+%28Flash+Memory%29-_-9SIA12K6KF9945&gclid=CjwKCAjwp7baBRBIEiwAPtjwxO-c-owr0fPKrTdTa_ZFEq0lzTeDqNdE-p8pHQDnR7lbArT9OpJukhoC6GYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That card is also made in 32 GB - https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA12K6KF9945&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Memory+%28Flash+Memory%29-_-9SIA12K6KF9945&gclid=CjwKCAjwp7baBRBIEiwAPtjwxO-c-owr0fPKrTdTa_ZFEq0lzTeDqNdE-p8pHQDnR7lbArT9OpJukhoC6GYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

If your Chromebook has USB ports you can use an SD card reader to import them into the Chromebook if it has enough available space (or, plug your camera into the usb port and imort them that way). If it doesn't, you could get an external hard drive to store your photos on and view on the Chromebook (there are external hard drives that can import photos from an SD/SDXC card or you'd have to import them into your Chromebook, then export them to the external drive).

Low Budget Dave

If you get the tiny ones, get the name brand. My experience with the off-brands has been terrible.

TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

foggypreacher wrote:

Please give pros and cons to the full size SD card vs. the Micro-SD using an adapter. I know you folks will have had experience with this situation. I just bought a 64gb Sandisk in micro without realizing it because I was not paying enough attention. So far, no problems. Thanks to you all.

I prefer not to use them, as they are easy to lose, and if you misplace the adapter you are S.O. of L. Plus I kind of wonder about adding that additional connection between the card and device.

nadelewitz Loc: Ithaca NY

Using a micro card in a full-size adapter SHOULD work just the same as a full-size card. That's the theory. In practice, the adapters CAN VARY in reliability. I've seen this myself..a micro card doesn't work in a given adapter, but switching adapters does work. The more contacts you introduce into ANY electronic system, the higher likelihood of trouble. Corrosion, dirt, tobacco smoke films, whatever.
Removing the micro card from the adapter and re-inserting it, possibly multiple times, wipes the contacts against each other and CAN fix a stubborn connection.
Of course, an adapter can be faulty by itself.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

foggypreacher wrote:

Please give pros and cons to the full size SD card vs. the Micro-SD using an adapter. I know you folks will have had experience with this situation. I just bought a 64gb Sandisk in micro without realizing it because I was not paying enough attention. So far, no problems. Thanks to you all.

Because they require that you use an adapter to use them in a camera they are mathematically less reliable. There is generally a direct mathematically provable correlation between the number of electrical contact points in a electrical/electronic device and failure rates. That is because each connection point can fail because of dirt, mechanical damage or ware. When you use an adapter, you are adding contact points and increasing the chance of a failure. If your photographs are not important to you, take a chance and save the money. If not, stay away from adapters.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

foxfirerodandgun wrote:

Does reformatting the card shorten its life span? Under normal conditions, what is the life expectancy of a good quality, (Sandisk), card?

I read a well-done study that the medium life expectancy is about 5 years of "standard" use, with the main cause of failure being handling (bending during insertion & removals) and weather (extreme hot or cold, humidity, etc.). Unless you are formatting like daily it will not effect enough to worry. But with all averages it means some failed at 1 yr so others could last for 9 yrs, but the cluster was around 5. And, of course, we all have different definitions of "standard" use. Lexar was top-rated cards, SanDisk second of 6-7 mentioned.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

Stardust wrote:

I read a well-done study that the medium life expe... (show quote)

According to both Sandisk and Nikon, the two companies worked together to design their cards and cameras to be optimized for each other's product designs almost from conception. When you say that Lexar is "top-rated" and SanDisk is second, my questions are according to who, what cameras were used for testing, specifically what parameters were tested, how they were tested? What were the conditions for the testing? At what temperature range, humidity, etc. were the tests conducted and most importantly, did they preform accelerated life tests and how was that testing conducted (details)?

charles tabb Loc: Richmond VA.

foggypreacher wrote:

Please give pros and cons to the full size SD card vs. the Micro-SD using an adapter. I know you folks will have had experience with this situation. I just bought a 64gb Sandisk in micro without realizing it because I was not paying enough attention. So far, no problems. Thanks to you all.

I was using a 128 GB SD card in my new Sony RX-10 IV and it was an old slow card. When I got out, on a picture take, I found that I had a wait time of about 4 seconds between being able to shoot another picture. I couldn't figure it out. Lucky I ran into a Sony Rep. at our local Best Buy, and he told me that the speed of my SD card was too slow. I asked him, how about I use a micro SD card that works in my wife's movie camera an use the adapter to use the memory card adapter in my camera? He told me that if I did that it would cut the card speed in half.

Any truth to this????

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

charles tabb wrote:

I was using a 128 GB SD card in my new Sony RX-10 ... (show quote)

An SDHC adapter cutting the card speed in half????

I'm SURE glad he doesn't work for NASA, Boeing, etc....
The answer is NO!
There is no speed degradation.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

foggypreacher wrote:

Please give pros and cons to the full size SD card vs. the Micro-SD using an adapter. I know you folks will have had experience with this situation. I just bought a 64gb Sandisk in micro without realizing it because I was not paying enough attention. So far, no problems. Thanks to you all.

Aside from being harder to handle due to size, I have has adaptor failures. I would have exchanged it.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

charles tabb wrote:

it was an old slow card. Lucky I ran into a Sony Rep. at our local Best Buy, and he told me that the speed of my SD card was too slow. I asked him, how about I use a micro SD card that works in my wife's movie camera an use the adapter to use the memory card adapter in my camera? He told me that if I did that it would cut the card speed in half. Any truth to this????

The first part could be true - if it was a slower card if you were using an older, standard speed card below Class 10. As for the micro, as mentioned many times here, the adaptor should have ZERO or very, very minimal effect on speed if it is a straight-pass thru type. That part was salesman BS, he was new on the job, or was just making up an answer.

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

bpulv wrote:

When you say that Lexar is "top-rated" and SanDisk is second, my questions are according to who, what cameras were used for testing, specifically what parameters were tested, how they were tested? What were the conditions for the testing? At what temperature range, humidity, etc. were the tests conducted and most importantly, did they preform accelerated life tests and how was that testing conducted (details)?

I read this report in a photo magazine somewhere (most likely in a waiting room) so only remember the parts I was interested in - average life expectancy and the order of performance of the cards tested in the article, since I mainly use SanDisk. Actually looked on-line for it a number of weeks ago for another OP with same type of question but was not able to locate, not knowing magazine, author, etc. Regardless of how test was performed - it mentioned lots of the conditions but I don't remember them - I do remember it was a fact-based article versus an advertisement disguised as a factual article we find so many of today. So sorry I don't have more details.

Just FYI from my 3-1/2 decades in Sales & Marketing, of course Nikon is going to say SanDisk is best because that is the company giving them the best prices, biggest back-end rebates, linking with advertising, etc., plus they are a top company in SD cards.