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Photo Forum / Digital Photography / Digital Photo / March 2005Should I format CF card before use?
I just got my first serious digital camera, a Canon 20D. A fairly knowledgable friend told me that it's a good idea to format a new Compact Flash card in the camera before I use it. True? Thanks very much for any help. > I just got my first serious digital camera, a Canon 20D. A fairly > knowledgable friend told me that it's a good idea to format a new > Compact Flash card in the camera before I use it. True? > > Thanks very much for any help. Maybe and only in the camera that the card will be used. Put the card in the camera and see if the camera complains.  SignatureCSM1 http://www.carlmcmillan.com -- Yes! A must, to be sure when you take it out the data will be actually there. Computers can format CF cards many different ways. The sector sizes can vary greatly and your camera may write to it in the wrong spot for what it puts in the directory or when the card gets full the whole thing crashes. Always format in the device you will use it in only. Only takes once unless you use it some place else though. > I just got my first serious digital camera, a Canon 20D. A fairly > knowledgable friend told me that it's a good idea to format a new > Compact Flash card in the camera before I use it. True? > > Thanks very much for any help. >I just got my first serious digital camera, a Canon 20D. A fairly >knowledgable friend told me that it's a good idea to format a new >Compact Flash card in the camera before I use it. True? > >Thanks very much for any help. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Never format a card if it doesn't need formatting. You risk destroying the card for absolutely nothing. dk That's why I never write picture to my cards either unless I have to use the camera....doh! > >I just got my first serious digital camera, a Canon 20D. A fairly > >knowledgable friend told me that it's a good idea to format a new [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > dk you can not write a picture to the card unless its formatted ... you may have found a pre-formatted card Vernon > That's why I never write picture to my cards either unless I have to use the > camera....doh! [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > > > dk Well I never, I thought you had to format every now and then. Especially if you have deleted pictures on the Camera. So, how do you know when it needs formatting ? D > If it ain't broke, don't fix it. > > Never format a card if it doesn't need formatting. You risk > destroying the card for absolutely nothing. > > dk > Well I never, I thought you had to format every now and then. > Especially if you have deleted pictures on the Camera. > So, how do you know when it needs formatting ? > D When the camera complains that the card has errors or is not formated. Or maybe when you can not read the images from the card. >> If it ain't broke, don't fix it. >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> dk >> SignatureCSM1 http://www.carlmcmillan.com -- > Well I never, I thought you had to format every now and then. > Especially if you have deleted pictures on the Camera. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >> Never format a card if it doesn't need formatting. You risk >> destroying the card for absolutely nothing. Check out this link: http://www.flashfixers.com/support/cardcare.asp Card Care We've put together our best Card Care tips below to help you prevent the loss of your digital pictures: **** Always reformat the card in your camera each time after downloading and saving the pictures on your computer. Don't use the computer to format the card. **** >> Well I never, I thought you had to format every now and then. >> Especially if you have deleted pictures on the Camera. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Card Care Hilarious! Here you have data recovery people telling you to reformat your card after every use. They know which side their bread is buttered on. Don't listen to them or you will be listening to them. It's like ...... (you fill in the blanks.). The golden rule is: "Never format your card". or If it ain't broke, don't fix it! PJ > Here you have data recovery people telling you to reformat your >card after every use. They know which side their bread is buttered [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >PJ > This should be filed under "Urban Legends". Please explain what there is in a CF card that can be "broken" by reformatting it? Copy the contents of a card to your computer first chance you get, then reformat the card "IN THE CAMERA" which leaves it ready to go again. The reformat is usually MUCH faster and less prone to error than trying to delete the files - especially deleting files one at a time. >> Here you have data recovery people telling you to reformat your >>card after every use. They know which side their bread is buttered [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > than trying to delete the files - especially deleting files one at a > time. My Fuji FinePix S5100 digital camera will delete either "all frames" or a frame at a time. Yes, I just purchased my digital. At this point I believe I'll erase without formatting. I did not receive a format (or initialize) message when I first inserted the card and began taking pictures, so I assumed the memory card had already come formatted. Maybe I have already made my first mistake by not formatting. I have run copies of pictures through my computer, and the pictures look fine to me. Lloyd >>> Here you have data recovery people telling you to reformat your >>>card after every use. They know which side their bread is buttered [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Lloyd If the card came in the box with the camera, I am sure that the card was formatted and ready to use. The fact that you were able to use the card to take pictures and then download them to your computer, says that the card was already formatted. When downloading pictures from the camera, it is best to copy the pictures instead of move the pictures if you have that option. Delete the pictures with the camera only and only after seeing them on the computer. SignatureCSM1 http://www.carlmcmillan.com -- So why is YOUR information less ridiculous? You haven't backed it up with anything. A better golden rule is - don't listen to anyone who can't back up their information. I said: >So why is YOUR information less ridiculous? >You haven't backed it up with anything. >A better golden rule is - don't listen to anyone >who can't back up their information. ..without quoting - sorry. This was directed at `PJ`, who seems to be spreading the urban myth that formatting a memory card is `dangerous`. As far as I can tell, as long as it is formatted in the camera, it is not only safe, it is also a recommended practice (eg check the FAQ's at www.sandisk.com). We're waiting, PJ..... >You risk destroying the card for absolutely nothing. References? Links? Explanation? There are potential issues if you format in *another* device, but please elaborate on this `risk`. |
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