Using CF cards in multiple cameras

[Titus213]

We have just added a 20D to our Canon digital collection. We still use the 300D also. I know there are numbering issues if you use the cards between the two cameras. Does anyone know if the numbering problems would be eliminated by formating the cards in the laptop after they were downloaded and then formating them in the camera? I would really prefer not to be concerned with which card gets put in which camera.

And I should have added that we use the continuous numbering option in the cameras.

[PacAce]

As long as you format the card on the PC, you won't have to worry about messing up your file numbering. But remember, all it takes in one lapse in memory and you forgetting to format the card on the PC to mess things up. :D (Not that it would be the end of the world, though :) )

[Titus213]

And at my age memory lapses are a way of life.:lol: I'll try to automate it.

Thanks for the response...It makes sense but the only time I've seen a card formatted on a PC it wouldn't function in the camera. User eroor most likely.

[davidfig]

Here's a program I wrote to correct this problem. What it does is fill the camera with empty files that make it think it has taken a specified number of pictures.

Instructions:
1. download http://home.comcast.net/~davidfig/CanonNumFix.exe
2. insert your formatted memory card into your computer card reader, note the drive letter.
3. run this program, and enter the drive letter (ie. h), and the number of pictures.
4. set your camera to (non-continuous) auto-reset file numbering.
5. turn off your camera, insert card, turn on your camera, take a picture.
6. set your camera to continuous file numbering.
7. format card. Take a picture and ensure it is not IMG_0000.



Hope this helps.

[robertwgross]

You have CF cards for the 20D, and you have other CF cards for the 300D. On the 20D cards, with a black marker, write "20D" and on the 300D cards, with a red marker, write "300D". Then keep them in individual little CF card wallets that are marked.

I used to keep the CF card wallet attached to the strap of my camera holster/case.

It shouldn't be too hard to keep them apart.

---Bob Gross---

[Titus213]

You have CF cards for the 20D, and you have other CF cards for the 300D. On the 20D cards, with a black marker, write "20D" and on the 300D cards, with a red marker, write "300D". Then keep them in individual little CF card wallets that are marked.

I used to keep the CF card wallet attached to the strap of my camera holster/case.

It shouldn't be too hard to keep them apart.

---Bob Gross---

This is basically the current solution. But I know that with two of us shooting and downloading one event we will cross cards sooner or later. Not a life or death issue.

[robertwgross]

This is basically the current solution. But I know that with two of us shooting and downloading one event we will cross cards sooner or later. Not a life or death issue.

I've got a green marker, also, if you need to borrow that!

---Bob Gross---

[Titus213]

I've got a green marker, also, if you need to borrow that!

---Bob Gross---

Thanks Bob, but I'm not really a green kind of guy. Red is the color. If it's red it's 20D!:mrgreen:

[Jon]

I was thinking red for the D60, white for the 20D (EF-S keying) and blue for the A80, with Kodak yellow for the DC290. I have separate wallets for each camera, and (so far) only the 20D gets SanDisk Ultra cards (in 1 or 2 GB); the A80 doesn't go over 256 MB, so anything from 256 MB to 1 GB that isn't SD Ultra goes in the D60.

[Titus213]

I was thinking red for the D60, white for the 20D (EF-S keying) and blue for the A80, with Kodak yellow for the DC290. I have separate wallets for each camera, and (so far) only the 20D gets SanDisk Ultra cards (in 1 or 2 GB); the A80 doesn't go over 256 MB, so anything from 256 MB to 1 GB that isn't SD Ultra goes in the D60.

Wow, and I thought I had problems. I did go with the red for the 20D and so far it's worked...

[pcasciola]

One time I loaned a CF card to a friend who needed a larger card for the day, and when I got it back I put it in my Nikon Coolpix 5700 at the time, went to take an important shot, and the camera locked up!!! It continued to lock up until I formatted the card. I doubt this will happen between a 20D and 300D, but better safe than sorry. I always format now when I put a fresh CF card in my camera.

[Titus213]

One time I loaned a CF card to a friend who needed a larger card for the day, and when I got it back I put it in my Nikon Coolpix 5700 at the time, went to take an important shot, and the camera locked up!!! It continued to lock up until I formatted the card. I doubt this will happen between a 20D and 300D, but better safe than sorry. I always format now when I put a fresh CF card in my camera.

They seem to be compatible enough to mess up the numbering between the two...

[pcasciola]

I just used one of my 20D CF cards in my Canon Digital Elph, and the files came up IMG_27xx. I hadn't used that card in my 20D for a while, so this is probably right around where I left off with that card, consistent with the claim that the highest number will take effect.

But, if I put this card back in my 20D now, which is around IMG_33xx, will it pick up from there since the counter in the camera is higher, or will it reset my 20D back to 27xx?

I'm afraid to try it.

[pcasciola]

I just ran some tests, and now I'm even more confused.

Card A was at 2705 in the Digital Elph.
Card B was at 3402 in the 20D.
I put card B in the Digital Elph, and the next shot was 3248. ???
Then I put card A back in the Digital Elph, and the next shot was 3249.

I would have thought the Digital Elph would have started at 3402, not 3248. ??? ???

[IainB]

Read Snuffy's post in this thread.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58084&highlight=reset+number
If Tim reads this, can you repeat your info about download software that does away with reliance on image numbering? I never got round to following that up.

[IainB]

Aah! Tim's post is directly above Snuffy's on that link. Software called DIM. Duh..

[pcasciola]

Read Snuffy's post in this thread.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=58084&highlight=reset+number
If Tim reads this, can you repeat your info about download software that does away with reliance on image numbering? I never got round to following that up.Interesting. I wonder if it picked up the 3248 number from a previous folder or something then? Weird.

Anyway, I really don't want to use yet another 3rd party program like DIM. I have a simple windows search hyperlink that brings up all the images across directories, and I just do Ctrl+A and then move to folder. Takes 2 seconds and no extra software to install. I like the continuous numbering because it's my count of how many shutter actuations I have, and when I rename a picture, I leave the file number at the end so I know where it was in the sequence if I need to go back to the raw later to fix something, like football_3349.jpg would relate back to _IMG_3349.cr2 RAW.

[Jon]

I just ran some tests, and now I'm even more confused.

Card A was at 2705 in the Digital Elph.
Card B was at 3402 in the 20D.
I put card B in the Digital Elph, and the next shot was 3248. ???
Then I put card A back in the Digital Elph, and the next shot was 3249.

I would have thought the Digital Elph would have started at 3402, not 3248. ??? ???
I'm surprised as well. The general rule seems to be that numbering goes to whichever's higher, the camera or the card. If the card came from a totally diferent camera line using standard DCIM naming, it may skip to the next folder in sequence, but I've never seen one jump to somewhere in the middle. Not that I doubt your findings, but what (if it's still around) was the directory structure like in "Card B"?

[pcasciola]

Unfortunately, I don't remember the directory structure, but I just did some more tests.

I just took a few shots with my 20D, and ended at 3519 in folder 235CANON, removed the pictures, put the card back in the ELPH, and now the ELPH put 3501 in 235CANON. Put the card back in the 20D and it created 3520, left both shots on there, went back in the digital ELPH and this time the ELPH jumped to 3521. Bizarre, but at least none of these tests messed up my 20D counter so I think I'm ok.

Looks like the 20D uses the "highest number" method, while my old Digital ELPH is using some other logic.

[Jon]

Were you shooting RAW on the 20D (foolish question)?

[pcasciola]

Were you shooting RAW on the 20D (foolish question)?Yes, RAW on the 20D, JPEG on the Digital ELPH.

[Jon]

Thought so. Elph may not have recognized the RAW files (at least initially), so started numbering at the beginning of the folder. Why it picked up in the middle next time, though . . . ?

[jrsforums]

I am never concerned about the number which Canon assigns to an image. When I down load to computer (via CF reader) I have DIM4 (or Downloader Pro) rename the images.

In my case, I use date/time. However, you have lots of options, including using the camera model as a part of the name...plus also can be prompted for client and/or job name.

DIM4 is free at http://www.alanlight.com/dim/Dim.htm

John

PS...I also ALWAYS format in the camera, rather than on the comptuter....I don't even delete on the computer. Maybe paranoid, but I figure what ever the Canon in camera software does, the other Canon in camera software should recognize.