Caution when insert / remove CF into A70

[cheewooi]

Hi,
here are some precaution for a70 users, this happened when i first bought my a70 four month ago. Together with the a70, i bought the Kingston 256mb CF card too with 5 years warranty on the CF card. When I first time uses the a70, I remove and install the CF card onto the a70 with the battries in it. After a week, the CF card start to show some error eg. CF card error or E18 error. I ignore the problem and continue shooting and taking movie clip. Later, when i try to shoot till the CF is full, the a70 show's that CF card error and all the image in the CF card can't be downloaded into PC. It screwed up all the image taken. I reformat the CF, it work again untill the CF is nearly full, the error exist again! I try to copy other's file eg mp3 onto the CF using a card reader. When the CF gonna full, it prompted write error on CF. Since it still under warranty, I took da CF card for a replacement. After doing some 'homework' from internet and user guide. I found that whenever we are trying to remove or insert the CF into A70, remeber to REMOVE the BATTERIES FIRST before removing or installing any CF card! I have no idea what cause the error on the CF card, but the only thing I know to avoid this problem is by removing the batteries. I still looking for the solution on this problem and what causes this error to occur! Anyone outthere have better solution. I'm glad to know from you all ya!

=)

Regards,
cheewooi

[cA70]

What about just turing the camera off? I've never taken out the batteries to do it but always turned off the camera.

And is there a problem with putting files onto a CF with a writer, then re-formatting them again with the A70 to start shooting again?

[stduc]

cA70
I have never taken the batteries out to change the CF card. I don't have a Kingston card but I have 2 8's 1 64 1 128 and a RamStar 512. They have all been in an out of different camera's and card readers. I use the 128 card every day to take web pages and downloads home with me. I have never had any problems - but...
I always reformat the cards in the camera from time to time to clear them out.
I never delete images/movies the camera has made except by using the camera. (I figure that way the camera should always knows where its at).
I always ensure the camera is turned off before removing/inserting a card.
I think you have camera problem(s). Error E18 is a mechanical fault with the lens system by all accounts.

[cA70]

Got all of that except one bit. When u want to put files from a computer on there, how do u format it if u have to do it in the camera?

Won't u have to re-format it again in the writer?

Anyway's thats one good thing the 16MB card that came with the camera is good for, testing!

[stduc]

cA70 wrote:
Got all of that except one bit. When u want to put files from a computer on there, how do u format it if u have to do it in the camera?

Won't u have to re-format it again in the writer?

Anyway's thats one good thing the 16MB card that came with the camera is good for, testing!

I don't quite follow you. Perhaps this will clear things up for you though. I use a card reader to read/write to my cards with a PC - not the camera! Using a reader the card just looks like a hard drive to the PC and you can use it as such for anything you like. The only reasons I format in the camera are (a) Because the camera manual tells you so and (b) The card seems to slow down after a lot of reading/writing. A re-format seems to sort it out.

[cheewooi]

Btw,
You can't remove the CF card without turning off the camera. I got technical support from Kingston and they ask me to reformat the CF using reader, I tried but still the same. The problem occurs when I copy into the CF until it nearly full, i mean when it reach like 240mb (if not mistaken), the error occurs.It seems like the card can't get thru the 240mb sector...

I contacted the Canon support, they too advice me not to remove / install the CF when there's batteries is in the camera. Even the dealer too always remove the batteries first before remove the CF ...

[stduc]

cheewooi,

I think you have a bad card - or possibly camera problems. Have you tried filling the card using your PC? Have you formatted the card with your PC doing a full/complete format - not a quick format? Also, don't forget that a 256MB card isn't 256 MBytes!

[cheewooi]

hi stduc,
I manage to get full replacement of new card from the bad one. Before that, I tried to fill up the card using my pC card reader and also tried the full format for the card. I guess that's the card problem...

Btw, stduc, you're a A70 enthusiast? do u have any idea on using polar filters on the A70?

thankz

[stduc]

The way I look at it - I wanted a pocket camera with the maximum number of built in features that used ordinary batteries as against some fancy bat back. I found it in the A20 and saw no reason to change brands when I got the A70. If I wanted add on lenses etc I would get an SLR style camera. But I've been there and I see no point in having a fancy camera you can't be bothered to carry around half the time. It's not ideal - I would like the A70 to have built in interchangeable filters and a *20 optical zoom! :-) (minimum - also be a 10 megapixel camera up to ISO 1600 with no noise) - I know - dream on - but then I wanted a 100MHz PC with a 1Gig disk once!

Having sounded off, try here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=14875) for starters and then search the rest of this forum. I'ts a common question. You need a converter ring and your camera will double in size!

Also, This (http://www.cliffshade.com/dpfwiw/filters.htm#polarizers) site will tell you more about using polarisers than you ever wanted to know.