Compact flash failure at wedding, what would you do

[Ursie]

I've experienced my first CF failure at a wedding this weekend. I shot a lot of images at the reception, incluing, cake cutting, dances, toasts, a few poses and bouquet toss. As I was shooting, I was checking the images. They all appeared to be there and good, but when I went to load them to the computer, there was only ONE image. I tried recovery software and the images are just not there. So, I need to let the client know that we have lost some images. What I'm wondering, is what would you do to make it up to your client. I figured I should give them a discount on the remaining balance, but what percentage. The ceremony and poses are all there and look great, it's just those few very key shots during the reception that are missing. Suggestions?

[tim]

1. Don't tell the customer anything. Stall them if they ask.
2. Call the card manufacturer and tell them what happened, they can sometimes recover the image.

[cosworth]

What software did you use? I'd seriously give a couple recovery options a go before eating that crow.

[Ursie]

I used the Sandisk recover software and also tried Image Recall. Unfortunately, it was my Hitachi microdrive card, so a little different from typical compact flash. I've never had a problem with it before, but I guess there's always a first.

[Time Thief]

There was another post on here a day or two ago and they sent theirs off and recovered all the images. Maybe someone who knows about it specifically can comment. I wouldn't say anything to the client until I explored all options first.

[cosworth]

Try this bad boy:

http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/smartrecovery.html

[howzitboy]

last time happened to me, the files could be seen but not opened. what i did was run scan disc (thorough) on the card and it fixed it up.
other time it happened to me (happens more then i want), scan disc didnt fix it, but I was able to copy the data to my hard drive, then rename the pictures and I salvaged almost all the images.
I tell u , when u shoot with a d70 dont ever get it wet, not even a rain drop or that camera will break lol.

[cdifoto]

You could also give this one a go:

www.cdifoto.com/recover.php

It's not my software but I did like it enough to create a download page on my site. It's freeware.

[tim]

I would strongly suggest not messing with it yourself, the manufacturer or a data recovery specialist is a better idea. The manufacturer will probably do it for free if it failed and you didn't drop it or anything, data recovery people aren't cheap.

[howzitboy]

thats why i was soo against shooting digital weddings. If i shoot film, I can more or less know when something is wrong by the sound of the camera, or just that "somethings not right" but, when Im shooting digital weddings, everything works perfectly, u can preview the shots etc but when u try get those shots on a computer ZAAAP! all gone. too scary for me but, times change soo..

[cosworth]

This is why newer 1 series cameras have 2 card slots to write backups as you go.

[howzitboy]

This is why newer 1 series cameras have 2 card slots to write backups as you go.


kewl to know but does it slow down your shooting speed? does it suck up batteries quicker?

[cdifoto]

This is why newer 1 series cameras have 2 card slots to write backups as you go.

That reminds me. I need to buy some SD cards. I wish Canon had made them both CF. :rolleyes:

[mcmadkat]

Sorry to hear about that, best try get to a professional to do it.

In my opinion it is not advisable to shoot with microdrives, anything that has moving parts it a lot more prone to failure. CF cards are safer.

Drop a microdrive 4 feet and it more than likely be damaged. Drop a CF card off the Eiffel tower and it will still work.

[Ursie]

You can bet I won't be using the micro drive any more. Thanks for the idea everyone.

[Eoseni]

I used Zero Assumption Recovery and Digital Image Recovery...both freeware. Just do a search on Google. Worked for me, but mine was my error. I deleted images by mistake. All the best in your efforts.

[richardho11]

Yah, Microdrives are cheaper, but the problem with them is that they have a little hard drive in there. All hard drives will fail, its just a matter of when. With compact flash, there is no moving parts all of your images are in memory. I'm not saying that these can't fail, but they will generally last a whole lot longer than microdrives. Infact, I have never heard of a compact flash failing. Just my 2 cents...

[turbo212003]

This is why I have never used microdrives.

[samnz]

So what is it with these microdrives that sends everyone in a tizzy? Are they that bad? Not that I'd use it on a gig or anything.

I've got a vosonic thingy. But I've just got movies and music on it.



EDIT: Not too computer savvy here...I love gadgets but they hate me!

[Banbert]

When Microdrives first came out they offered a capacity advantage over the then current largest CF cards, but these days thats not the case so I dont really see any reason at all to use them given that they must have a higher failure rate than CF cards due to their moving parts. I guess if historically you have a stack of microdrives you may feel the need to use em but they must be pretty small unless youve bought them recently in which case buying CF would have been a better bet imo.

I dont know any stats about failure rates but when you look at whats inside both its hard to imagine that microdrives fail less than CF cards isnt it.


Inside a Microdrive
http://www.everitt.nildram.co.uk/images/insidemicrodrive.jpg

Inside a CF card
http://www.everitt.nildram.co.uk/images/insidecfcard.jpg

[tim]

I just bought two 4 gig cards for about US$90 each, how can those little hard drives compete now? I have no idea what they cost because i've never considered using them.

[*Mike*]

If you're a member of the PPA they offer financial help with data recovery. Have a drive fail and they'll reimburse you up to $1600 for data recovery costs (you pay a $200 deductible). Take a look at ESS Data Recovery. $200 isn't a bad deal to keep the couple happy...

[samnz]

Banbert - Brilliant stuff. Thanks for the info.

[davidfig]

Try this bad boy:

http://www.softwarepatch.com/software/smartrecovery.html

When I had this problem, I used this software and it worked. There are all kinds of recovery tools. Since the CF card uses a msdos file system it should be able to recover the files.

[islandphoto]

I hate to go off the subject and sound like a fool - but you did check all of your folders on the drive right? I've had issues with not formating memory cards and the photos are hidden in a folder that don't appear. YOu have to actually go into the folders manually. I just thought any suggestion might help at this point. GOOD LUCK!!! This is one reason why I like to have both cameras firing throughout the day for backup.

[islandphoto]

Wow! That's pretty cool about the new 1 series. Didn't know that!

[Ursie]

Yeah, I did have both cameras, but it just so happened that the most important reception shots were all on this camera.

[tim]

Wow! That's pretty cool about the new 1 series. Didn't know that!

You mean the dual cards? That's been in the 1D2 series for ages, dunno about 1D1.

[GingerT]

I used CBL to recover my CF card -- I had lost all the ceremony shots. They were a wicked company -- they paid for shipping to them, no charge to look at card to see if it was recoverable and if no data was recovered no charge. There were able to recover all my pics, (2 GB) and the charge was $275 CAD.

[Headspin]

I have used Smart Recovery (http://www.pcinspector.de/smart_media_recovery/uk/welcome.htm)
in my day job as a medical photographer and it worked a treat when other recovery software couldn’t see a thing. Never had CF failure at wedding yet (touch wood and I have probably just jinxed myself!)
Cheers
Rob

[Ursie]

found everything, all is well! Yay!

[joeseph]

found everything, all is well! Yay!
don't keep us in suspense, how did you sort it?