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jtc
15th of July 2004 (Thu), 15:25
Today I am getting acquainted with my new camera.
I am a rank beginner but hopefully will have many happy times with this camera.
I would like someone to walk me through the formatting of the CF card.
I have charged the batteries and also have the adaptor. I have not downloaded anything to the computer as of yet.
I was wondering why you can't just insert the CF card into the camera and it is okay to start shooting photos......the 32MB card which came with the camera says it needs no formatting. I have purchased 2 promaster 256MB and I am assuming that each needs to be formatted, correct?
Any help appreciated. Thanks
Bodryn
15th of July 2004 (Thu), 17:26
I'm sure it's just as easy as on my Canon A70; just go to the menu item that allows you to format the CF card; it's easy, it only takes a few seconds and it guarantees that the card is formatted and ready to go. Just be aware that formatting erases any photos you might already have on the card.
jtc
15th of July 2004 (Thu), 17:53
okay, but why would a brand new card need to be formatted?
SwerveDriver
16th of July 2004 (Fri), 07:30
Perhaps, some brands are not formatted when they are sold, for whatever reason. I purchased a Lexar 512M and it was formatted when I bought it. I don't recall if I had to format my A80's 32M CF? But I believe I had to format my SanDisk 256M.

To format:

Press Menu
Select the Setup tab (looks like wrenches)
Then select the Format option (you'll see the size of your CF)
jtc
16th of July 2004 (Fri), 07:47
:D I appreciate your answer......The CF cards sold by the camera store where we purchased the camera are ProMaster 256MB, the one that came with the camera is already formatted by the Canon folks I'd presume.
This is all new to me and learning by the seat of my pants. So far we really like this camera.
gsmx2
16th of July 2004 (Fri), 07:51
jtc,

Just make sure you ALWAYS format the card in the camera. When you get a card reader (which you will as a quicker easier way to get pictures from the card) don't format the cards with the computer.

gsm x2
jtc
16th of July 2004 (Fri), 08:02
:roll: I wasn't planning on getting a card reader.....I have the Pict to Bridge ability and just purchased the Canon i960 photo printer which I thought meant I didn't need a card reader......I do have the adaptor so will not need to rely on batteries while loading my photos to the "new printer"........
do you suggest having a card reader in any case??????
D4VE
16th of July 2004 (Fri), 09:06
card readers aren't 100% required but they make life a lot easier with some cameras, but its up to you :) I wouldnt want to give mine up.
Its easy just to remove the card from the camera and stick it in the reader which appears as a drive on the PC, thats the appeal of it.
jtc
16th of July 2004 (Fri), 09:10
I am learning something every day............I probably will wait to see how the direct thing works for awhile. :D
Jon
21st of July 2004 (Wed), 08:46
okay, but why would a brand new card need to be formatted?

Could also be, especially with large cards, that the manufacturer decided to format it as FAT32 rather than the FAT most cameras expect.
RoB_m
21st of July 2004 (Wed), 12:17
wow, suddenly so many people with A80s.
willy77nilly
21st of July 2004 (Wed), 15:25
The A-series in general is very popular apparently.

Canon has today announced the PowerShot A85 a replacement to the entry-level PowerShot A70 which Canon are claiming was "one of the most successful cameras in Canon's seventy year history"

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0407/04072002canona85.asp
SYS
23rd of July 2004 (Fri), 16:22
wow, suddenly so many people with A80s.

I just got one, too!!

You got some nice photos taken with A80 posted on your website, by the way. As a tester, I printed an 8X10 photo shot of my family at a local zoo yesterday with no manual manipulation whatsoever AND with no manipulation with any photo softwares, either. Then, Voila!! What a nice and clean result I got!! A huge difference between my old Olympus 2mp and this beauty. To get a camera of this quality and range of manual options at under $300 (with a 68mb Lexar thrown in), all I can say is WOW!!
Alnath
13th of August 2004 (Fri), 06:04
jtc,

Just make sure you ALWAYS format the card in the camera. When you get a card reader (which you will as a quicker easier way to get pictures from the card) don't format the cards with the computer.

gsm x2

Hmmm i have formatted mine in the PC from day one.
Alnath
13th of August 2004 (Fri), 06:05
okay, but why would a brand new card need to be formatted?

Could also be, especially with large cards, that the manufacturer decided to format it as FAT32 rather than the FAT most cameras expect.

The A80 reads FAT32