Weird CF card on D30

[drbls]

Well, I've run across a new problem with a CF card and was wondering if anyone else had this occur. I took my D30 to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta yesterday morning with a brand new 256 MB Lexar 4X CF card. I had only used the card previously to take a couple of photos. I'm glad the balloons didn't lift off (due to the wind). As I was taking photos, I began reviewing the images on the LCD. The first 100 shots were fine, but when I hit the 120's, the shots started to have weird colors at the bottom (which turned out to be incomplete JPG info) and several of the images gave an error message of "Incompatible JPG format". This occurred every 2-3 shots for about 40 images. This morning, after downloading what I could and formatting the card, I tried a few more shots from our backyard. This time it didn't wait 100 shots before having a fit. The second shot was incomplete and gave the incompatible format error. So, to determine if it was the camera (which is 4 years old) or the card (2 days old) I put in an older Lexar 128 MB 4X card. Worked fine for 60 shots. Switched to another no-name 128 MB card and took another 80 shots around the yard. No problems. So the 256 MB card went back.

So, does the D30 only like cards up to 128 MB? I don't think so, since the manual states it takes type I and type II cards. Or, did I get a bum CF card and shouldn't let it bother me.

Thanks in advance for any help

[despot]

I've got a 1Gb and 2 x 512mb cards for my D30, so it's not the size that's the problem.
Did you format in-camera or via the PC?

Andy

[EoSD30fReAk]

never had problems with my D30

i use 1GB md and a 256mb sandisk and also 128mb sandisk

[drbls]

I've got a 1Gb and 2 x 512mb cards for my D30, so it's not the size that's the problem.
Did you format in-camera or via the PC?

Andy

I formatted the card in the camera prior to its first use, and after off-loading the first photos I took. I also formatted it after seeing the problems crop up. I also tried both single-shot and continuous drive modes, with both causing problems. I thought it might be continuous drive as that was the mode used when the problem started. But, neither mode has created any bad files with my 2 128 MB cards.

I guess I'm curious to know if CF cards can be "bad" right out of the box. I read another post in the forums (after doing a search) of a similar problem with a D30 and a 128 MB Sandisk card. The owner had to also return the card.

[samdring]

Think my experience points to the CF Cards generally.
I have a number of Crucial CF cards all of which work fine in 10D but 2 of which cannot be used for long without corrupted images in A70. Also have a Lexar which works fine in both cameras but which one of my Card Readers will not touch!

[drbls]

Think my experience points to the CF Cards generally.
I have a number of Crucial CF cards all of which work fine in 10D but 2 of which cannot be used for long without corrupted images in A70. Also have a Lexar which works fine in both cameras but which one of my Card Readers will not touch!

Thanks for the info. Makes me feel a bit better. I do believe it was the card. I went back to the Balloon Fiesta this morning and filled both my 128 MB cards with no corrupted files. Aren't computers great! :wink:

[mdude85]

Can't say that I've got problems. I use a 256 MB card in a D30 and have had no problems yet ... taken at least 2000 shots on that card.

I always reformat in camera.