I'm a Moron; Don't You Be

[MDJAK]

If my post helps one person avoid doing what I did, it will have been worth it holding myself out to ridicule.

You see, I'm, at best, an advanced amateur with deep pockets. I do try on a consistent basis to learn and get better, almost never content with my results.

So, this past week I'm vacationing in Florida. I go with my teenage daughters and my wife to the Palm Beach Zoo and proceed to shoot about 50 pictures or so with my 1DsMKII when I get the card full message. Not paying attention to which card the camera was telling me was full (as I was not using one to backup the other, though the SD card was present in its slot) I removed the CF card and placed it in my Epson p2000. I didn't want to hold it while it downloaded and I didn't want to use it while inside my bag, so I just stored the card in the Epson for later downloading.

Here's where the Moron part comes in. I replace my Sandisk 2gb card with a Sandisk 1gb Extreme III card and the camera is still telling me card 2 is full.

So, what do I do? Well, when I do backup to the SD card, the fact it's only 1gb makes it fill up more quickly than the 2gb CF I usually use, so I just have taken to formatting it, which I did.

I then continued to shoot the rest of the day at the zoo on the 1gb CF card.

It wasn't until I got back to the hotel later in the day and went to browse the original card on the Epson that I realized my gaffe. There was nothing to view on the card as I was recording on the SD card originally and only on the SD card. Figure I lost over 50 shots.

Needless to say, I wasn't happy.

As my topic said, I'm a moron.

[Michaelmjc]

That sounds like something I would have done.. Good thing my XT doesn't have two memory card slots.

[Maureen Souza]

Maybe we should start a sticky of moron stories. Here's mine (and it should make you feel better!)
Last Sat. I was shooting photos at my daughter's wedding reception. Somehow, the shoe mount had worked it's way loose and I took a pile of pictures in the dark.... no one said anything to me and I wasn't aware because there were twinkling white lights above. It wasn't until later did I realize what happened but I missed some imporant moments (like my other daughter giving the toast) that I still feel sick about.

[pjd83]

Oh no. That must have been quite dissapointing for you.

Its a shame but we live and learn.

[lostdoggy]

Maybe we should start a sticky of moron stories. Here's mine (and it should make you feel better!)
Last Sat. I was shooting photos at my daughter's wedding reception. Somehow, the shoe mount had worked it's way loose and I took a pile of pictures in the dark.... no one said anything to me and I wasn't aware because there were twinkling white lights above. It wasn't until later did I realize what happened but I missed some imporant moments (like my other daughter giving the toast) that I still feel sick about.

Ah just curious wouldn't the shutter go really slow???

[CyberDyneSystems]

Redbird,. I'd be curious about this device.. I don't think it will work with Canon cameras.. as I don't think your Canon camera will be seen as a standard USB device?

MDJak,..

I recently did a similar thing... a program called "Photorescue" recovered all the files on my CF card after a format...

You can download the trial,. and SEE if it will work BEOFORE paying the mere $30.00 to register... well worth $30.00 ;)

[CyberPet]

Maureen, I did the *exact* same thing last weekend. I forgot to lock the flash into place. No flash... gaaah! But luckily after just two shots I was told it didn't flash. *phew*

[roman_t]

if not too late there is another remedy for formatted flash data - mediarecover 2.5.0.3
4,5 mb size. cannot tell you details now but if you remind me later with message i check it.

[markubig]

Ah just curious wouldn't the shutter go really slow???not if she was in manual

[nosquare2003]

Redbird, I don't see much advantages on using the device as you described. When you transfer the photos, you can't use the camera for taking photos, right? What's the transfer speed then?

MDJAK, sorry to hear that.

[Maureen Souza]

Maureen, I did the *exact* same thing last weekend. I forgot to lock the flash into place. No flash... gaaah! But luckily after just two shots I was told it didn't flash. *phew*

I was kind of mad no one said anything (AKA my hubby who was in some of the shots). Weddings of your family member can be distracting, I know, so I really wasn't paying as close of attention as I should have been. Luckily, my son had the video cam going and got some of the things I missed.

[Rob612]

Maybe we should start a sticky of moron stories. Here's mine (and it should make you feel better!)
Last Sat. I was shooting photos at my daughter's wedding reception. Somehow, the shoe mount had worked it's way loose and I took a pile of pictures in the dark.... no one said anything to me and I wasn't aware because there were twinkling white lights above. It wasn't until later did I realize what happened but I missed some imporant moments (like my other daughter giving the toast) that I still feel sick about.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=76044&highlight=total+noob

:D:D

[Maureen Souza]

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=76044&highlight=total+noob

:D:D


Thanks.... guess I am not the only nincompoop on the forum.........

[nosquare2003]

nosquare2003, whether it is advantageous to use any device is a subjective matter.

My bad, it may suit you and somebody. Otherwise it dies.

But I still prefer /need to have a device to backup while shooting.

[*Zwitter*]

I shot JPEG all day at an airshow with an indoor white balance setting:

Je suis un MORON!

[kenyc]

Maybe we should start a sticky of moron stories. Here's mine (and it should make you feel better!)
Last Sat. I was shooting photos at my daughter's wedding reception. Somehow, the shoe mount had worked it's way loose and I took a pile of pictures in the dark.... no one said anything to me and I wasn't aware because there were twinkling white lights above. It wasn't until later did I realize what happened but I missed some imporant moments (like my other daughter giving the toast) that I still feel sick about.

I did a similar thing last weekend at the end of the softball tournament (our team came in at 2nd place). By then 8:30/9:00 PM it was pretty dark and the field lights were on. I had increased the ISO up to 800 by then and I should have used the flash, but didn't and the pics of the awards presentation were all too dark to be useable. :(

KAC

[Cadwell]

I almost erased half a morning’s shoot on a CF card once – I was within one button press of doing so. That’s why now, I always format my CF cards at home and never, ever erase a card during a shoot. If a card has data on it, then it MUST be current. That way I know I will never lose any data through my own stupidity.

[Keiffer]

Some of these reasons totoally convinced me to shoot only in RAW, I too ran into a problem shooting Jpgs with the wrong WB setting. It truly made me sick to the point I almost hurled. But the other night I was out trying to get some lightning shots and I uped the ISO to 800, Needless to say when I was done I forgot to change it back to 200 and the next day after shooting some wild life I processed the pics and they were as grainy as sand LOL. I guess Murphys law comes out alot more than I thought LOL

[mkh]

I shot JPEG all day at an airshow with an indoor white balance setting:

Je suis un MORON!

I shot a bunch of test shots with my new 70-300mm the other day with the white balance set wrong. I had been playing witht the WTB the day before just to learn how it functions. I missed the fact that it stays set when the camera is turned off. Won't make that mistake again.

[roanjohn]

YIKES!!! Well............we live and learn.

Ro1

[foxbat]

My favourites:

1) Leaving the ISO at the wrong level.
2) Leaving self-timer on after a session on the tripod.
3a) Forgetting I've left the polariser on.
3b) Remembering to put the polariser on and forgetting to adjust it.
4) Feeling to see if I've left the lens cap on with my fingers.
5) Leaving exposure compensation in the wrong place.

[griff2]

1) Leaving the ISO at the wrong level.
Done that
2) Leaving self-timer on after a session on the tripod.
Done that
3a) Forgetting I've left the polariser on.
3b) Remembering to put the polariser on and forgetting to adjust it.
Done that.
Also, absent-mindedly placing body cap on end of lens instead of lens cap (doh!)

[roanjohn]

The worst is if you left your CF card at home. (I've done it!!!)

I also went out with some friends for dinner once............and I was setting my camera..........removing my lens cap.............putting on the external flash...........then I took off my pocket bouncer..........attached it to the flash..........and I put the white cover on the bouncer ala softbox effect. Of course, my friends were like "OH SH*T!!!"..............then when I took the shot, the flash didn't come on!!! Thats when I realized that I left the battery at home.

BOOOOOOO!!!! So I had to resort to the Rebel's pop-up flash (BTW, one more reason why I'm glad I didn't buy the 1DMKII :-)).

Ro1

[Longwatcher]

My list of oops (mostly caused by moderate case of absent mindedness):
- Leaving CF card in pants, washing same (Card still works)
- Forgetting I put backup CF card in swimsuit pocket and then going into river up to waist to take shots. (Card still works)
- Remembering where I set the CF card at home, when I got ready to take pictures at work
- deleting a card instead of copying it (thanks image rescue software)
- Forgetting that I even have a continuous mode on my camera (I had to be reminded by the jumpers before the second set left the plane)

- The usual list of
-- forgetting to return ISO to 100
-- forgetting to return AF/MF to AF and wondering why my shots are out of focus
-- After shooting IR forgeting to return shutter and aperture to something reasonable
-- Why can't I see anything - doh! the lens cap (frequent occurance)
-- forgeting to connect PC sync cord to camera

There are a few others, but I think you can see why I use a checklist before every shoot, just to make sure.

[picnic]

There are a few others, but I think you can see why I use a checklist before every shoot, just to make sure.

done some dumb things in my time too, but usually able to be 'fixed' or I figure out pretty soon into the shoot what I've forgotten to do--or not.

Diane B.

[Pb2Au]

While I'm dying for ISO-in-the-viewfinder, and leave it at all sorts of fun places between 100 and 3200, I make the CF mistakes all too often. I will fill up my 512 around the house, then go browse and edit them on my PC, only to save everythign BACK to the CF card, put it back in the camera, and format to make room for new shots, losing every shot and every edit that I had taken. So, between here and "on order" I have 2 512MB, 2 1GBs, and 2 2GB cards. 7 gigs should last me long enough to realize that the shots from 2 days ago are still lying on a CF card somewhere... (I think it's about 1000 RAW+Small shots).

[MDJAK]

You guys and gals sure do know how to make a guy feel better.

BTW, did I mention while cleaning my desk last week, I threw out the little disk that comes with the Sandisk Cards, the purpose of which is image recovery?

[I Simonius]

I almost erased half a morning’s shoot on a CF card once – I was within one button press of doing so. That’s why now, I always format my CF cards at home and never, ever erase a card during a shoot. If a card has data on it, then it MUST be current. That way I know I will never lose any data through my own stupidity.

Does this mean that you should always format s card after deleting thevold images and before shooting again??

[Cadwell]

Does this mean that you should always format s card after deleting the old images and before shooting again??

There are two schools of thought on that one. Some people think that just erasing the old images is fine, some people think that you should always reformat for file system integrity reasons.

I normally format simply because it's faster than "erasing all".

[Belmondo]

There are two schools of thought on that one. Some people think that just erasing the old images is fine, some people think that you should always reformat for file system integrity reasons.

I normally format simply because it's faster than "erasing all".

Me too, except I do it in the computer. That allows me to use an empty card in any of the cameras without messing up the numbering. I instantly added roughly 3,000 shots to the 1D MkII when I used a card from my old 10D in it. (Does that qualify me for moron status?)

[Longwatcher]

I instantly added roughly 3,000 shots to the 1D MkII when I used a card from my old 10D in it. (Does that qualify me for moron status?)

NO, but it does qualify Canon engineers/user guide writers for Moron status as they didn't bother to tell anybody it did that. Which is why I added about 2000+ to my 10D when I upgraded from D60. By 1DsMkII upgrade time, I knew it would do that. I also dedicate cards to camera now for the most part.

For my part, I usually cut and paste files from card to computer (clearing them off card) during a photo shoot, but before the start of a photo shoot I format all of the cards I will use to make sure they are all clear and ready to go. And with one possible exception this has worked for me since I got my D60 and I still blame the camera (1DsMkII in this case) for that one exception. The reason I prefer this method is in case I am having some issues with some images there is a chance for recovery, once you format the odds of recovery go down dramatically.

[Belmondo]

By 1DsMkII upgrade time, I knew it would do that. I also dedicate cards to camera now for the most part.

Tim:

Actually, I misspoke. Now that I think about it, it was my second 10D that suffered the instant increase in shot count, not the 1D Mk II. I also have 'dedicated' cards for both SLRs now, but it's just one more thing to keep track of.

I like your idea of cutting and pasting instead of copying. I'll have to try that.

[Longwatcher]

Tim:

Actually, I misspoke. Now that I think about it, it was my second 10D that suffered the instant increase in shot count, not the 1D Mk II. I also have 'dedicated' cards for both SLRs now, but it's just one more thing to keep track of.

I like your idea of cutting and pasting instead of copying. I'll have to try that.

Just remember to be careful and paranoid between hitting ctrl-x and then ctrl-v or you will be using image recovery software more then you want. :)

Full proceedure (WinXP):
- Load card into card reader
- Wait for pop-up folder
- select folders to get to images
- ctrl-a
- cross fingers (mentally... you need the actual fingers for the next steps)
- ctrl-x
- select folder images are going into
- ctrl-v (do not under any circumstances skip this step)
- wait for start of paste action
- breathe or panic depending on results
- continue talking pictures with next card while waiting for write to finish.
- after write complete move up to DCIM folder on card (double check to make sure it is the folder on the card), delete this folder
- card ready to put back in camera

Actually WinXP is fairly forgiving if you don't paste the cut images to another folder as long as you don't cut something else before catching on to your oops. Older versions are not as forgiving based on my experience.

If I have an assistant loading images into computer (which I have had all of once) then copy then delete is faster for them because the have nothing better to do then sit there and watch the pictures being loaded into the computer. I on the other hand want to get back to taking pictures so this is fastest proceedure for me to do that.

The one mistake that was my fault was a case earlier of loading the card into the computer and then getting distracted before I copyed the images. by using cut-paste, I now know that if there are images on card, they are not in computer yet. I have learned to ignore any voices between ctrl-x and ctrl-v. Also after the first card I select computer folder as view-list, while the new pop-up card folder will show as icons by default, providing a visual clue, which is which. Visual clues are always good to avoid oops.

All this took longer to write then do actually do.

Just my experience and what I do, use at own risk.

[MarkH]

I always cut and paste or right-drag and select move when plugging my CF cards to the PC. That way I put the card into the camera and it's ready to go, if not I carefully check what I have done wrong. I don't really like using format on the camera, it scares me because of the potential to wipe out something that you shouldn't.

I am considering buy more CF memory now that it is so cheap - so that I hardly ever have to use my digital wallet. I always feel safer using the PC and being able to see what I am doing and being able to check the pics that I just copied.

Another good trick is to remove the camera from the bag when getting ready to use it, taking a shot, reviewing the shot with info and check how the shot looks and reading the settings used. Just a little preflight check to see if the settings are good. If shooting manual I will review the first few shots to make sure that I am not blowing highlights and that the histogram looks good. If the light is constant I don't review much after the first few, if the light is variable then I check the histogram regularly.

When using the flash I don't really trust the E-TTL system and will check the first couple of shots to see if the system is stuffing up my shots or not. I also can hear the whine of the capacitors recharging. So I have never shot with the flash not working without realising it.

I have shot at the wrong ISO though, and with the exposure compensation at -2, but that was a while ago and now I am more careful to check my results with the LCD.

I think that maybe some of you guys are coming from using film cameras and are not used to stopping to review the results, to me that is the beauty of digital. I can get the exposure on manual absolutely perfect to the nearest 1/3 stop, without needing a light meter with my 10D, I am sure that I could not reliably get the exposure right to the nearest stop on a film camera. In fact the idea of shooting to film and not being able to check even one shot to see if I have the settings right makes me cringe (I am just not that skilled a photographer).

From now on I want all of you to make a habit of always checking the first shot with the histogram and other info, it'll cost you nothing to fire off a test shot before the action starts and take a look at the LCD review to see what you have. Then during any pause in the action you could check the last shot taken and see if it still looks right.

[d'homme]

Did you know, you have to turn off the feature that allows you to take photos ... with no card inserted.

20D

[Southswede]

If my post helps one person avoid doing what I did, it will have been worth it holding myself out to ridicule.

You see, I'm, at best, an advanced amateur with deep pockets. I do try on a consistent basis to learn and get better, almost never content with my results.

So, this past week I'm vacationing in Florida. I go with my teenage daughters and my wife to the Palm Beach Zoo and proceed to shoot about 50 pictures or so with my 1DsMKII when I get the card full message. Not paying attention to which card the camera was telling me was full (as I was not using one to backup the other, though the SD card was present in its slot) I removed the CF card and placed it in my Epson p2000. I didn't want to hold it while it downloaded and I didn't want to use it while inside my bag, so I just stored the card in the Epson for later downloading.

Here's where the Moron part comes in. I replace my Sandisk 2gb card with a Sandisk 1gb Extreme III card and the camera is still telling me card 2 is full.

So, what do I do? Well, when I do backup to the SD card, the fact it's only 1gb makes it fill up more quickly than the 2gb CF I usually use, so I just have taken to formatting it, which I did.

I then continued to shoot the rest of the day at the zoo on the 1gb CF card.

It wasn't until I got back to the hotel later in the day and went to browse the original card on the Epson that I realized my gaffe. There was nothing to view on the card as I was recording on the SD card originally and only on the SD card. Figure I lost over 50 shots.

Needless to say, I wasn't happy.

As my topic said, I'm a moron.



Note to self: learn from this guy's mistake. He was decent enough to share it, in public.

(I wish I had "deep pockets" too.) LOL

Sorry for your lost pic's.

[lostdoggy]

not if she was in manual

Now why would anybody shoot manual with an EX flash??? As a fail safe shooting in Av mode will allow you to switch on and off your flash and give back control in a rush. The only time it make since to go manual if you have a very difficult lighting situation, usually in a fill flash situation where high speed sync is needed.

[Jon]

Now why would anybody shoot manual with an EX flash??? As a fail safe shooting in Av mode will allow you to switch on and off your flash and give back control in a rush. The only time it make since to go manual if you have a very difficult lighting situation, usually in a fill flash situation where high speed sync is needed.
For control of the background exposure. For control of motion blur (shooting in Av will give you a shutter speed that exposed the background "correctly" based on available light). Many people here shoot with the camera in manual and let the flash auto-fill.

[elbirth]

Just remember to be careful and paranoid between hitting ctrl-x and then ctrl-v or you will be using image recovery software more then you want. :)

Full proceedure (WinXP):
- Load card into card reader
- Wait for pop-up folder
- select folders to get to images
- ctrl-a
- cross fingers (mentally... you need the actual fingers for the next steps)
- ctrl-x
- select folder images are going into
- ctrl-v (do not under any circumstances skip this step)
- wait for start of paste action
- breathe or panic depending on results
- continue talking pictures with next card while waiting for write to finish.
- after write complete move up to DCIM folder on card (double check to make sure it is the folder on the card), delete this folder
- card ready to put back in camera

Actually WinXP is fairly forgiving if you don't paste the cut images to another folder as long as you don't cut something else before catching on to your oops. Older versions are not as forgiving based on my experience.

If I have an assistant loading images into computer (which I have had all of once) then copy then delete is faster for them because the have nothing better to do then sit there and watch the pictures being loaded into the computer. I on the other hand want to get back to taking pictures so this is fastest proceedure for me to do that.

The one mistake that was my fault was a case earlier of loading the card into the computer and then getting distracted before I copyed the images. by using cut-paste, I now know that if there are images on card, they are not in computer yet. I have learned to ignore any voices between ctrl-x and ctrl-v. Also after the first card I select computer folder as view-list, while the new pop-up card folder will show as icons by default, providing a visual clue, which is which. Visual clues are always good to avoid oops.

All this took longer to write then do actually do.

Just my experience and what I do, use at own risk.


You mentioned having to be careful using ctrl-x and ctrl-v. I wanted to point something out that MarkH ended up doing so before me... if you're paranoid about overwriting files, you can simply hit ctrl-a as you did at first to highlight them all, then right-click on any of the highlighted files and hold the button down... then drag it over to the destination window and let go of the mouse button. A small pop-up will show that gives you the option to either copy the files or move the files (the same thing as cut and paste). I find myself clicking and dragging like that quite often, and maybe you could find use of it.

[Andy_T]

Another variety ...

using fill flash in AV mode on a bright day and selecting a large aperture ...
actually, I should have realized the moment the shutter speed in the viewfinder changed from 1/400 to 1/250 as I activated fill flash ... but I snapped away happily, just to discover at home that I had 20 lovely blown (1/250 instead of 1/400 or 1/500) pictures :confused:

Best regards,
Andy

[Duder]

my two biggest moronic acts in recent times involved

a) reformatting a full 1gb card before I uploaded the photos.

b) taking photos all day of the beautiful californian coast, inc pebble beach and big sur, in ISO 3200.

:rolleyes:

[zacker]

i lost all the data of my first ever wedding shoot! I took the card home, downloaded the files to the cp then re formatted the card erasing all the data. then, when i went to look at the shots i had just downloaded, they werent there.. all i got was a corrupt file warning. Thank god for Photorescue.. i got them all back from the re formatted card!!
-zacker-

[Rob612]

i lost all the data of my first ever wedding shoot! I took the card home, downloaded the files to the cp then re formatted the card erasing all the data. then, when i went to look at the shots i had just downloaded, they werent there.. all i got was a corrupt file warning. Thank god for Photorescue.. i got them all back from the re formatted card!!
-zacker-

Now you, and everybody that read the post, have learned to check the files before erasing the CF :D

Don't worry, similar stuff has happened, I believe, to all of us. At least happened to me :D