Format vs Erase Photos

Always format the card.

I always ERASE!
Why? Because if you format the cards in the 1D series it wipes out all data on the card, including any saved camera setups you have on it (not good). Not an issue with other series of cameras, but erase has become my new habit.

I use a memory card reader... When I transfer the image files to my computer, I mark them all and then do a batch 'move'.. Moving copies the files to my incoming directory, then erases them from the card....

This always leaves me an 'empty' card to put back in the camera..

It depends for me. If I pull all the files off the card, I usually copy then erase all the files on the card via laptop. But if I forget and I put it back in my bag, I'll format the card using the camera.

I always copy from the 16GB CF card using a card reader and then when everything is backed up on my computer and Drobo I format the card when I put it back into the camera (40D). If I have used more than two cards I format them both and then return the one(s) not in the camera to the card holder.

Stamp wrote in post #12875659
Anyone else wonder this? Why one over the other? Usually I just format the card which takes all of 1-2 seconds compared to using Erase, which takes about 4-5 seconds. Any reason to use one or the other to simply clear your card?

Format once, erase the rest of the time.

I format the card "in-camera" only at the beginning, regardless if it's a brand new card or a card from another camera. The reason why I do this is twofold:

a. the camera formatting is different than computer formatting (two different modes). Some cameras could malfunction (fail to record the image) if the card is not formatted in the camera.

b. With some cameras, the continuous photo count is skewed if a card from another camera is used on another without formatting it first.
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That said, if the card becomes corrupted, then I format it in the card reader (computer), and then format it again with the camera. Do some of you format your computer hard drives every time, or just erased (trash) the photos?

I format in camera after I have downloaded the images, and checked they are on my computer ok.

Always format .... after transfer in hd and backup nas.

george m w wrote in post #12876726
I agree with you in principle. And that is why I worded it, "It used to be common wisdom...."
As we know, all to often....wisdom is sometimes not too common, nor is it always correct.
However, for whatever it's worth, my method seems to have worked for me. That's not to say that it might not have worked equally well had I simply done a FAT32 format in the PC each time. The method of formatting in camera was told to me by a Canon USA sales rep at a workshop I was attending. I have no idea what his level of technical expertise was.

Edit, formatting in camera is also really quick, and it has me making a quick look see at my other settings at the same time ( like making sure I'm set to RAW, which card I'm writing to, etc ), so I like the repeatability of the procedure. As Forrest would say, "one less thing to worry about..."

Ah, wiggle words You wouldn't be in the field of politics, would you?

This thread nicely illustrates how we are all just creatures of habit. If it works for us this way, that becomes the way we do it, that becomes the way it must be done, your doing it wrong, heres why it works

I always use a card reader and simply "move" the photos from the card to my HD. That erases them off the card. I've been doing it this way for over 11 years going back to my Sony and Memory Stick and all my Canon bodies and CF cards ... NO Problems! It works, why change?

I always copy all the files and erase them all using the card reader. I started doing this to conserve battery power back when batteries were awful. I have never had any issues with flash cards.

Always format in the camera. Twice. To make sure 100% of the files on the card are removed. Erasing still keeps some information on the card.

I use Canon's Image Browser to transfer the files to my computer. Then when I put the card back in the camera I format. Someone had said many years ago that formatting was better. I don't remember why.
Also, I have 2 cameras and I don't wan't the photo count to be messed up.
After reading this thread, I guess it doesn't really matter whether you format in the camera or delete on your computer?

I cut and paste the images from the card to the computer through a card reader and Windows. Then I synch LR. Cutting removes the images from the card.

tkadrum wrote in post #12875748
Just think of a HD.
The reason why we de-fragment our HD every now and then is because the reader is trying to read data, and if too many missing files it would slow down the process.

There's a difference. Flash is not a physically moving device. As in there are no spinning disks and "needles" that alter data on the flash, like there are in HD disks.

Defragging a hard drive pulls data associated with specific files in closer to each other so the needles do not have to travel long distances over the disk to grab all the data to something like a large photoshop file or program. One file can be spread over the whole HD and which is why it is called being "fragmented".

Flash cards do not have those physical limitations.

I have noticed that a camera will write slower and even not do video on a Sandisk class 10 card without formatting though.

My CF card in my Pro-1 is like 6 years old. Formatted once and never had any issues.