Useful Tips to Avoid Mistake with SD Cards - 6D Wedding Shooters Must Read

6 KEY MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN HANDLING SD CARDS TO MINIMIZE DATA LOSS from SLR Lounge:

http://www.slrlounge.c​om …ds-to-minimize-data-loss/

Really, this applies to ANY data card.

The "back filler" aspect was news to me. Makes sense, but I just had not considered. I often "free up space" by deleting in camera.

I don't buy the back filler point. The operating system is designed to fill memory space and segment files as needed. That kind of technology has been around since the first hard drive was put in an IBM PC, maybe longer. It is true that saving files over deleted files can cause fragmented files. But the effect would be to slow file access, not break it. Nevertheless, I always reformat cards between shoots because having fragmented files doesn't feel right and it could get out of hand if you wait a long time between formatting.

Back filler? Don't think so. I've deleted photos in-camera only to recover them later. Flash memories AVOID writing to the same location to preserve write life of card.

chantu wrote in post #17512138
Really, this applies to ANY data card.

Indeed!

thanks!

The important thing about formatting in the camera immediately before using the card is that it's the last, best opportunity to check the card for proper operation before using it. It used to be worthwhile to do a full format in a computer periodically, but I note that my 70D can do an in-camera full format...which I always do.

I never put more than one client on a card, and I have enough cards that I need not reuse (i.e., reformat) a card until that job has been delivered to the client.

I know for a fact that WET is not an issue for most card. The way SD card is packaged today is called SIP. Basically it is a molded plastic material with all flash and controller buried within. Now I am not saying to get the card wet purposely, but they can take a lot of element abuse and will survice.

5 and 6 are actaully doing the same thing to the SD card. Flash storage can't replace the contents inside. When you rotate or "back fill" a file, the host (camera or computer) actaully creates a new file and write to the card, then obsolete the old file. The new file does NOT go to the same location of the old file. The issue with this is that if your SD contained a lot of fragmented file, the it has to gone through what is called "garbage collection" to find available space for the new file. This operation is usually NOT optimized in memory card. So the key is NOT to back fill or edit picture. The key is NOT to do it when you card are relatively full, so a lot of background operations are needed to free up space for new files.

I thought these are common senses. But there are trade off for everything though. I mean for example, in the dual CF & SD slot, you have a choice of better performance w/ CF at the cost of price and easier to bend the pin every time you take the card in and out of the camera. Which is another aspect, some people will rather have a fresh battery and transfer file using camera as card reader vs taking the card out of the camera and risk damage the pins. These are choice every one have to make, some may make sense for one, while the other may choose the oppose view. Not everything is clear cut. But yes, things like water are pretty obvious. But if you have to pick one, I rather choose water vs sea water/soda/coffee. Also many professional grade cards are design to withstand some water, meaning if you drop your camera in the water, your camera maybe dead, but your images will survive. And then you let your insurance take care of the gear finance.