1D MkIII won't format CF card

I got the used 1D III today, but it won't format 3 CF cards I tried. 2 are 2GB and 1 is 4GB. They had been used in another camera(Nikon D300). I put the cards in my computer and deleted all the folders from the D300 and tried to format again-nothing. The display says "cannot format card". I tried a 1GB SD card that had been in another camera and it formatted. Should I try a new CF card?

I'd try a new card. Maybe the cards that you have are partitioned or sectored in a way that Canon can't deal with.

OK thanks. I''ll pick up a new card tomorrow. For now I have an SD that works in it.

I think that the trick is to format the card to FAT 32 in the computer and then try formatting in the camera. I haven't ever tried this so I'm not sure that it will work. Just info that I have read and thought that I'd pass it along.

If you put a formatted (in your computer, to the default format) CF card in the camera, can you take pictures to it? I hate to say it, but with 3, relatively small, CF cards giving the same symptoms it sounds like a camera problem, not a card issue.

Jon wrote in post #17747122
If you put a formatted (in your computer, to the default format) CF card in the camera, can you take pictures to it? I hate to say it, but with 3, relatively small, CF cards giving the same symptoms it sounds like a camera problem, not a card issue.

No you can't take pics with the card in the camera. Before I blame the camera I'm going to try a new card. What's the largest card you can use in it? I didn't see that info in the owners manual.

The smallest CF card Best Buy had was a 32GB...for $50. I'll order a card when I order my Yongnuo flash from B&H and try it out.

rrblint wrote in post #17747091
I think that the trick is to format the card to FAT 32 in the computer and then try formatting in the camera. I haven't ever tried this so I'm not sure that it will work. Just info that I have read and thought that I'd pass it along.

This... just do a full format as fat32 when plugged into the computer, then put in camera and try to format. This may salvage the cards.

TeamSpeed wrote in post #17747197
This... just do a full format as fat32 when plugged into the computer, then put in camera and try to format. This may salvage the cards.

I tried that. Hopefully it will work with a new CF card. For now I can use the SD.

Take a bright flashlight and carefully examine the CF slot looking for bent or broken pins.

There's no real CF size limitation assuming the card's formatted. I used 4 GB in my 1D3. I really think your camera's CF slot is the problem. Take a look down there and check it for bent/broken pins.

Pins look good. I formatted one card FAT 32 in the computer. Then it DID format in the camera and was working. Took it out, put it back in, then it did not work. I'm gonna use SD card until I get a new in the package CF and try that.

Good luck. Hope the new card works.

I went to Houston Camera Exchange and got a Delkin 4GB card and it works. That's great news to me.

Glad that you got it sorted.