sdhc in an old sd camera

Hi,
Is there a way to format a "new" sdhc card (4gb) to fit in an old camera (pentax optio wp, 5mb) that requires sd (maybe fat16 or the like)?

I got the camera for x-mas for a kid, but there is no sd card. I was thinking of using a 4gb to put in the camera. Unfortunately it says "memory card error".

Any help would be appreciated!

Best regards

It is doubtful your camera can use the SDHC card. There is a firmware upgrade available at http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp …rt/digital/2005​0727e.html but it does not address the SD card size limitation. The SDHC card is much newer than an SD card and generally is not backwards compatible with older technology. From what I can learn on line the camera also only supported up to 2 GB cards.

By the way that camera uses a rechargeable lithium ion battery so that will likely be your next task.

I don't know of a way to FAT16 format a large card, unless you find an old computer that doesn't do SDHC.

I did find these on Amazon.com by searching "2GB SD CARD":

https://www.amazon.com …o_browse-bin%3A6518302011

https://www.amazon.com …o_browse-bin%3A6518302011

There are more. Good luck.

FAT16 only supports 2GB of memory space. It has nothing to do with the device. Older cameras are limited to FAT16 format.

Hey, it just occurred to me that Jake H. (CDS) helped me format high capacity cards for use in my 1D. I'll PM and ask if he'll take a look at this thread.

EDIT: PM sent.

If you are computer savvy I think you could use DISKPART (see http://www.vmspot.com/​format-fat16-usb/) to partition the drive into two 2 gig partitions, then format one partition. This would essentially leave 1/2 the card unused. A quick look at Best Buy appears to indicates the SD card is no longer available, only the SDHC which brings you back to your original problem.

John from PA wrote in post #18219126
If you are computer savvy I think you could use DISKPART (see http://www.vmspot.com/​format-fat16-usb/) to partition the drive into two 2 gig partitions, then format one partition. This would essentially leave 1/2 the card unused. A quick look at Best Buy appears to indicates the SD card is no longer available, only the SDHC which brings you back to your original problem.

Uhm... See post #3. SD cards are readily available.

The news small (non sdhc) didn't make it before x-mas. Does anyone have a trick to "downgrade" a sdhc to a sd. At least fool the camera to believe so.

Thanks!

find the oldest computer around
select the SD drive, right-click, select format,
from the drop-down menu on FORMAT, see if FAT16 is available
if it is, FORMAT the card in FAT16.

It will only do a 2GB section, but if it formats, it should work in the camera.

Thanks, I really appreciate.

I now have it format as a fat16, with small size, 128MB, but I still have the same error message. Maybe there is something fundamentally different with sdhc that is not retro compatible with sd only camera.

wallace1837 wrote in post #18222803
Thanks, I really appreciate.

I now have it format as a fat16, with small size, 128MB, but I still have the same error message. Maybe there is something fundamentally different with sdhc that is not retro compatible with sd only camera.

Ok, try this. Once you get it formatted FAT16 in the old computer, reformat it in the camera. If that doesn't work, I'm out of ideas.

Bassat wrote in post #18222806
Ok, try this. Once you get it formatted FAT16 in the old computer, reformat it in the camera. If that doesn't work, I'm out of ideas.

Thanks, but that doesn't work.

This is a quote from the Sandisk website...

"Because SDHC works differently than standard SD cards, this new format is NOT backwards compatible with host devices that only take SD (128MB - 2GB) cards."

The way I read this is even though you can format the SDHC to FAT16, partition the card to a 2 GB partition and set it to primary, it still isn't likely to work in a device that can only use SD.

Thanks, that explains my struggle. I will stop fighting and just wait for the regular sd to show up in the mail.