Memory card formating

I have been useing a Sandisk 8 GB extreame Pro, class 10 SDHC card in my 60D. I reformat the card each time that I download my images to the computer and delete them from the card. I reformat the card in the camera. Is this a good practice? Are you doing the same? just curious.

Seems redundant. Why not just format in camera and skip the format in the PC? or just delete them and format once in a while.

^, yep, i download my images to pc, then reformat IN camera, done!

gjl711 wrote in post #11748789
Seems redundant. Why not just format in camera and skip the format in the PC? or just delete them and format once in a while.

I think maybe I put that the wrong way. I only format in the camera. Sorry for the misunderstanding.:o

same here...format in camera.

ranger50 wrote in post #11748775
I have been useing a Sandisk 8 GB extreame Pro, class 10 SDHC card in my 60D. I reformat the card each time that I download my images to the computer and delete them from the card. I reformat the card in the camera. Is this a good practice? Are you doing the same? just curious.

It's useless. The format only writes to an insignificant percentage of total sectors on the card. To make things worse, by doing this you wear out those sectors, and they are the most import sectors. You don't want the sectors holding important filesystem metadata first.

And then there is the problem that your camera is probably least able to notify you of errors that it did encounter during formatting.

IMHO you should either do nothing, or else if you want to test the card then you write to all sectors and read them all back. On a PC with good error reporting.

I reformat the card in my camera each time Im done downloading images. Yes its safe and if it works well for you its a great practice.

Normally, I have only formated cards once every several months or so, preferring instead to just delete all images after loading them into my computer... Starting yesterday I format each time I download.

Yesterday after taking about 50 shots, the computer refused to read my CF card. I have two different CF card readers, neither worked. I got an error message indicating that the card needed to be formatted before use, which I wasn't about to do because I needed those shots.

I finally had to put the card in the camera and plug the camera into the USB port (for the first time using this camera). That worked and I was able to download the images from the camera. Then I formated the card, removed it from the camera and placed it in the computer's card reader.. all is good.

hairy_moth wrote in post #11748942
Yesterday after taking about 50 shots, the computer refused to read my CF card.
[...]
Then I formated the card, removed it from the camera and placed it in the computer's card reader.. all is good.

I would definitely retire this card.

i just delete all the images once transfered to the PC and not sure if i have ever formated. you never know if you want any you delete as the extreme pro cards come with a years subcription to the rescue pro software.

ranger50 wrote in post #11748775
I have been useing a Sandisk 8 GB extreame Pro, class 10 SDHC card in my 60D. I reformat the card each time that I download my images to the computer and delete them from the card. I reformat the card in the camera. Is this a good practice? Are you doing the same? just curious.

I once asked this question of NAPP tech support--they said that the reason lightroom doesn't have the option of formatting a card after import is because in-camera formatting is the best way to prevent corrupting the card.

led hed wrote in post #11748818
^, yep, i download my images to pc, then reformat IN camera, done!

Ditto!

alvezz wrote in post #11749813
i just delete all the images once transfered to the PC and not sure if i have ever formated. you never know if you want any you delete as the extreme pro cards come with a years subcription to the rescue pro software.

Not a good practice. Reformat In-Camera on a regular basis. Most people with problems do what you are doing, deleting pictures. The Sandisk cards are good and may have saved your bacon. Reformat often in the camera.

ranger50 wrote in post #11748775
I have been useing a Sandisk 8 GB extreame Pro, class 10 SDHC card in my 60D. I reformat the card each time that I download my images to the computer and delete them from the card. I reformat the card in the camera. Is this a good practice? Are you doing the same? just curious.

gjl711 wrote in post #11748789
Seems redundant. Why not just format in camera and skip the format in the PC? or just delete them and format once in a while.

Indeed - just read the card into the computer and format it in the camera, done.

Flash cells have a limited lifetime - now on cheaper flash that might be maybe 1000 writes per cell (8.000GB) - on better flash it can be up to 10.000 writes per cell (80.000GB) - while that's not something you will most likely reach using the card, but still there is no need to put extra wear on the card.

led hed wrote in post #11748818
^, yep, i download my images to pc, then reformat IN camera, done!

Same here.