Comments on: 8 Tips to Prevent Memory Card Problems

By: Michael Clark

Michael Clark — Fri, 29 May 2020 19:55:56 +0000

In reply to Noel Ritchie. The memory controllers in flash memory cards do what is known as load balancing. The same logical addresses are not always assigned to the same physical locations. Starting out with a freshly formatted card each shoot allows the memory controller to select from the entire card to use the least used physical location first. Any data left on the card prevents those sectors from being used, even if they've been written to the least number of times. Another advantage of formatting is that any detected bad sectors are mapped out and reserve sectors are used to replace them.

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 28 May 2020 17:24:36 +0000

Some of these tips are outdated. Memory cards (or any other removable memory device) don’t need to be ejected from a PC before removing. Deleting images from a card in the camera will not corrupt the card.

By: Megan Kennedy

Megan Kennedy — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 18:35:37 +0000

In reply to PDL. Thanks PDL!

By: PDL

PDL — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 05:21:25 +0000

Or, by planning ahead, get a camera with two card slots. Set it to either – record in sequence (my standard) or record in parallel. If you are using sequence mode, when card one is full, it automatically shifts to card two. (Worked wonderfully in Scotland in the rain —- look Ma no doors open – Weather Sealed camera/lens rocks).
The same rules are followed, keep blank, formatted cards in your bag. Only change cards (and lenses) after powering off the camera. Use the write lock on the SD card to help avoid issues when copying off of the card to the computer. Format the cards in camera only.

By: Megan Kennedy

Megan Kennedy — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:52:06 +0000

In reply to Christopher. Sounds like a good system, thank you Christopher :)

By: Megan Kennedy

Megan Kennedy — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 16:51:21 +0000

In reply to DrMoishe Pippik. Good tips there, thanks DrMoishe!

By: Peter Abbott

Peter Abbott — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 15:41:48 +0000

In reply to Noel Ritchie.

Hi Noel,
I’m no electronics expert but I have been shooting digital since the late 90’s. I always reformat my cards (in camera) before a shoot regardless of how “full” they are. I have never had a problem with using only the same sector(s) over and over. OTOH I generally replace my cards every couple years anyway.

By: Megan Kennedy

Megan Kennedy — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 19:13:26 +0000

In reply to David. Cheers David!

By: Megan Kennedy

Megan Kennedy — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 19:12:53 +0000

In reply to Tom Cooper. Interesting, thanks Tom :)

By: Christopher

Christopher — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 01:00:26 +0000

After I download my images to the computer in Bridge, I let the software erase the card. Then when I put it back into the camera I reformat every time. I also have fresh cards for each camera on a photo shoot. That way I don’t mix up the cards from other cameras.