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#1
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Warning about formatting CF cards in a computer
Hi All,
I always re-format my CF cards after downloading the images and I used to think that doing this in the computer did essentially the same thing as in the camera. However I discovered this was not the case, during a trip to Tofino, Vancouver Island. I spent the weekend wondering why some of my cards were running so slowly in my PowerShot G3. The playback was extremely slow, as was the actual saving. I'd typically have to wait around 10 - 15 seconds after taking a photo before the camera was ready to go again. Mind you it didn't give any errors or anything and all the images turned out fine, it was just much much slower. Anyway I discovered when I got home that it was because I'd formatted some of the cards on the PC rather than in the camera. I did a few tests to confirm this, and I am now certain that it does make a huge difference to the performance. I don't know if this is the case for other cameras or not, but I just wanted to give people a heads up. I'm sure others have discovered this also. There must be something slightly different about the way the computer does it, because I've also noticed that the reported available space is also less on cards that have been formatted on the computer. Anyway so in short, it's best to always re-format CF cards in the camera. Eugene |
#2
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On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 08:59:56 +1000, Eugene O'Brien
wrote: Hi All, I always re-format my CF cards after downloading the images Why would you want to do that, just delete the images |
#3
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"GT40" wrote in message ... On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 08:59:56 +1000, Eugene O'Brien wrote: Hi All, I always re-format my CF cards after downloading the images Why would you want to do that, just delete the images Formating is better. Deleting will leave data behind which can corrupt the CF cards. I format ever time I put the card in my camera. Gee it takes a few seconds. |
#4
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On Wed, 6 Oct 2004 20:08:02 -0400, "~Darrell Larose~"
wrote: "GT40" wrote in message .. . On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 08:59:56 +1000, Eugene O'Brien wrote: Hi All, I always re-format my CF cards after downloading the images Why would you want to do that, just delete the images Formating is better. Deleting will leave data behind which can corrupt the CF cards. I format ever time I put the card in my camera. Gee it takes a few seconds. Never heard of that, can you point me to the reference? I haven't seen anything on the professional sites. |
#5
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Look at the cards after you delete the files, they never return to the
available space that was there before. Formatting, which I do after I download the files, restores that. -- Skip Middleton http://www.shadowcatcherimagery.com "GT40" wrote in message ... On Wed, 6 Oct 2004 20:08:02 -0400, "~Darrell Larose~" wrote: "GT40" wrote in message . .. On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 08:59:56 +1000, Eugene O'Brien wrote: Hi All, I always re-format my CF cards after downloading the images Why would you want to do that, just delete the images Formating is better. Deleting will leave data behind which can corrupt the CF cards. I format ever time I put the card in my camera. Gee it takes a few seconds. Never heard of that, can you point me to the reference? I haven't seen anything on the professional sites. |
#6
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Skip M wrote: Look at the cards after you delete the files, they never return to the available space that was there before. Formatting, which I do after I download the files, restores that. Hi Skip The difference being that when you reformat you remove the two directory entries. As soon as you put the card back in the camera and use it they come back. Ken |
#7
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Mine goes to the same both ways.
On Wed, 6 Oct 2004 18:38:05 -0700, "Skip M" wrote: Look at the cards after you delete the files, they never return to the available space that was there before. Formatting, which I do after I download the files, restores that. |
#8
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~Darrell Larose~ wrote:
"GT40" wrote in message ... On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 08:59:56 +1000, Eugene O'Brien wrote: Hi All, I always re-format my CF cards after downloading the images Why would you want to do that, just delete the images Formating is better. Deleting will leave data behind which can corrupt the CF cards. I format ever time I put the card in my camera. Gee it takes a few seconds. Formatting merely rewrites a clean File Allocation Table (FAT) onto the card, which is why it takes only a few seconds. The data from the erased shots is still on the card, and is not removed, just overwritten with new data. Colin. |
#9
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When I purchased the D70, the salesman (who I know very well and knows his
stuff) told me several times, always reformat the card after downloading. -- Michael Brown Melbourne Australia www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown "GT40" wrote in message ... On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 08:59:56 +1000, Eugene O'Brien wrote: Hi All, I always re-format my CF cards after downloading the images Why would you want to do that, just delete the images |
#10
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I have had 5 corrupted CF cards come into the store in 10 days, none of
which had been formatted. "Mick Brown" wrote in message ... When I purchased the D70, the salesman (who I know very well and knows his stuff) told me several times, always reformat the card after downloading. -- Michael Brown Melbourne Australia www.photo.net/photos/mlbrown "GT40" wrote in message ... On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 08:59:56 +1000, Eugene O'Brien wrote: Hi All, I always re-format my CF cards after downloading the images Why would you want to do that, just delete the images |
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