Memory Card wiping

Phototoxin

Do you guys wipe the card by deleting all the photos on it or by reformatting ?

I tend to format the card in camera after cutting to my pc incase the pc adds any files or what not.


is this good/bad or does it make no difference ?

quilmore

format (in camera only) every time
deleting files all the time can lead to format corruption

and always use a reputable card reader, never connect the camera to a computer unless for remote control (much quicker and safer)

barryfitz

quilmore wrote: »

never connect the camera to a computer unless for remote control

Why not connect the camera for transferring files?

Paulw

Normally I would put the card in to the PC to transfer files, but there are also times when I would connect the camera via USB to the PC to transfer files. I've no problems with that method.

As for clearing the card, I would always format the card in the camera.

quilmore

barryfitz wrote: »

Why not connect the camera for transferring files?

because it's risky
my mother fried a camera (over weeks, not in one go) connecting it to a computer that had the earth wire not properly connected
anyway, a card reader is so much quicker than why bother connecting the camera?

note: USB data goes in earth and chassis+5 volts, power goes in earth and chassis+12 volts
if your earth is not properly wired, as in the case of my mother's pc, your baseline goes higher than the usual "0"
electronics can manage a bit of chassis voltage, but you could strain voltage regulators and other bits of your camera when they have to push a "1" bit (at chassis+5 volts) to transfer data

Paulw

quilmore wrote: »

because it's risky
my mother fried a camera (over weeks, not in one go) connecting it to a computer that had the earth wire not properly connected
anyway, a card reader is so much quicker than why bother connecting the camera?

That's taking things a bit far. Putting a memory card in to your camera can be risky - you can end up bending pins, as people have done. That doesn't mean that people should be warned off doing it.

A card reader built in to your PC may be quicker, but an external card reader may not be quicker. Sometimes it's easier to connect the camera to the PC, rather than removing the memory card.

quilmore

Paulw wrote: »

That's taking things a bit far. Putting a memory card in to your camera can be risky - you can end up bending pins, as people have done. That doesn't mean that people should be warned off doing it..

agree
but that only is an issue to canon users AFAIK
not for nikon users, I haven't heard from any nikon camera with a bent pin, and I take my memory out after every shootout, that means hundreds of times a year, for the last 7 years I owned a DSLR, add to that my friends doing the same in Nikons for about the same time, never a problem

Paulw wrote: »

A card reader built in to your PC may be quicker, but an external card reader may not be quicker. Sometimes it's easier to connect the camera to the PC, rather than removing the memory card.

my sandisk imagemate (USB) beats any camera you can think of
and the newest firewire card reader from sandisk is more than twice as fast
be aware, non-branded readers can be v slow

Dodgykeeper

I have always used a USB and as I use a laptop I always plug it out while transfering to avoid any power issues, reallly think the card reader is the wrong option as it is only a matter of time before a pin bends (just read post above again and maybe its not as common as i was lead to believe)

Never format after cutting but will from now on!