lesson learned

[tomorrowstreasures]

When purchasing a memory card, find one that includes a recovery disk. The San Disk Extreme III does and saved my rear end, big time. This disk recovers "corrupt" files on your memory card if something goes amiss in the formatting of the disk.
Also, for inexperienced folks, formatting your memory card is all important and should be done in the camera, not the computer.

[landon9720]

ken rockwell says to format the card after each shoot. what do you think of that?

[Ben H]

It's actually what I do.

I import the images from the card in Lightroom. When I know they are imported safey, I'll then put the card back into the camera and format it. It's actually one or two less keystrokes on my camera to do this than to use the "erase all" function, and it keeps the card format "fresh" and avoids any corruption that might set in.

I don't really want my computer to automatically delete the images on the card during (or after) import, I prefer to have control over the deletion.

[tomorrowstreasures]

Formatting erases all of the information - meaning mega data and image files.
As long as your images are stored on/in another storage source - cd/dvd/ external hard drive and so on, then yes, I agree.

[landon9720]

i'm wondering if formatting the card might be harder on it then just deleting the files. for instance, deleting the files might just write to an index, whereas formatting might touch every sector. (not sure how this technology works.)

[Marko]

I'm so happy this saved your butt TT.

[Travis]

i'm wondering if formatting the card might be harder on it then just deleting the files. for instance, deleting the files might just write to an index, whereas formatting might touch every sector. (not sure how this technology works.)

nah... it's all solid state non moving parts... full format is safer for your media..

[Ben H]

i'm wondering if formatting the card might be harder on it then just deleting the files. for instance, deleting the files might just write to an index, whereas formatting might touch every sector. (not sure how this technology works.)

No, it won't be doing low-level formatting - just quick formatting (destroying the FATs and rebuilding fresh ones).

Perfectly safe. Some people worry too much...

[tomorrowstreasures]

I'm so happy this saved your butt TT.

OMG - me too! now i can breathe and sleep