Proper CF card management - DPChallenge Forums

01/06/2008 10:29:55 AM · #1

I don't think I am getting rid of my images correctly on my CF cards.

What is the best way to errase the images?

via computer, via camera?

do I errase? or simply reformat?

Thanks.

dwterry

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

01/06/2008 10:37:14 AM · #2

Are any of those the wrong way? I'm not so sure it really matters... I know a professional photographer who has her computer delete them as they are moved across to the computer. I personally don't delete them until they are backed up. So I move them to the computer. Have the computer back them up to another drive. And then I format the cards via the camera. But I'm never in a hurry to do so. I'll format the cards before the next shoot. But meanwhile, the images are in 3 locations until the next shoot and I like knowing that they still exist in 3 locations ... "just in case".

inshaala

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Canon

01/06/2008 10:37:53 AM · #3

I have heard that formatting the card using the camera is the way to do it properly to avoid compatability errors. That is what i do and havent had any problems so far. (it also gets rid of "protected" shots). Not sure about the "official" line on it but that is my 2p :)

01/06/2008 10:40:11 AM · #4

I copy files from the CF to the PC using a card reader, then replace the CF card in the camera and format immediately.

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

01/06/2008 10:41:33 AM · #5

It seem odd to me that my 4 gig card only holds over 150 images since yesterday. Shouldn't it hold twice that?

I think I am doing something to make the card bad. I have noticed decreased size in a couple of my cards.

Any thoughts on this?

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

01/06/2008 10:47:16 AM · #6

I get about 400 large RAW files on a 4g card. Your images are larger, so you'll get less, but not THAT much less. Did you reformat the card with the camera?

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Canon

01/06/2008 10:47:21 AM · #7

does the card format to the correct size in camera? - it usually says something like 3.7Gb on mine.

inshaala

Canon EOS-7D

01/06/2008 10:50:17 AM · #8

Originally posted by Man_Called_Horse:

Might be corrupted in places and unuseable. I'm only basing this on knowledge of Hard Drives. If you think it should hold more then you are probably right - my 2gig card holds about 250 shots but i am 8MP and shoot only RAW. I'm not sure if this is a good thing to do with CF cards (but i do it with HD's and Floppy's with no worries) as i dont know how they work internally, but try formatting the card via the computer... a quick format should be all you need to return every value to 0, then put it in your cam and then format it again (just incase the filing system needs to be put in by the cam). I cant offer any guarantee that this wont ruin your card as i dont know to much about CF cards in particular, but this is what i would try if i had a card as you are explaining in your position.

01/06/2008 10:54:41 AM · #9

Originally posted by idnic:

I get about 400 large RAW files on a 4g card. Your images are larger, so you'll get less, but not THAT much less. Did you reformat the card with the camera?

I shoot RAW all the time.

The differance this time round was I had my EYE-FI sd card in the other slot, along with the 4 Gig cf card.

I had to use duel processing on both cards ie., RAW/Large.

Is this the answer?

Originally posted by Falc:

does the card format to the correct size in camera? - it usually says something like 3.7Gb on mine.

Never noticed that. I will have to give a look.

Originally posted by inshaala:

I will take this under advisement, thank you.

01/06/2008 10:57:45 AM · #10

In my Mk III I have a 4Gb CF card and a 4Gb SD card, but I only have them set to capture the RAW file, not the Raw + Large jpg. My gut feeling is that if you set it back to Raw only then you will get your full compliment.

01/06/2008 11:05:01 AM · #11

Originally posted by Falc:

Hmmmm...will look into it.

The thing is, the EYE-Fi only works in Jpeg.