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01/29/2012 08:32:37 PM · #26 |
Originally posted by vawendy:
Question, though... why do you reformat your cards? I use the same 4 cards, but I never reformat, only erase all. Am I missing something I should be doing? |
You might be surprised. A card that is only erased and never formatted can eventually become slower, because the space becomes fragmented. This is especially true if you don't erase all every time. A format is the cleanest way to avoid this, since it clears the file allocation table, and you start from fresh, writing each file in order, in one contiguous block, not multiple fragments.
The file system on a memory card is FAT16 or FAT32, which stands for File Allocation Table in 16-bit or 32-bit flavor respectively. In theory, you can format the card in your computer and obtain the same result as in the camera. But the camera may do some additional prep0aratory work in addition to the formatting itself, such as placing certain information, folders and files on the card. Some cameras may not respond well if this information is missing from a freshly-formatted card, though I think this is *much* less common than it once may have been. I've personally never had trouble formatting my cards in the computer, but it's at least as fast to do so in-camera, and that's how I do it.
ETA: The thread on DPReview that Richard linked to is very good, for those interested in more of the technical details.
Message edited by author 2012-01-29 20:39:13.
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01/29/2012 08:34:21 PM · #27 |
I format each time for pretty much the exact reason he says in this article - to rewrite the file allocation tables on the card. |
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01/29/2012 08:34:28 PM · #28 |
Fortunately, I think my cameras are too slow for this to be a factor ... :-)
The format doesn't erase the files, just the table, which is why they can still be recovered.
Message edited by author 2012-01-29 20:35:32. |
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01/29/2012 09:31:41 PM · #29 |
Originally posted by tanguera:
I think I'll keep him.
:beams:
Yes, sweetie is AWESOME. NO reshoot :-)!!!!!!!
I'm not sure why I do it that way, Wendy. I was told that to keep the proper filing on the card for the specific camera, one had to format the card in the camera. Perhaps you can start a thread with that question? I'd also like to know!!!! |
whooo hoooo!! Way to go sweetie! Congrats tangy! |
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01/29/2012 09:33:27 PM · #30 |
Originally posted by tanguera:
I think I'll keep him.
:beams:
Yes, sweetie is AWESOME. NO reshoot :-)!!!!!!!
I'm not sure why I do it that way, Wendy. I was told that to keep the proper filing on the card for the specific camera, one had to format the card in the camera. Perhaps you can start a thread with that question? I'd also like to know!!!! |
Can you let us know what software was used? Might help others!
And tell The Hand he's awesome. :-) |
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01/29/2012 09:55:54 PM · #31 |
The allocation table, etc., were the reasons I was told to format in camera.
The recovery software, believe it or not, is the free software that comes with the disk: Sandisk Recovery Pro.
The Hand knows he's awesome ;-)
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01/29/2012 09:57:49 PM · #32 |
| Oh, one more question regarding the rescued files. The program renumbered them. Is that considered "altered"? |
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01/29/2012 10:03:03 PM · #33 |
Originally posted by tanguera:
Oh, one more question regarding the rescued files. The program renumbered them. Is that considered "altered"? |
That's a good question. If it's a RAW file, I would assume it's valid regardless of file number -- unless it lost its date, etc. Because RAW is RAW and not associated with a program (from what I understand.)
Message edited by author 2012-01-29 22:03:30. |
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01/29/2012 10:03:51 PM · #34 |
| EXIF appears to be intact. |
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01/29/2012 10:36:39 PM · #35 |
| Glad you manage to retrieve everything OK, Johanna. I've also done just that, shot for a challenge then just went and reformatted the card :-/ |
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01/29/2012 11:57:03 PM · #36 |
| Glad things are looking up Johanna...it doesn't matter what the file naming is. Just like people, what really matters is what's inside :) |
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01/30/2012 12:05:22 AM · #37 |
| Great Johanna. I'm sure you are more than relieved. |
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01/30/2012 12:13:06 AM · #38 |
Originally posted by hahn23:
Originally posted by tanguera:
@ hahn23 - yes, it is logical to believe that but the Deb is right. I've actually recovered images from a CF that was not only formatted, but also had more images captured after the format. Yeah, weird. Got a call from my personal mechanic. We'll see what he's recovered... |
Deb and Johanna,
Thanks for these important insights. I learn something new every day. |
After working in the solid state storage industry (Lexar/Curcial/Micron) it's no surprise that the a good chunk of data is still there. Pretty much when you hit the format button, you're telling the card that the space used is now available instead of going through every bit and erasing, just clears up the reference table is all. |
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