camera corrupting cards? - DPChallenge Forums

10/15/2013 09:24:15 PM · #1

Is it possible for a camera to corrupt a memory card? And if so, how can you fix it.

I have tried different cards, different readers, regular/periodic formatting, etc. and will still get corrupted files about every 4th time I shoot.

I can usually recover at least most of them, but it is a bit of a pain.

10/15/2013 09:27:28 PM · #2

Look at it this way: the card sure as heck didn't corrupt ITSELF, so something's happening in the camera that causes it to get corrupted... It COULD be a wonky connection between card and camera, I think; if it's not that, then an intermittent write error seems likely. But I don't really KNOW anything, I'm just theorizing. I'll shaddup now.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/16/2013 09:18:23 AM · #3

bump

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/16/2013 11:29:08 AM · #4

Since it is happening with multiple cards, it sounds like it is more the camera than the cards. Some questions:
- When you get corrupted files, is it only a few file son the card, or most, or all?
- Are you still able to view the images on the rear LCD?
- When you recover files, do you sometimes get a file back that is junk (image is corrupted) or do you always get good files if you manage to get them back?
- Is the problem specific to one of the card slots in the camera (the SD or the CF)?

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/16/2013 12:04:41 PM · #5

Most of the time it is not all -- roughly half -- of the files.
I *can* still see them on the LCD -- there is no indication that there is an issue until I try to dump them
There have been a couple of times when I only get half an image back -- it may have weird stripes or chunks in it, or half of it be gray.
It corrupts the SD and the CF equally.

I do need a faster card reader, and hope to get one (any recommendations) and also thought about picking up a new SD card and seeing what happens.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/16/2013 01:34:39 PM · #6

Ah, that helps. It seems that you are having both corruption of the file system on the card (why files disappear even though they are recoverable) and less often corruption of the files themselves. The area that contains the information on file names and locations (the file allocation table) is written to each time a file is added, changed or deleted, so it is expected that corruption will be more common there. When that area becomes corrupted, it becomes necessary to recover files. If corruption happens in an area that contains a file, you'll get a damaged image.
I think it is worth trying a new card. I would think that this card would have plenty of speed and capacity, and the price is certainly right.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/16/2013 01:47:58 PM · #7

Is there any way a reader can corrupt a card? Do you download straight from the camera or do you put the cards into another reader?

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

10/16/2013 01:56:33 PM · #8

Have you tried just plugging the camera in directly to the computer and downloading that way? I had a card problem when I was in vermont, and I'm pretty sure it was the reader. It would be an interesting experiment to download the card directly from the camera and bypass any card readers and see if you still have the issue. (USB cord)

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

10/16/2013 01:57:08 PM · #9

Originally posted by vawendy:

oops -- Doc just said that.

I'm just reiterating. :)

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/16/2013 02:00:01 PM · #10

I remove the cards from the cameras then put them in the reader. may try directly from the camera later this evening.

the card reader i have is slower than molasses in january, anyway, so i may still get another one and try it as well.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/16/2013 02:28:33 PM · #11

Originally posted by DrAchoo:

Is there any way a reader can corrupt a card? Do you download straight from the camera or do you put the cards into another reader?

It's not likely if all you're doing is reading from the card, but it is remotely possible. If you are writing to the card, it is certainly a possibility, and in fact, it is a possibility in Karma's circumstances. One indication of a possible problem is that the reader is very slow. Older readers were slow, but they also may not play well with newer cards. So it is worth trying another reader or a direct connection.

ETA: If you have USB 3.0 on your 'pooter, the newer USB 3.0 readers are wonderful. Simply no comparison to USB 2.0. I have one very similar to this model.

Message edited by author 2013-10-16 14:32:08.

Epsi

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

Asahi 55mm f/1.8 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar, M42 Mount

10/16/2013 02:29:32 PM · #12

Originally posted by karmat:

I used to experience the same issue. I ended up blaming the old computer (+5 years old laptop, maybe combined with an OS issue), either with the built-in card reader or via external USB-reader it had problems. Same card, same reader on newer computers recover all the files correctly. After upgrading to a new laptop (about 7 months ago) the problem disappeared (same readers, same cards, etc). I think to recall that the problem was particularly acute with an 8GB card rather than with a 2GB.

In my case all files were present only when trying to open them they appeared corrupted. If all the images appear in your card it shouldn't be an issue of the allocation table. If instead you have missing files that appear after recovery the allocation table sounds like the guilty one. Not an expert opinion, but hope it helps.

tanguera

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

10/16/2013 02:33:21 PM · #13

Maybe you need to update your camera's firmware...?

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/16/2013 02:34:57 PM · #14

Can't say for sure this is the case, but I was having a similar issue, where my 'new' 1DmkIII (A very well abused specimen from Schlake's stable), was having issues with corrupting CF cards. I crushed the first one, and threw it away, but the next two made it clear something was up.

Turned out that the contacts were dirty. I ordered a CF card slot/pin cleaner, used it on the reader and the camera, and the problem has thus far disappeared. Haven't seen an Err02 or Err99 since, and haven't had a single card corrupted on read.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

10/16/2013 03:36:46 PM · #15

Originally posted by Cory:

Could you elaborate on this card slot/pin cleaner? Is this something for the molly maids, or might I devise it from the enormous junk dowry in my domain?

Cory

Canon EOS-1D Mark IV

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

10/16/2013 06:05:01 PM · #16

Originally posted by tnun:

Originally posted by Cory:
Can't say for sure this is the case, but I was having a similar issue, where my 'new' 1DmkIII (A very well abused specimen from Schlake's stable), was having issues with corrupting CF cards. I crushed the first one, and threw it away, but the next two made it clear something was up.

Turned out that the contacts were dirty. I ordered a CF card slot/pin cleaner, used it on the reader and the camera, and the problem has thus far disappeared. Haven't seen an Err02 or Err99 since, and haven't had a single card corrupted on read.

Could you elaborate on this card slot/pin cleaner? Is this something for the molly maids, or might I devise it from the enormous junk dowry in my domain?

Elaboration.

10/16/2013 07:19:22 PM · #17

Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by tnun:

Originally posted by Cory:
I ordered a CF card slot/pin cleaner, used it on the reader and the camera, and the problem has thus far disappeared. Haven't seen an Err02 or Err99 since, and haven't had a single card corrupted on read.

Could you elaborate on this card slot/pin cleaner?

Elaboration.

Terrific! Just ordered one!

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/16/2013 07:20:12 PM · #18

Originally posted by kirbic:

I have one very similar to this model.

Ditto. Works a treat. Nicky has one too. Others must as well...

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/16/2013 09:18:24 PM · #19

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by kirbic:
I have one very similar to this model.

Ditto. Works a treat. Nicky has one too. Others must as well...

Maybe I should get one â�� been having bit of trouble with this older model ... ;-)

herfotoman

Canon EOS-7D Mark II

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/17/2013 01:46:57 AM · #20

Originally posted by GeneralE:

Maybe I should get one â�� been having bit of trouble with this older model ... ;-)

Ooohh....

I wish I could afford these new small cards like yours.

And I hear the reader is so good, it eats cards for breakfast..

Message edited by author 2013-10-17 01:49:18.

10/18/2013 06:16:56 PM · #21

Okay, after 5 days and 6 or 7 rounds with Zero Assumption Recovery software, I finally got the 50 or so images I *needed* off of the card (and over 6000 that I did not).

My new card reader won't read the card either.

So, I'm reformatting the card in the new reader and going from there.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/18/2013 08:13:24 PM · #22

Originally posted by karmat:

So, I'm reformatting the card in the new reader and going from there.

DON'T reformat cards in readers! Reformat them in the camera that you'll be using them in.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

10/18/2013 08:30:23 PM · #23

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by karmat:
So, I'm reformatting the card in the new reader and going from there.

DON'T reformat cards in readers! Reformat them in the camera that you'll be using them in.

And try to not switch the cards between cameras ...

tnun

Ricoh GR III

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

10/18/2013 09:07:48 PM · #24

yes. could someone expand on that? I have discovered that it is not a good idea to switch cards between cameras as well, but I don't really know why.

Oh and PS, thanks for the elaboration, Corybaci. (I think that means Uncle Cory in Hungarian, which is how I think of him when he is not being a little boy).

Message edited by author 2013-10-18 21:10:01.