Formatting camera cards

Jump to First Reply
leicamanleicaman
Posted:
in General Discussion
I just read the article on formatting camera cards with a Mac.

I won't go into just how wrong this article is, but having been a professional photographer for much longer than there has been digital cameras, I'm very familiar with this topic.

Basically, the universal fact that all pros I've ever run into know, is that the biggest single source of problems with memory cards in cameras is from not formatting with the camera the card is used in. You should't even use a card formatted with a different camera in the camera you are using. Even between generations of the same camera maker. 

And most modern cameras make it easy with a special menu for quick actions. You put the format function there and develop the habit of formatting a card immediately after inserting in the camera and you're good to go. These cards should not be long-term storage period. Shoot, download, format, shoot...

That is the only safe and professional way to do it. 

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 1
    Mike Wuerthelemike wuerthele Posts: 7,185administrator
    leicaman said:
    I just read the article on formatting camera cards with a Mac.

    I won't go into just how wrong this article is, but having been a professional photographer for much longer than there has been digital cameras, I'm very familiar with this topic.

    Basically, the universal fact that all pros I've ever run into know, is that the biggest single source of problems with memory cards in cameras is from not formatting with the camera the card is used in. You should't even use a card formatted with a different camera in the camera you are using. Even between generations of the same camera maker. 

    And most modern cameras make it easy with a special menu for quick actions. You put the format function there and develop the habit of formatting a card immediately after inserting in the camera and you're good to go. These cards should not be long-term storage period. Shoot, download, format, shoot...

    That is the only safe and professional way to do it. 
    Nothing you're saying is wrong, however, many of the tips we do are specific and by request. "How to format SD cards on the Mac" has been a frequent one, and this is what that's about.

    AppleInsider is for everybody, not just the pros.
    edited January 2022
     0Likes 0Dislikes 0Informatives
Sign In or Register to comment.