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D7100; Format or Delete?

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Nicholas50

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Every time before I go out shooting birds. I delete and format my SD cards. Do I need to do both or is one better than the other. I never know how much I will be shooting so I always like to start with empty cards. Any thoughts?
 
Nicholas50 said:
Every time before I go out shooting birds. I delete and format my SD cards. Do I need to do both or is one better than the other. I never know how much I will be shooting so I always like to start with empty cards. Any thoughts?
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If the card was used in a computer or card reader, I format it in camera before taking more pics. This assumes I've saved copies of the files I want to keep already. Formatting helps ensure no file writing issues (rare but happens) when taking new images, due to possible writing to the card by the PC. No need to delete before formatting.
 
I just format in the camera.

I also never put my cards in a pc or card reader without first setting the switch to lock for read only mode.
 
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Ditto above.
 
I use a program for downloading and sorting photos from the cards.....and when its taken care of all the phoyos , it asks permission to delete the files , I always let it delete the files, and then every month or so I format the cards in the camera......I have been doing it that way for years (about 250,000 photos) with no problem.........never a corrupt file from a Nikon camera.........3 from a Panasonic camera.
 
GaryR57 said:
I also never put my cards in a pc or card reader without first setting the switch to lock for read only mode.
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Good idea about the read only switch.
 
What is also important past Formatting only in the camera is to not mix and match memory cards if you are using cameras from different manufactures.

So if you have a D7100 and a waterproof Olympus camera that other camera should have its own memory cards.

When you format in camera the camera also places information it needs to manage the files.

In short, format is the same as delete, but format wipes everything related to the camera in use.

Once that card is formatted you can use it in any other camera safely.

Last, I would still not use the card from the D7100 even in a Nikon p&s, but that is my way of keeping everything straight and I usually use a smaller capacity card in a p&s anyway.
 
Is that to avoid the possibility of data corruption?
GaryR57 said:
I also never put my cards in a pc or card reader without first setting the switch to lock for read only mode.
Click to expand...
 
Always use format.
 
ryan2007 said:
When you format in camera the camera also places information it needs to manage the files.

In short, format is the same as delete, but format wipes everything related to the camera in use.

Once that card is formatted you can use it in any other camera safely.
Click to expand...
The latter point would only apply to a complete format in the computer, which is usually advised against.

I usually transfer images from the SD card at the beginning of a computing session and then immediately eject the card, using the "safe to eject" utility. I don't bother with the protection tab, because the SD card is never in the computer when the action starts. This means that the card goes back into the camera fairly quickly, and the camera is safely stowed.

I always copy the contents of the SD card to an archive folder and then eventually reformat the card in the camera. I have 4 cameras, and each camera has its own array of SD cards, which are numbered. I'd only delete images in the camera if I were desperate for card space, or if there was something embarrassing about a particular shot.

Card size is mainly governed by the type of camera. One older camera will only support 2Gb cards, and I have just one 2Gb card. I have a couple of 512Mb cards from another era in case my 2Gb card fails.
 
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You should always format the card from the camera you're going to use it with to prevent any problem. There are hardly any issues concerning the use of the same card in different cameras as long as you format them before starting shooting.
 
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