a6300 Shortcut to format or delete all

Does this exist?

No shortcut to format but on the a6000 you can delete the entire picture folder and that is probably still true for the a6300

Justin K said:

Does this exist?

Click to expand...

In playback mode, first item in first menu -- delete - all in this folder [assuming you are in folder view]. If you are in date view, then delete all with this date. So easy to get to, I wouldn't want to waste a dedicated button.

I have had the habit for the past 10 years of formatting my SD card after use each time. Was told it would keep it from going bad. Thoughts???

Justin K said:

I have had the habit for the past 10 years of formatting my SD card after use each time. Was told it would keep it from going bad. Thoughts???

Click to expand...

On 6300, format will delete your saved M1-M4 settings. And while a format may be able to resurrect a corrupt card, I really don't see how it would keep one from going bad -- after all, the camera isn't doing a low level format that might be claimed to 'refresh' every location.

I know there are a few web sites that recommend frequent formatting, but think about it -- cards have a finite number of write cycles -- a very large number with todays cards, but still finite. So how can more writes extend card life?

Justin K said:

I have had the habit for the past 10 years of formatting my SD card after use each time. Was told it would keep it from going bad. Thoughts???

Click to expand...

I've also just format the SD card to delete all pictures and video on the card. Done this with many cameras over many years without any problems. I've read that formatting is the best thing to do to get rid of everything on the SD card, but I'm sure opinions vary. ;-)

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

Does this exist?

Click to expand...

In playback mode, first item in first menu -- delete - all in this folder [assuming you are in folder view]. If you are in date view, then delete all with this date. So easy to get to, I wouldn't want to waste a dedicated button.

Click to expand...

This is the way to do it.

othewise, as mentioned, you will delete your M1-M4 settings when you format the card.

Actually I have latest firmware for 6300 as of 12/1/2016 and it has a format option on the last top tab in the menu sub-tab 6 some where in the middle of the page.

caplanner said:

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

Does this exist?

Click to expand...

In playback mode, first item in first menu -- delete - all in this folder [assuming you are in folder view]. If you are in date view, then delete all with this date. So easy to get to, I wouldn't want to waste a dedicated button.

Click to expand...

This is the way to do it.

othewise, as mentioned, you will delete your M1-M4 settings when you format the card.

Click to expand...

Is that a difference from A6300 to A6000? I can definetly state that on the A6000 the settings do not get lost when formatting. Just tested yesterday....

42andreas said:

caplanner said:

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

Does this exist?

Click to expand...

In playback mode, first item in first menu -- delete - all in this folder [assuming you are in folder view]. If you are in date view, then delete all with this date. So easy to get to, I wouldn't want to waste a dedicated button.

Click to expand...

This is the way to do it.

othewise, as mentioned, you will delete your M1-M4 settings when you format the card.

Click to expand...

Is that a difference from A6300 to A6000? I can definetly state that on the A6000 the settings do not get lost when formatting. Just tested yesterday....

Click to expand...

The 6300/6500 store the m1-m4 presets on the memory card, allowing the user to have different cards 'dedicated' for different shooting environments.

As I recall, the 6000 stores the presets in the camera.

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

I have had the habit for the past 10 years of formatting my SD card after use each time. Was told it would keep it from going bad. Thoughts???

Click to expand...

On 6300, format will delete your saved M1-M4 settings. And while a format may be able to resurrect a corrupt card, I really don't see how it would keep one from going bad -- after all, the camera isn't doing a low level format that might be claimed to 'refresh' every location.

I know there are a few web sites that recommend frequent formatting, but think about it -- cards have a finite number of write cycles -- a very large number with todays cards, but still finite. So how can more writes extend card life?

Click to expand...

Dang, so thats why my A6500 lost the M1-M4 settings, thanks for pointing this out. Why the camera does not come with enough memory to save 4 simple memory settings is perplexing?

Kev The Doc said:

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

I have had the habit for the past 10 years of formatting my SD card after use each time. Was told it would keep it from going bad. Thoughts???

Click to expand...

On 6300, format will delete your saved M1-M4 settings. And while a format may be able to resurrect a corrupt card, I really don't see how it would keep one from going bad -- after all, the camera isn't doing a low level format that might be claimed to 'refresh' every location.

I know there are a few web sites that recommend frequent formatting, but think about it -- cards have a finite number of write cycles -- a very large number with todays cards, but still finite. So how can more writes extend card life?

Click to expand...

Dang, so thats why my A6500 lost the M1-M4 settings, thanks for pointing this out. Why the camera does not come with enough memory to save 4 simple memory settings is perplexing?

Click to expand...

I'm sure it has enough memory -- but I suspect the design engineers thought it a better idea to allow users to have many different sets of presets on different memory cards -- like a card with 4 different portrait presets, and another with 4 different landscape presets -- or a card with 4 different settings tailored for one specific lens, etc. Seems much better functionality than having 4 and only 4.

i guess an annoying difference and this feature of losing m1-m4 also occurs of the a6500.

Oh, i read in the thread that this is a Sony "feature" so that i can have different memory settings on different cards. Does Sony ever test their user interface concepts w real users? Oh, yes - of course -- buyers like me test it for them and then some the fixes make it into the next release and some don't.

Two steps forward ... one step back ... welcome to Sonyland. Overall, a great body w a few quirks.

42andreas said:

caplanner said:

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

Does this exist?

Click to expand...

In playback mode, first item in first menu -- delete - all in this folder [assuming you are in folder view]. If you are in date view, then delete all with this date. So easy to get to, I wouldn't want to waste a dedicated button.

Click to expand...

This is the way to do it.

othewise, as mentioned, you will delete your M1-M4 settings when you format the card.

Click to expand...

Is that a difference from A6300 to A6000? I can definetly state that on the A6000 the settings do not get lost when formatting. Just tested yesterday....

Click to expand...

meta4one said:

i guess an annoying difference and this feature of losing m1-m4 also occurs of the a6500.

Oh, i read in the thread that this is a Sony "feature" so that i can have different memory settings on different cards. Does Sony ever test their user interface concepts w real users? Oh, yes - of course -- buyers like me test it for them and then some the fixes make it into the next release and some don't.

Two steps forward ... one step back ... welcome to Sonyland. Overall, a great body w a few quirks.

42andreas said:

caplanner said:

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

Does this exist?

Click to expand...

In playback mode, first item in first menu -- delete - all in this folder [assuming you are in folder view]. If you are in date view, then delete all with this date. So easy to get to, I wouldn't want to waste a dedicated button.

Click to expand...

This is the way to do it.

othewise, as mentioned, you will delete your M1-M4 settings when you format the card.

Click to expand...

Is that a difference from A6300 to A6000? I can definetly state that on the A6000 the settings do not get lost when formatting. Just tested yesterday....

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Let's hope a firmware update improves some of these "features" , or am I dreaming here?

Kev The Doc said:

meta4one said:

i guess an annoying difference and this feature of losing m1-m4 also occurs of the a6500.

Oh, i read in the thread that this is a Sony "feature" so that i can have different memory settings on different cards. Does Sony ever test their user interface concepts w real users? Oh, yes - of course -- buyers like me test it for them and then some the fixes make it into the next release and some don't.

Two steps forward ... one step back ... welcome to Sonyland. Overall, a great body w a few quirks.

42andreas said:

caplanner said:

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

Does this exist?

Click to expand...

In playback mode, first item in first menu -- delete - all in this folder [assuming you are in folder view]. If you are in date view, then delete all with this date. So easy to get to, I wouldn't want to waste a dedicated button.

Click to expand...

This is the way to do it.

othewise, as mentioned, you will delete your M1-M4 settings when you format the card.

Click to expand...

Is that a difference from A6300 to A6000? I can definetly state that on the A6000 the settings do not get lost when formatting. Just tested yesterday....

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Let's hope a firmware update improves some of these "features" , or am I dreaming here?

Click to expand...

>> Based on past experience, it would take an act of God for Sony to resolve this in a firmware update. Would be nice, but I would not hold my breath. Anyway. memory 1 & 2 are not erased from the sd is formated, so that's something at least.

missingendpoint said:

Kev The Doc said:

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

I have had the habit for the past 10 years of formatting my SD card after use each time. Was told it would keep it from going bad. Thoughts???

Click to expand...

On 6300, format will delete your saved M1-M4 settings. And while a format may be able to resurrect a corrupt card, I really don't see how it would keep one from going bad -- after all, the camera isn't doing a low level format that might be claimed to 'refresh' every location.

I know there are a few web sites that recommend frequent formatting, but think about it -- cards have a finite number of write cycles -- a very large number with todays cards, but still finite. So how can more writes extend card life?

Click to expand...

Dang, so thats why my A6500 lost the M1-M4 settings, thanks for pointing this out. Why the camera does not come with enough memory to save 4 simple memory settings is perplexing?

Click to expand...

I'm sure it has enough memory -- but I suspect the design engineers thought it a better idea to allow users to have many different sets of presets on different memory cards -- like a card with 4 different portrait presets, and another with 4 different landscape presets -- or a card with 4 different settings tailored for one specific lens, etc. Seems much better functionality than having 4 and only 4.

Click to expand...

Now what would be a smarter feature, "if" the majority of people need more than 6 memory settings in the first place (?) would be different memory presets for each lens connected not different memory cards.

Personally, 6 memory settings is enough for me.

missingendpoint said:

42andreas said:

caplanner said:

missingendpoint said:

Justin K said:

Does this exist?

Click to expand...

In playback mode, first item in first menu -- delete - all in this folder [assuming you are in folder view]. If you are in date view, then delete all with this date. So easy to get to, I wouldn't want to waste a dedicated button.

Click to expand...

This is the way to do it.

othewise, as mentioned, you will delete your M1-M4 settings when you format the card.

Click to expand...

Is that a difference from A6300 to A6000? I can definetly state that on the A6000 the settings do not get lost when formatting. Just tested yesterday....

Click to expand...

The 6300/6500 store the m1-m4 presets on the memory card, allowing the user to have different cards 'dedicated' for different shooting environments.

As I recall, the 6000 stores the presets in the camera.

Click to expand...

Like many have said - at least i know why my memory presets get wiped. I came from the a6000 and upgraded recently to the a6500.

I am a format-the-SD-card type of user so I guess I will have to change that behavior.

mixem227 said:

mixem227 said:

mixem227 said:

mixem227 said:

othewise, as mentioned, you will delete your M1-M4 settings when you format the card.

Click to expand...

Is that a difference from A6300 to A6000? I can definetly state that on the A6000 the settings do not get lost when formatting. Just tested yesterday....

Click to expand...

The 6300/6500 store the m1-m4 presets on the memory card, allowing the user to have different cards 'dedicated' for different shooting environments.

As I recall, the 6000 stores the presets in the camera.

Click to expand...

Like many have said - at least i know why my memory presets get wiped. I came from the a6000 and upgraded recently to the a6500.

I am a format-the-SD-card type of user so I guess I will have to change that behavior.

Click to expand...

Note that the A6000's MR1, 2, and 3 settings, which were in a menu and not on the mode dial directly, were stored in camera...this behavior has NOT changed on the A6300 or A6500 - the difference is, they went from 3 MR settings to 2 MR settings stored on the camera - on the A6300 & A6500, it's the MR1 and MR2 positions on the mode dial. These are your primary memory banks and never get wiped. Then, they allowed a user to store up to 4 additional memory settings on the SD card, for a total of 6. Those 4 additional ones will get wiped if you format a card.

I have always formatted cards, and still do on my A6300 - but I don't bother to use the M1 - M4 settings on the card - I stick with the MR1 and MR2 settings for my memory banks, which are permanent. I haven't found the need to store additional ones, but if I did need to use the 4 additional slots on the memory card, the solutions would be to either avoid formatting the card in the future, or learn where they are stored on your card, and make a backup copy of those on your computer...then when you format, you could re-load those settings from the computer back to the card.

Thank you for pointing that out! Come to think of it, that can be a very clever feature for photographers who frequently shoot in different settings and would like to create several pre-sets for each environment.

Given Sony's engineers apparently designed this feature on purpose, presumably that also means that they disagree with a recommendation I have read from time to time that "formatting a card is better than deleting images, because formatting avoids card corruption". Sony's feature suggests that deleting images rather than formatting a card is the way to properly handle card memory.