G7 broken being too rough with memory cards

My Panasonic G7 says No Memory Card. My guess is that I have been too rough putting a card in, hence the bent plastic below.

I got a new lens today and have been comparing it to others, taking lenses and cards on and off multiple times. I wouldn't say I was being rough, but not slow and gentle either. It is likely I shoved one in too fast at a bit of an angle.

Does anyone have any advice please?

I did a factory reset of the camera.

I have been using the cards in Windows and Mac laptops.

I ran Mac First Aid on the cards, it only worked on the damaged card. I was only able to Format that card too. After straightening the plastic. The card which appears OK was frozen in the Formatting state on my Windows laptop. Then it says Write Protected- this is probably because a friend used it in his PC and I have only been able to delete files on one laptop since. So I think that is a separate issue.

Looking into the memory card slot I can't see clearly, but things don't seem aligned. There is definitely a bent bit where the bent part on my card shows below. But others are bent too and it is so hard to see that I shouldn't risk poking around in there without opening it up.

Anyone come across something like this before? If not should I take it to my local camera store or call Panasonic? I am guessing a bit of plastic has bent like on the card, but it doesnt look simple to get in there.

Any advice much appreciated.


One in the left has bent piece of plastic, which may of damaged camera too?


This is the card type, both been fine for 2 years

mentos77 said:

My Panasonic G7 says No Memory Card. My guess is that I have been too rough putting a card in, hence the bent plastic below.

I got a new lens today and have been comparing it to others, taking lenses and cards on and off multiple times. I wouldn't say I was being rough, but not slow and gentle either. It is likely I shoved one in too fast at a bit of an angle.

Does anyone have any advice please?

I did a factory reset of the camera.

I have been using the cards in Windows and Mac laptops.

I ran Mac First Aid on the cards, it only worked on the damaged card. I was only able to Format that card too. After straightening the plastic. The card which appears OK was frozen in the Formatting state on my Windows laptop. Then it says Write Protected- this is probably because a friend used it in his PC and I have only been able to delete files on one laptop since. So I think that is a separate issue.

Looking into the memory card slot I can't see clearly, but things don't seem aligned. There is definitely a bent bit where the bent part on my card shows below. But others are bent too and it is so hard to see that I shouldn't risk poking around in there without opening it up.

Anyone come across something like this before? If not should I take it to my local camera store or call Panasonic? I am guessing a bit of plastic has bent like on the card, but it doesnt look simple to get in there.

Any advice much appreciated.


This is the card type, both been fine for 2 years

Click to expand...

Looks like the lock tab has been moved downwards slightly on the one on the right?

I've got several of these, so will trying to be gentle with them in future - thanks for the warning!

Peter

--
Recent, mostly Panasonic and Samsungs
Older, of all sorts...

Agreed. Locking tab seems to have been accidently moved.

Hi

The locking tab on SD cards is such a stupid idea. They are not on CF cards, why SD? They catch on things and fall off apart from anything else.

You do have to be careful inserting and removing SD cards. Its very easy to damage a camera by accident. Some cards are quite roughly constructed. Sometimes I very gently file the edges with a emery board to smooth them over so they don't catch.

Just checked and - with both a Sandisk and with that Transcend card - both the LX7 and GX1 will throw up an onscreen warning of...

"This memory card is write-protected"

... if one tries to use a card whose the locking tab fully-engaged.

The LX7 then makes a bleeping noise if the shutter button's pressed, whereas the GX1 simply refuses to do anything!

May be different if the tab is in a mid-way position of some sort, but this could well NOT be the solution in your case?

Good luck with finding one, although I suspect you may damaged it beyond reliable repair and might be better simply dumping it - lest it lets you down at some critical moment?

Peter

I was messing with the lock tab (but thanks- that has allowed me to delete off it now). The camera is in mint condition, I have (hopefully) just bent a little something. Time to start poking around in there. Will let you all know what happens.

Thanks all

edit: Couldn't see well enough to fix it, had a tiny fiddle with a pin but didn't really know what I was doing. So I called panasonic and they said to send it in. It looks like there are pins to hold the pin on the card in place then more at the end. I suspect it is something at the end, which I couldn't get to. There was a 2 year warranty when I bought it, so hopefully it is an easy fix and I just need to pay approx £80 in total for shipping and the base labour rate of £40 + VAT.

mentos77 said:

There was a 2 year warranty when I bought it, so hopefully it is an easy fix and I just need to pay approx £80 in total for shipping and the base labour rate of £40 + VAT.

Click to expand...

Ouch! Hope all goes well...

Peter

So I put off sending it today thinking I would Google it and see if anything came up. But was too busy for a thorough search. Then I just remembered I have a micro SD card reader. Plugged that in and it works.

Anybody got any advice now?

For example; any SD cards which have larger dimensions like the SD card reader? or any way of extending my cards? I bought the G7 for 300 and they sell for 300 used, hardly seems worth risking sending it in, especially if I might have to pay to have the whole card reader compartment changed, which I am guessing would be 200.

If not I will just grab a fast micro SD card. Just checked and they are only 14 on amazon Or 32 for a 128GB one



The Micro SD card reader has larger plastic pins between the gold strips. Plus 2 of the gold strips extend more than the two that extend on the SD cards which won't work:


The micro SD card reader on the right works. It has slightly longer and wider plastic pins.




The one on the left looks fine but doesn't work, The SD card reader with micro SD works.

mentos77 said:

So I put off sending it today thinking I would Google it and see if anything came up. But was too busy for a thorough search. Then I just remembered I have a micro SD card reader. Plugged that in and it works.

Anybody got any advice now?

For example; any SD cards which have larger dimensions like the SD card reader? or any way of extending my cards? I bought the G7 for 300 and they sell for 300 used, hardly seems worth risking sending it in, especially if I might have to pay to have the whole card reader compartment changed, which I am guessing would be 200.

If not I will just grab a fast micro SD card. Just checked and they are only 14 on amazon Or 32 for a 128GB one

The Micro SD card reader has larger plastic pins between the gold strips. Plus 2 of the gold strips extend more than the two that extend on the SD cards which won't work:


The micro SD card reader on the right works. It has slightly longer and wider plastic pins.


The one on the left looks fine but doesn't work, The SD card reader with micro SD works.

Click to expand...

As an alternative to a minimum £128, buying a micro card or two sounds pretty good?

I've a camera that uses them, so some 18 months ago bought a couple of the grey Samsung Pro 32GB micro SDHC cards - and they seems fine in my own Panasonics in their adaptors.

Currently about £19 for the 32GB SDHC (what I went for), or else £30 for the 64GB SDXC


Speed tests for the larger of those two...


But I've no idea how those prices and speed might compare with other decent brands' offerings today?

Peter

--
Recent, mostly Panasonic and Samsungs
Older, of all sorts...

Thanks for the information, will take a look at those. I will get a 64GB first and if it works consistently, another too. There is a Toshiba 64GB for £14 which has the 10 and 3 which I have on my existing cards. It has 4K in the title so may give that a shot first, or compare the speeds to yours.

edit; apparently the cheap Toshiba is terrible and people are reporting write speeds of just 12MB/s. It should be at least 30MB/s. Might just work, because apparently Panasonics' Ultra HD at 100 Mbps only needs 12.5MB/s, but it is not worth the risk. Will stick with the above recommendation.

As I am likely to upgrade to the GH5 which will get 400 Mbps Ultra HD, I will look for one with write speeds above 50MB/s.

Be carful with those write protect tabs. Inserting an SD card with a broken tab cost me $300 to repair my GH4. Actually is was removing the card that did the damage.

I suggest trying a tiny TINY bit of DeOxit on the SD card contacts.

mentos77 said:

Thanks for the information, will take a look at those. I will get a 64GB first and if it works consistently, another too. There is a Toshiba 64GB for £14 which has the 10 and 3 which I have on my existing cards. It has 4K in the title so may give that a shot first, or compare the speeds to yours.

edit; apparently the cheap Toshiba is terrible and people are reporting write speeds of just 12MB/s. It should be at least 30MB/s. Might just work, because apparently Panasonics' Ultra HD at 100 Mbps only needs 12.5MB/s, but it is not worth the risk. Will stick with the above recommendation.

As I am likely to upgrade to the GH5 which will get 400 Mbps Ultra HD, I will look for one with write speeds above 50MB/s.

Click to expand...

I actually picked up one of those Toshiba's for my GX80 from Amazon, figuring that if I don't use it I can send it back - at that price it's a steal but I thought I'd double check and see what the real world experience is for people who have it. Do you happen to have any links to posts where people complain about them? Cheers.

El Jeffe said:

Be carful with those write protect tabs. Inserting an SD card with a broken tab cost me $300 to repair my GH4. Actually is was removing the card that did the damage.

I suggest trying a tiny TINY bit of DeOxit on the SD card contacts.

Click to expand...

Thank you for the advice. I have been using a micro SD and sticking to using USB instead of pulling it out, in the hope no more damage will be done.

I will look up DeOxit now

stewart hull said:

mentos77 said:

Thanks for the information, will take a look at those. I will get a 64GB first and if it works consistently, another too. There is a Toshiba 64GB for £14 which has the 10 and 3 which I have on my existing cards. It has 4K in the title so may give that a shot first, or compare the speeds to yours.

edit; apparently the cheap Toshiba is terrible and people are reporting write speeds of just 12MB/s. It should be at least 30MB/s. Might just work, because apparently Panasonics' Ultra HD at 100 Mbps only needs 12.5MB/s, but it is not worth the risk. Will stick with the above recommendation.

As I am likely to upgrade to the GH5 which will get 400 Mbps Ultra HD, I will look for one with write speeds above 50MB/s.

Click to expand...

I actually picked up one of those Toshiba's for my GX80 from Amazon, figuring that if I don't use it I can send it back - at that price it's a steal but I thought I'd double check and see what the real world experience is for people who have it. Do you happen to have any links to posts where people complain about them? Cheers.

Click to expand...

On Amazon UK someone says he tested it at 12MB/s. Then said it will work but you will lose some footage. I may of found at least one other review to back it up too. Got the Samsung mentioned above arriving today instead. £30 instead of £14, but for 64GB it is well worth it, if only for the peace of mind.

Toshiba are behaving terribly selling that slow card as a class 10 U3, as that is supposed to have a minimum write speed of something like 30MB/s. If I was you I would stick the Toshiba in my phone and get the Samsung, which I checked on and is faster than the Sandisk.

Edit: Samsung arrived. Doesnt work in it's own adapter but seems fine with the cheap standard adapter I have. Recorded 30 minutes of 4K fine Problem solved.

Ah right, do you have a link to the Samsung?

stewart hull said:

Ah right, do you have a link to the Samsung?

Click to expand...

It is above in this thread

mentos77 said:

stewart hull said:

Ah right, do you have a link to the Samsung?

Click to expand...

It is above in this thread

Click to expand...

I was looking for one at £30 as you mentioned but the link took me to one priced at £36.46 that, according to Camelcamelcamel, had never dropped for £30, so I was wondering if there was a different link?

stewart hull said:

mentos77 said:

stewart hull said:

Ah right, do you have a link to the Samsung?

Click to expand...

It is above in this thread

Click to expand...

I was looking for one at £30 as you mentioned but the link took me to one priced at £36.46 that, according to Camelcamelcamel, had never dropped for £30, so I was wondering if there was a different link?

Click to expand...

Try the "Frustration free packaging" option to get 64GB at the £30 price...





Or if you don't want the adaptor, only £28.50 - go for Standard packaging with that one!

Peter

--
Recent, mostly Panasonic and Samsungs
Older, of all sorts...

Thanks Peter!