memory card kaput

[DanLoc78]

Ironically, I had just had a conversation with a friend last week about memory cards. I usually go with value over top name brands and my buddy was saying how that would come back to bite me.

Well, Sunday morning I went out to shoot. Came back home, uploaded my images, put my mem card back in the camera, and now the card won't record any data it seems. The camera's display reads something like 'camera can't display this image.' I assume the card is toast and it's time to get a new one...bummer. But at least I was able to get the pictures off of it first.

[reytor]

I used to have similar problem using cheap and SLOW memory card.

Try formating it in camera. If that does not work, format it with your computer.

The problem will keep coming, but at least you'd have somewhat usable card.

[WheresWaldo]

Panasonic has some software that will format an SD card completely. I had a card that was flaky, formatting with the software then inserting in the camera and reformatting it has worked flawlessly. But since it did flake once I only use it as a backup card now.

[DanLoc78]

yeah i hadn't thought of reformatting in camera. I will try that tonight and see if it works.

[Russell-Evans]

Originally Posted by DanLoc78

yeah i hadn't thought of reformatting in camera. I will try that tonight and see if it works.

Reformatting doesn't really do much. Run a check disk on the card and then use this Erase Disk Free Space Script to write all zeros to the card. Once you delete the files created, then throw it into the camera to be formatted.

Erase Disk Free Space Script
Use this script to erase all the free space on your disk drive by filling it with blank, zeroed files. The WSF script runs on Windows and is freeware licensed under GPL. Just copy it to the drive you want to fill up, and double-click on it.

Thank you
Russell

[DanLoc78]

i formatted in camera and the card works again. Not sure how much I'll rely on it, but it's nice to know it isn't completely kaput.

[jogiba]

Can you tell me excactly why you use junk "value" memory cards in your camera when you could get a SanDisk 4GB UltraII SDHC Card at Walmart for $14.84 ?
Walmart.com: SanDisk 4GB UltraII SDHC Card: Digital Cameras

[Russell-Evans]

Originally Posted by jogiba

Can you tell me excactly why you use junk "value" memory cards in your camera when you could get a SanDisk 4GB UltraII SDHC Card at Walmart for $14.84 ?

1. Because it is a class 2 card and I bought class 6 for the same price
2. Because it is only 4Gb and I bought 8Gb for that price
3. Because the 8Gb class 6 cards I bought, came with a reader for that same price.
4. But mostly because I don't believe brand is a marker of quality when you are talking about commodities.

Is that exact enough for you?

Thank you
Russell

[jogiba]

But mostly because I don't believe brand is a marker of quality when you are talking about commodities.

Right, there is no difference between a Class 6 Sandisk Extreme III SDHC card and a Class 6 A-Data SDHC card.

http://www.amazon.com/Data-SDHC-Clas...rBy=addOneStar

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extrem...By=addFiveStar

[Russell-Evans]

Originally Posted by jogiba

Right, there is no difference between a Class 6 Sandisk Extreme III SDHC card and a Class 6 A-Data SDHC card.

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: A-Data 4 GB SDHC Class 6 Flash Memory Card 4GSDHC6 (Blue)

Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)

It would help if the Adata reviews were specific to a card, or at least to the card series. It looks as if every card made by Adata is being reviewed. sort by newest, and you'll see the people posting are now talking about the 16Gb cards. That doesn't seem to be the case with the San Disk link posted. They all seem to be talking specificaly about the 4Gb Extreme III.

Would you consider yourself more technically savvy than average? If you pay attention to reviews and speeds, and all, I would think you would be. So does that make you more or less likely to buy certain products? Does than mean the owners of specific items would have enough technical prowess to resolve small technical issues? Does it sort of mean that issues that would stymie the average user, and that they would post about, would simply be brushed off by these more advanced users? Does than mean that the reviews, even if they were set up to be item specific, wouldn't really be representative of the overall quality between two brands?

Thank you
Russell

[jogiba]

Originally Posted by Russell-Evans

It would help if the Adata reviews were specific to a card, or at least to the card series. It looks as if every card made by Adata is being reviewed. sort by newest, and you'll see the people posting are now talking about the 16Gb cards. That doesn't seem to be the case with the San Disk link posted. They all seem to be talking specificaly about the 4Gb Extreme III.

Would you consider yourself more technically savvy than average? If you pay attention to reviews and speeds, and all, I would think you would be. So does that make you more or less likely to buy certain products? Does than mean the owners of specific items would have enough technical prowess to resolve small technical issues? Does it sort of mean that issues that would stymie the average user, and that they would post about, would simply be brushed off by these more advanced users? Does than mean that the reviews, even if they were set up to be item specific, wouldn't really be representative of the overall quality between two brands?

Thank you
Russell

Yes, I have been building my own PC's since the mid 80's and know about memory quality and benchmarks. I have been using CF/SD/SDHC memory in digital cameras since 2001 and know what works and what has higher quality issues. I find it amazing when someone will try to save a few bucks by using cheap memory card to put their vacation photos on. It would be like ordering the cheapest tire to fit on your family car that you use to take your family on vacation with.