I have multiple readers but none use a spring mechanism like all my pentax bodies have. With the readers you have to pull the card; it doesn't "bounce" after pressing in like the pentax, which is why I was thinking that might be stressing the cards. But like I said I'm talking a couple of hundred cycles max on any of my remaining cards, and I never would have considered a couple of hundred cycles a lot. I'm talking insert/remove cycles, not r/w cycles. Generally I don't erase until a card gets somewhat full, then I format it. So when I'm taking pictures on a trip, for example, I take the card out at least once a day to copy the photos to a hard drive, then reuse the remaining capacity from that point, so I have at least two copies - the original on the card and the copy on the hard drive.
With the K200 the fragments got stuck in the camera and it took me quite a while working with a toothpick to get them out. It wasn't possible to use the camera until they were removed, because a new card couldn't be inserted. With the K5 I'm a little concerned because I never found the fragments from one card (fragments from the other card did fall out), but I can't see fragments inside, and other cards do work.
---------- Post added 03-15-2015 at 09:36 AM ----------
Originally posted by csa I also have never had this problem, even when I was using cheaper cards. My cards are removed often, then inserted into a stand alone card reader! Perhaps Adam hit on it, as to how you are inserting the cards?
I just push on the card gently with my thumb, just to where it clicks in place.
---------- Post added 03-15-2015 at 09:38 AM ----------
Originally posted by Adam My extreme/extreme pro Sandisk cards are built extremely well (and they have warranties, so I'd recommend taking advantage of that) and I've never had any issues.
I've had cheaper cards from Transcend and Kingston fall apart entirely, and suffer from broken teeth, however. One tip is to never use your fingernail to push cards into the camera, as this could potentially separate the two halves after a while. Also, try to avoid inserting cards at an angle and always hold them by the lower half.
I emailed Sandisk and will see what they have to say. Since it's cheap to mail cards I'll probably send them back in hopes of getting new cards, since they're still $15-$25 cards.
---------- Post added 03-15-2015 at 09:44 AM ----------
Originally posted by jatrax Thanks, I didn't know about that product. I'll consider that. Expensive, but having the card break in the camera and maybe not being able to remove the fragments could be too.