SanDisk 16GB formats to 8GB in D200, 5D

Hotfoot2 · #8 09-22-2007, 07:44 AM

I think it may be an issue with the card --- My D200 and 16GB SanDisk work and format fine...Is it possible you have either a problem card or a counterfit card?

diglloyd · #9 09-22-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hotfoot2

I think it may be an issue with the card --- My D200 and 16GB SanDisk work and format fine...Is it possible you have either a problem card or a counterfit card?

It works and formats fine--to 8GB. No the cards are most definitely not counterfeit, unless B&H is now selling counterfeit cards (very unlikely).

AlanClements · #10 09-28-2007, 08:22 AM

I recently bought a 16 Gbyte card from Amazon. it formatted to 8 Gbytes in my Canon 5D.

I put it in my computer - a very new core-duo with Vista and it showed 8G. I mentioned it to the local camera experts and they said I had an 8Gbyte card sold as 16 Gb.

I also have a newish USB-port card reader. I tried that. It showed 16 Gbytes and I formatted it as 16 Gbytes.
I put it in my 5D (and new 40D) and it showed 16 Gbytes.

So, it seems that a 5D will format only to 8Gb. Some card readers will also format only to 8Gb. However, it you have the correct reader it will format to 16Gb and your camera will then recognize it as 16Gb.

Cheers
Alan Clements Alan Clements's Photo Galleries at pbase.com

diglloyd · #11 09-28-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanClements

I recently bought a 16 Gbyte card from Amazon. it formatted to 8 Gbytes in my Canon 5D.

I put it in my computer - a very new core-duo with Vista and it showed 8G. I mentioned it to the local camera experts and they said I had an 8Gbyte card sold as 16 Gb.

I also have a newish USB-port card reader. I tried that. It showed 16 Gbytes and I formatted it as 16 Gbytes.
I put it in my 5D (and new 40D) and it showed 16 Gbytes.

So, it seems that a 5D will format only to 8Gb. Some card readers will also format only to 8Gb. However, it you have the correct reader it will format to 16Gb and your camera will then recognize it as 16Gb.

Interesting...I've also been able to format it to 16GB in the computer, but my 5D refuses to work with it.

John Kemp · #12 10-02-2007, 06:47 AM

Get rid of it. Use smaller cards, especially when you don't have a backup slot. Too much to lose. See my posts re failures.

diglloyd · #13 10-02-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kemp

Get rid of it. Use smaller cards, especially when you don't have a backup slot. Too much to lose. See my posts re failures.

My own experience has been different, and that's since the Nikon D1. Everything can fail, and "get rid of it" doesn't solve the underlying problem. I've rarely shot more than 6GB at a time before I download. But it is useful for backups and reserve to have the extra space, especially if I get something like the Canon 1Ds Mark III, which will have 20-30MB files.

Except for a counterfeit card, I've had almost no problems not caused by the camera, in six years of using them, and the most I've lost is one file per card.

John Kemp · #14 10-04-2007, 10:00 AM

"I've had almost no problems not caused by the camera, in six years of using them, and the most I've lost is one file per card."
-- Lucky you.

See your point about the 1dsmk111, in that case buy more 16gb cards and shoot to two slots.