New rule: never use a CD card that gave you a problem

KevinCarter · #1 05-21-2008, 05:39 PM

I had huge problem with a CF card a month ago. I got through it, then reformatted and tested the card. It seemed fine. I'ts causing the same grief today. Never use a bad card twice, even if it reformats and is working perfectly.

David_Buzzard · #2 05-21-2008, 05:44 PM

That's the first rule of CF cards

KevinCarter · #3 05-21-2008, 10:40 PM

Thanks Dave, I don't why, but both the CF card companies I use both said, to go through the motions, and then if you format, and do a secure erase, and then do a dry run of 200 shots, (which all looked) good you are good to go.

I lost 2 hours today finding out that was BS.

But, what's the deal, if a card is bad it stays bad?

PB&J photography · #4 05-22-2008, 12:05 AM

Yes, I can attest to this. Had a card the went bezerk on me. I lost the images, recovered them and then card worked fine...for a while. Then, began being dumb again.

What I was told by Nikon: Use the same card with the same camera. Don't interchange. Ooops....I have 5 cameras that take a CF card. I will now designate them. Additionally, this may help to trace the problem back to the root????

David_Buzzard · #5 05-22-2008, 01:24 AM

If I even suspect a problem with a card, it's in the garbage, and usually chopped in two with a pair of poultry sissors for good measure. It's not worth the risk of losing something important.

I have red dot sticker that go on my D200 cards, and that keeps them apart from my D2x card.

Dennis_Vied · #6 05-22-2008, 01:36 AM

CF card problems are always interesting. I interchange my cards all the time, and all that happens is the new camera just opens a new folder with its name on it.

I also don't format my cards, and I only have had one problem card, and that was fixed by communication with the manufacturer. It's still in use.

My basic assumption is that, if a card is really bad, it is bad, and poultry shears are too good for it. Run over it with a Hummer. If a card is good, it's good, and you should be able to use it in multiple cameras with no problem. I've even had them go through the wash, and still function fine. That's why I always find CF card problems interesting.

I just haven't run into that many bad cards.

David_Buzzard · #7 05-22-2008, 05:32 AM

I have really strict rules about CF I follow, and in hundreds of thousands of photos I've shot, I've never lost a file, or had to send one in for recovery. If you're going to have a problem, it's almost never when you're shooting pics of the kids and dog at the park, it's going to be when it really counts. Don't take chances with your images.