Tip #4390 - Live Long Your Memory Cards
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Live
Long Your Memory Cards
Memory cards are
the lifeline of digital cameras, so it’s imperative to prolong
their life as much as you can. Below are some things you can do to
accomplish just that. Read on!
Avoid
Deleting Images One at a Time
The more you reduce
the number of erase cycles, the longer your memory card will live
to store your pictures. In other words, it’s better to erase
all of your images at one time after uploading them to your computer,
instead of deleting them one at a time. Similarly, the fewer times
you add or remove data to your card, the better off it will be. Deleting
images from your card while the card is still in your camera can actually
prolong its life quite a bit.
Safely Remove Hardware
When your camera
is hooked up to your computer, make sure you use the Safely
Remove Hardware option in your system tray to remove the card,
card reader or camera. If you don’t do this, you could not only
damage the card, but also lose the data stored on it.
Remove Images Before the Card Gets Full
Some cards can
behave in peculiar ways. If you fully load the cards with images,
you'll increase the likelihood of the card malfunctioning. Therefore,
it’s best to regularly remove the images from your cards and
store them on your computer or burn them to a CD, rather than waiting
until they are full.
Reformat
Cards at Regular Intervals
Since memory cards
don’t have a defragging system like you have on your computer,
the best way to keep them in optimum condition is to reformat them
once every few days. This will wipe out any data, images, file names,
etc. on the card and it will set it up fresh for your camera. Now,
how many times you need to do this depends on your usage patterns.
If you use your camera frequently, you should reformat it at least
once a week. If you use it infrequently, once a month should do. Ideally,
it’s advisable to reformat your cards every time you download
all of your images onto your computer. One more thing: formatting
the card in your camera, rather than someone else’s, helps,
especially if the other camera is of a different make than yours.
In cases when you do reformat your cards on another camera, make sure
you reformat it again on your camera after you have all of the images
saved on your computer.
Power Off Before Removing the Card
For those of you
who read your camera's user manual, this tip isn’t new. But,
to those who don't, please note that it’s best to switch off
your camera before removing the memory card to either replace it with
another one or to use it on a card reader to download the images.
Either way, it’s best to do this when the voltage fluctuation
is kept at bay.
Update
When Needed
Manufacturers
are always fine tuning camera software and fixing several bugs along
the way. Therefore, it’s important to keep tabs on those updates
to keep your camera up to date with any fixes for errors or problems
that are identified with a camera. Some of these can relate to the
camera’s interaction with the memory card.
Keep Your Batteries in Optimum Condition
If your batteries
die on you, that could result in card errors. This usually happens
when an image is not fully written to a card. The best way to avoid
this problem is to keep an eye on the battery power and either recharge
them or change them over for a fresh set before they completely run
down.
Don’t Switch Off Too Soon After the Shoot
When you're taking
pictures at a constant clip (this is particularly true when using
the "burst" or "continuous shooting" mode), make
sure you don’t switch off your camera too soon after the shoot,
because you could lose your images and even find yourself with a system
error. Cameras need time to write all of the data you’ve taken
to the memory card. If you’ve taken numerous images very quickly,
your camera will be buffering those images and that requires some
time. Some high-end cameras continue to buffer even after they are
switched off, but that's not the case for every camera.
Store
Cards Properly
This goes without
saying, but some people do abuse their cards by not storing them properly.
If you are not using your cards for a long period of time, it’s
best to store them in a plastic casing to give that extra layer of
protection. Also, make sure you keep them away from liquids and extreme
temperatures. And yes, don’t drop, bend or puncture them. It’s
best not to expose them to electromagnetic currents as well.
Here's to a long
and prosperous life for your memory cards!
~ Zahid H. Javali
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