Comments on: Formatting those CF cards http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/ A Darker Vision's Photography blog Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:39:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Coolmac http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/#comment-12572 Coolmac Wed, 30 Jan 2008 07:25:56 +0000 http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/#comment-12572 Thank you Eliya, that sounds about right. I'm pretty sure that at least some of the CF cards have internal self correcting/mapping of bad sectors, but this probably isn't perfect, and formatting would likely turn them up more often. Thank you Eliya, that sounds about right.

I’m pretty sure that at least some of the CF cards have internal self correcting/mapping of bad sectors, but this probably isn’t perfect, and formatting would likely turn them up more often.

]]> By: Eliya http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/#comment-12549 Eliya Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:46:04 +0000 http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/#comment-12549 Inherent to Flash memory technology is the fact that sectors will inevitably fail eventually. According to wikipedia, "most commercially available flash products are guaranteed to withstand 100,000 write-erase-cycles for block 0, and no guarantees for other blocks... a typical user using a commercial device, such as a camera, with a flash drive will probably not wear out the memory for the effective life of the camera" Of course, we may not be "typical" users, and the heavy use of the card increases the risk of data loss. Formatting the card regularly will instruct the card to find and skip over failed blocks. Inherent to Flash memory technology is the fact that sectors will inevitably fail eventually. According to wikipedia, “most commercially available flash products are guaranteed to withstand 100,000 write-erase-cycles for block 0, and no guarantees for other blocks… a typical user using a commercial device, such as a camera, with a flash drive will probably not wear out the memory for the effective life of the camera”

Of course, we may not be “typical” users, and the heavy use of the card increases the risk of data loss. Formatting the card regularly will instruct the card to find and skip over failed blocks.

]]> By: Coolmac http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/#comment-2673 Coolmac Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:04:33 +0000 http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/#comment-2673 I wonder if it could be an issue that effects some cameras more than others, based on their read/write software? With regards to flash memory, the only time I have ever suffered corruption ever, was when copying files to a USB flash drive and removing it without detaching it in windows first. I agree that losing the contents of an entire shoot would lead one to being an obsessive formatter. :) I wonder if it could be an issue that effects some cameras more than others, based on their read/write software? With regards to flash memory, the only time I have ever suffered corruption ever, was when copying files to a USB flash drive and removing it without detaching it in windows first.

I agree that losing the contents of an entire shoot would lead one to being an obsessive formatter. :)

]]> By: Jim Goldstein http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/#comment-2663 Jim Goldstein Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:06:30 +0000 http://photography.darkervision.com/blog/2007/06/14/formatting-those-cf-cards/#comment-2663 Well the problem doesn't have to be "repeated", it just has to be one time to ruin your day and ultimitely instill you with eternal paranoia. I have had this happen to me once. Since formatting regularly I've never had a recurrence. I do know of other friends that this has happened to as well. I'm surprised more people haven't commented on this yet. Well the problem doesn’t have to be “repeated”, it just has to be one time to ruin your day and ultimitely instill you with eternal paranoia. I have had this happen to me once. Since formatting regularly I’ve never had a recurrence. I do know of other friends that this has happened to as well. I’m surprised more people haven’t commented on this yet.

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