When good CF cards go bad..

David Evertsen · December 7, 2011

Any of you sports shooters have a CF card go bad on you? I shoot with two 16gb CF cards and rotate them night to night and had some funny stuff happen the past few weeks. I shot a few dance events and many of the pictures gave errors injesting in Photo Mechanic, would not injest in Canon and I had to recover using Image Rescue 4 and still lost 4 out of 240 photos. They just wheren't there, shot with my 7D and my 8gb card Saturday night, no problems injesting. Monday used my other 16gb card and it was fine injesting the Boys Soccer I shot. Then tonight I used the Lexar Card that gave me errors injesting my dance stuff last week. Camera never gave errors I formatted in camera like I always do and when I got home to injest, Photo Mechanic (latest version) started gacking on about half the pictures, using a lexar Firewire 400 media reader. I ejected the card from the system and then opened the EOS Digital on my desktop when inserted back into my reader and copied all the pictures off the card no problem. Funny thing was a few pictures where rotated from Landscape to Portrait. Sounds like I have a bad CF card. What do you folks think?? I have taken it out of my rotation and have another card on order..

JohnDC · December 7, 2011

In order:
1. Never remove a card with images and then reinsert it to add more images.
2. Always use your camera to reformat your card after use to make it ready for new use.
3. Keep your card clean--keep it in its holder, not loose in your pocket.
4. Inspect your card for debris in the holes.
5. Inspect the pins on your reader for dirt, bends, etc.
6. Try changing readers. If you have a built-in reader in your computer, try using an external USB reader.
7. Make sure all your connectors are tight.
8. Only use top-brand, top-rated cards. Check the ratings for your card type on Newegg, BHphotovideo, and other sites that provide high volumes of reviews from knowledgeable users. As you have seen, your time and opportunity are worth a lot--more than the difference in cost between solid brands and off-brands.

I follow the rules above. In tens of thousands of images, the only time I have ever had a problem with a card was when I violated rule #1. I used a card, removed it, then reinserted to add more images. I didn't lose images, but I had to retry image reading and then some of the images were out of shooting order.

JimKarczewski · December 7, 2011

Try this program... It done better than anything else I've ever used and it's free for CF card recovery ($$$ for Hard Drive Recovery only!)

http://www.z-a-recovery.com/

Overfocused · December 7, 2011

David Evertsen wrote: »

What do you folks think?? I have taken it out of my rotation and have another card on order..

Well, it's either the CF card or the reader, and it's probably not the reader since it works with everything else. I have a card that works in camera but I cannot see it with my computer. I believe something is wrong with the drive letter assignment, so I don't bother to use it unless it's an emergency. The card is good physically, but it just has a logical/software issue with being seen on the computer. And, formatting in camera is not a true format, it just labels all the space as empty while not actually changing the contents of the card. Try formatting the goofed card via Windows, and do a full format via My Computer (un-check the quick format option). Don't do any serious shooting with it afterward, but maybe do some general shooting and see how it behaves during reading/writing photos off of it. If it has trouble formatting the card, or behaves flaky still, you'd for sure want to dump it (or replace on warranty if there is one)

JohnDC wrote: »

In order:
1. Never remove a card with images and then reinsert it to add more images.

I follow the rules above. In tens of thousands of images, the only time I have ever had a problem with a card was when I violated rule #1. I used a card, removed it, then reinserted to add more images. I didn't lose images, but I had to retry image reading and then some of the images were out of shooting order.

That's like saying a roll of film with 5 exposures taken yesterday voids the remaining 19 or 31 exposures just cause there are pictures on the first 5 frames. This is superstition, not fact, unless you have a camera that has a poor file and folder naming scheme... or just something wrong with it. Some older cameras don't have the best data stability I.E. removing card before powering down the camera can destroy it. So, maybe there are a few that don't do well with cards partially used. Who knows. But, either way, cameras are supposed to have file and folder naming schemes to avoid any of this trouble. I shoot with partially used cards constantly, especially when I know there is more than enough space for the next shoot (Like, 10GB out of 16GB free for a basic 1 hour portrait shoot... way more than enough)

Glort · December 8, 2011

JohnDC wrote: »

In order:
1. Never remove a card with images and then reinsert it to add more images.

Could not possibly count how many times I have done that without problem. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes not.

When shooting events i will swap cards to go from one class of competition to another while they change arena's etc and then put cards back in to continue on. Never had an issue in years.

Other way is I shoot on used cards, download them and then forget to format and carry on shooting.
Apart from having to separate the image groups to avoid doubling up, never had an issue with that either.

Never used card holders. To me they are fiddly damn things that just slow you down.
I always keep cards in my pocket or floating round in the bottom of my camera bag.
So far I have lost one card in 10 years and that was some years back anyhow.

JohnDC · December 8, 2011

A good way to resolve controversy is to consult the experts. For example:

 Care and Feeding of Compact Flash Cards
By Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY
http://www.sportsshooter.com/news/1217

Taking Care of Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Data (SD) cards
by scottbourne
http://photofocus.com/2008/04/22/taking-care-of-compact-flash-cf-and-secure-data-sd-cards-twip/

13 Tips for Using and Caring for Memory Cards
by Darren Rowse
http://www.digital-photography-school.com/13-tips-for-using-and-caring-for-memory-cards#ixzz1fy3ZOiDk

Overfocused · December 8, 2011

JohnDC wrote: »

A good way to resolve controversy is to consult the experts... etc

Those 2 links say nothing related to adding more images to the same card with the same camera

David Evertsen · December 8, 2011

Thanks for the replies, I have replaced the card. The card is acting funny for sure, some of the images I got off without error where even rotated from Landscop to portrait. Seems awful strange, I don't need the hassle. I have on the occasion when I forgot to format a card with images on it. Never had an issue EVER. It is a memory device, if it was formatted on the same body then it really shouldn't be a problem.

puzzledpaul · December 8, 2011

Also generally format cards after d/loading and backing up etc - but there've been many occasions when I haven't - for any number of reasons - and just added pics to existing ones.
All without any problems / lost images - usually with same cam, but also across different cams (40D/1D3)

pp

jww · December 9, 2011

Glort wrote: »

Never used card holders. To me they are fiddly damn things that just slow you down.
I always keep cards in my pocket or floating round in the bottom of my camera bag.
So far I have lost one card in 10 years and that was some years back anyhow.

I don't use the original card holders as I agree, they really are fiddly things. Instead, I use a few Gepe Extreme card safes. They are a bit costly, but here are my reasons.

For one thing they are waterproof as I do get to shoot in the rain at times. From light sprinkles to all out dumping rain. The second is I have empty formated cards in them note side up. (the side I write the card number on) When I finally fill any up or get close, in between sessions I put the full ones back in label side up. This way I can quickly tell what is ready to go or not.

Also fits nicely in my photo vest without rattling around etc. as I am kind of a freak about organization.

When good CF cards go bad..

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