How Often Do You Format Your Cards?

[parrotmomma]

I was wondering how often is OK to format SD cards? I reformat every time they are full, rather than deleting photos one by one. I had read/heard once that this is better. Is there a limit to the amount of times a card can be reformatted?

[Some Idiot]

I'm not sure about others, I know I format my card after each shoot. So it has been formatted a lot.

1. Take pictures
2. dump pictures on PC
3. put card back in camera
4. format card
5. repeat

[ChristopherCoy]

Originally Posted by some idiot

i'm not sure about others, i know i format my card after each shoot. So it has been formatted a lot.

1. Take pictures
2. Dump pictures on pc
3. Put card back in camera
4. Format card
5. Repeat

+1

[Sissyphotog]

I also format every time I move files to my computer.

[andyz]

What ^^^^ said.

[LanceHaynie]

Originally Posted by Some Idiot

I'm not sure about others, I know I format my card after each shoot. So it has been formatted a lot.

1. Take pictures
2. dump pictures on PC
3. put card back in camera
4. format card
5. repeat

+1, every time

[JohnT]

Originally Posted by Some Idiot

I'm not sure about others, I know I format my card after each shoot. So it has been formatted a lot.

1. Take pictures
2. dump pictures on PC
3. put card back in camera
4. format card
5. repeat

Same here.

[gardener]

Since I may use the same card in several different cameras, I format in camera immediately after dropping the images onto my computer then may format again in camera when taking a "blank" card out of my little card case to use. While technically, I think the formatting should work in the next camera despite changing models, this way I don't take the chance that it won't...
The second format takes all of perhaps 15 seconds so it's not like I'm losing some great amount of time doing it that way.

[Jaymoney$]

Originally Posted by Some Idiot

I'm not sure about others, I know I format my card after each shoot. So it has been formatted a lot.

1. Take pictures
2. dump pictures on PC
3. put card back in camera
4. format card
5. repeat

thats what i do too

[Jake]

I format right before I start a shoot, never right after I upload.
Sometimes a shoot will stay on a card for a while before I get to that card again. I have quite a few cards in rotation.

[Cope]

Originally Posted by andyz

what ^^^^ said.

+1

[mercphoto]

Originally Posted by parrotmomma

Is there a limit to the amount of times a card can be reformatted?

Technically yes, but what it really is is that each cell can only go through a certain number of write and erase cycles. Formatting adds to this count, but so does simply erasing images.

I format after every session.

[d2creative]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

I format right before I start a shoot, never right after I upload.
Sometimes a shoot will stay on a card for a while before I get to that card again.

Same here.

[Phanee]

Originally Posted by thejakestir

I format right before I start a shoot, never right after I upload.
Sometimes a shoot will stay on a card for a while before I get to that card again. I have quite a few cards in rotation.

I do the same. Format before the shoot.

[David Whatley]

I'm with Jake. Even though I have a backup of everything, I
NEVER format a card till I go to use it.