Issue with disappearing files

IShootDancers

New member
Has anyone seen the like of this before?
I was shooting 4 sessions at an event last weekend. Using Dual slots, 32GB in slot 1 as RAW, 8GB in slot 2 as JPG. After each session, I uploaded the contents of both cards onto a laptop, then replaced the cards in the camera and deleted everything. I didn't format the cards between sessions.
Sessions 1 and 2 were fine. Session 3 started at file number 9249 and went on to file number 0120 (I've seen the file numbers roll over like this before and have not had an issue before) After the session, I unloaded my cards, but didn't check what had been uploaded to the laptop. I then replaced the cards in the camera and deleted everything as normal. Session 4 went file with file numbers from 0121 to 0607.

When I got home and started to process the photos, I discovered that files 9249 - 9999 were missing. They had not uploaded to the laptop. 0001-0120 had uploaded as expected.

I used software to attempt to recover the files, however they're not there. The initial recovery form my 8GB SD card gave me 919 images, some of which are from earlier events and some of which were from session 3, however the earliest images from session 3 were not recovered.
Using another file recovery program, I can see the deleted file numbers on the card in the expected folder, however when checking the content of the thumbnails, the data/image seems to be of photos taken in session 4. There is no trace of most of the photos from Session 3.
On the 32GB card, the initial recovery software only recovered 17 files, however when using the second program it showed the same as the 8GB card (file numbers on the card, with the data/image seems to be of photos taken in session 4)

If I didn't know better, I'd think that the session 4 photos directly overwrote the session 3 ones.
The cards didn't fill up and had plenty of space.

I don't know if it's a camera or a card issue. Both uploads are missing the same file numbers, which could indicate camera, but the fact that I could look at some images while I was shooting indicates card issue... however both of the cards losing the same set of images???

Any ideas?
Many thanks in advance.:confused:
 

J-see

Senior Member
How did you upload them?

I ask because it only happened to me while using Lightroom to upload my shots. I frequently had files missing but in my case they were in the designated folder but not added to the catalog.
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Welcome to the forum,not the same issue but i will mention it anyway,i had some missing files or i thought they where,the file numbers had reached 10,000 and the camera had written them at the beginning of the session not the end where it should be.
 

jay_dean

Senior Member
the file numbers had reached 10,000 and the camera had written them at the beginning of the session not the end where it should be.
Funny that, i had someone selling me camera with 9000 actuations. I knew as soon as i looked at it, it'd done more. 51,000 to be exact. Turns out she was using the file numbering as an actuation count!
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
I just panicked for a moment, they where shots i wanted and i knew they where the last ones i took so after downloading in View nx i went straight to the end,they where not there and after time to cool down i decided to look at the others and the ones i wanted where at the start.
 

aced19

Senior Member
then replaced the cards in the camera and deleted everything. I didn't format the cards between sessions.

Always format the cards.
What I've been taught/told if you just delete pictures after a shoot it will leave fragmented files on your cards. You have a better chance of something going wrong with your pictures. When you format then all the fragmentation is gone off the card, less chance for error.
 

IShootDancers

New member
Thanks for the welcome.
J-see, I'm using a Mac - I copy the files from the folders on my card into the folders on the lap top. For each session I set up a folder for the jpg files. I have a single folder for the raw images. I open the card on the desktop and 'drag & drop'
Mikew - I've run searches on the laptop for the file names - They definitely didn't copy across, though I could have sworn I copied from both folders on the card (106D7000 & 107D7000).
aced19 - Thanks - I will from now on. :)
 

aroy

Senior Member
When the file numbers roll over, they are written to a different sub directory.

I use windows copy command to transfer the files from my camera to the PC, and have yet to find any file missing or over written. This is the safest method, as you are not dependent on any software for identifying, transferring and cataloging the files.

One thing that I have learnt over the last 30+ years with computers, is, that unless you have archived the files (created copies), do not delete the files. If you have not saved data you will loose it fast. With the SD/CF cards reasonably priced, it is safer all round to have extra cards, especially if you shoot a lot in a short span. Write (RAW+jpeg) to both the cards and change them once they fill up. Then when you have processed them at leisure and archived them, format then for reuse.
 
Top