Formatting CF cards

Dr. T

New member
This is the first camera I’ve had with CF cards, instead of just SD. I think I read somewhere (but can’t find again), that once you’ve downloaded all your images off the card, that instead of just deleting them, you should reformat the card to remove embedded info on the card, or after a certain amount of use, the card will become corrupted and unusable. Is this true? I never did this with my SD cards, although perhaps I should have. Thanks.
 

wernerjb

New member
Hi - I reformat my card in the camera after downloading my pictures. It is best to format the CF card in the camera where you use the card.

Sent from my Redmi Note 7 using Tapatalk
 

mikew_RIP

Senior Member
Always format in camera, i never delete images as such but there are arguments about it not making any difference its just easier to format
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
This is the first camera I’ve had with CF cards, instead of just SD. I think I read somewhere (but can’t find again), that once you’ve downloaded all your images off the card, that instead of just deleting them, you should reformat the card to remove embedded info on the card, or after a certain amount of use, the card will become corrupted and unusable. Is this true? I never did this with my SD cards, although perhaps I should have. Thanks.

This is only true if you format the cards on your computer instead of inside the camera. There is a simple explanation. When you format a CF card in your computer, it only erases the directory but the files are still keeping up space on the card until you empty your trash can on the computer while the CF card is in there. This is why you can run into problems when you think that erasing the files while in the computer (re-format in the computer) will give you a fresh start with that card.

I always format in the camera (it's so much faster with the two buttons sequence) and I never had any problem whatsoever.
 
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