Formating the SD card

[qap15]

Could someone throw some light to the "format in camera" advice. I have both the HMC151 and the GH1, my question is if i have three SD cards, should i dedicate the cards to a specific camera or i can swap them and format them in whichever camera? i mean does it matter which camera i format the SD card in, so long as the card is "formated in camera"?

[Exact]

You can swap them between cameras as much as you like. Panasonic will format the cards the same in each camera so I wouldn't worry about it. Just format in one of the cameras and you should be good to go.

[azman]

You can swap them between cameras as much as you like. Panasonic will format the cards the same in each camera so I wouldn't worry about it. Just format in one of the cameras and you should be good to go.

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't we supposed to format the card in the camera (or at least the same camera model) that we want to use it in ?
I thought we would face an error if we format it in a camera and use it in a different one.

[Philip Goetz]

I'd format in the camera, record for 10 seconds, play back and then turn the camera off and head into the field. I recently took it a step further and on the MAC got into the disk utility with cards and changed the secutiry settings to write ZEROS to the entire card. 8GB takes 15 minutes, 16GB takes 30. A simple format in the camera just removes, in my mind, the directory and intro or something to the files. They are still there for the most part. When the camera records, it just martches straight ahead. It remians to be seen if a smooth road of ZEROS is better than just a simple format.

[hendosan]

I'd say that's excessive, I've never had a problem with my cards using the in-camera format and I've done probably a hundred writes with each.

[Exact]

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't we supposed to format the card in the camera (or at least the same camera model) that we want to use it in ?
I thought we would face an error if we format it in a camera and use it in a different one.

Not absolutely true. I've never had any problems taking cards formatting in one Panasonic camera and using them in another. Now, if you want to swap brands..... maybe think about that one before doing it!

[Phil1076]

goetzpd (http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/member.php?39516-goetzpd)'s approach is excessive, however it's good to do that once in a while.



There are three types of "formatting".

1. The quick format will just remove the File Allocation Table, leaving the data in tact. This is quick and what most cameras do.
2. A full format will actually format each sector of the media and read it back, letting you know if there's an error.
3. A low level format -- you should never need to perform this and most likely will not be able to so just ignore it.

Normally, what I do with new SD cards is I format them in Windows when I get them and I fill them up with random data until there is no space free. I then copy all the data FROM the card back TO the computer. I do this once or twice and then I'm good. In addition, I don't use the new card for critical footage (weddings) until I record a few hours of non-critical video first. Full formatting constantly is excessive and probably not a good idea. Every few months or so, I'll do it again but for the most part I just quick format the cards in the camera and away we go.

I have 3x 16GB and 1x 32GB Patriot cards and have not experienced any issues yet.

[Multihandle]

Is there any reason not to format a card each time it is used? Does this lessen the memory or lifespan of the card?

[Denwa]

I format my cards in camera after I have dumped the footage. I don't see any reason not to.

[Phil1076]

A quick format doesn't shorten the life of the card...it just deletes the FAT...it's kind if like deleting the table of contents in a book........the reader will not know where to start reading even though the actual book contents will be there, so the reader will just start reading from the beginning.


In a nutshell, format your card in the camera...this is fine....if you record heavily, just replace your SD card every 6-12 months...they're cheap.

[Multihandle]

I always format any kind of card in the exact piece of equipment it's going to be used in!

Seems like a good idea (in my mind) to format a card every time it will be used, so its like starting fresh. A fresh format, a quick test recording, and on with the show. I just never see any insruction manuals recommending it, so it may or may not make any difference.

[Michael Carter]

OK, this may not have massive bearing on the subject, but... my only SDHC cams are my Canon DSLR (only use it for video) and my Nikon D90 (only stills).

I tend to do a lot of testing, and when I'm shooting "artsy" videos, I frequently get a cool idea while I'm working in my studio space and set up, shoot, and injest/edit/tweak. Sometimes really crazy stuff. When I'm in my studio, I just grab whatever card is handy.

When I stick a D90 card in my Canon - or vice versa - without any formatting - I just end up with a new folder - a Nikon folder on a Canon formatted card or a Canon folder on a Nikon formatted card (can't recall the specifics - sometimes there's a "misc" folder, etc, but I imagine it's constant & not random).

Not sure how that would go with a non-still camera format, but it is kinda interesting - the DSLRs just start writing, instantly adding the folder structure they need to whatever I stick in there.

If I have a commercial shoot, I format the proper cards and tape the cases shut with blue painter's tape (handy in a rushed shoot - if the tape is off, the card has been used that day and I don't reuse 'em) - that is to say, I'm fully prepared data-wise and don't deal with the dual directory structure thing. But experimenting on my own time, that's what happens consistently - camera happily accepts the card and shoots no-issues video (or stills). Just an FYI.

[Phil1076]

Let's face it..most people are not IT savvy....they develop techniques and processes which work for them and provide them with a false sense of security...."if it works, don't break it", right?

All cameras format the cards using the FAT file system. Whether it's FAT16 or FAT32 depends on the age of the camera and the size of the SD cards...most of them will use FAT32. This means that a camera formatted in camera XXX from manufacturer YYY will work in camera ZZZ by manufacturer WWW. There may be some exceptions (for example, the camera may search the card for a specific directory structure and not find it. Even then, it will usually just create the directory structure.)

[Denwa]

Panasonic does soemthing funky to the filesystem. A lot of camera's do. My mother had problems with a $200 fujifilm still camera that did not like cards that were not formatted in camera.