Marking Cards as shot

D

Dana Kupper

Member
Probably my least favorite situation is handing off memory cards to be downloaded to a PA, and then getting one back, which I then have to TRUST was downloaded because I then reformat it. I guess as a former camera assistant I am a believer in "the system", something dummyproof to battle the demons of chaos and exhaustion. Here is my latest idea - what do you think? Does anyone do similiar things? I got a thick rubber band and labeled one side "shot", and one side "downloaded". (By sides, I mean inside and outside.) Advantages: easy to see, won't come off or turn accidentally, can carry plenty of rubber bands in my pocket, will always get my rubber band back with the card. Now, I just have to find a bunch of these rubber bands, I think they come with my broccoli!
 

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In some places, marking cards can get you shot... :-)

I have my cards numbered and use them in sequence. I carry enough to cover the entire day. I don't download during a shoot. Too much risk of making a mistake. And where I go a laptop is likely to get wrecked.

But if you don't have enough cards, eating a lot of broccoli to get the rubber bands you need is a very healthy alternative. :)
 
Dana, I think it's a great idea. I mean we're only human right? Mistakes happen and anything simple (like your idea) that can be used to prevent accidents is worth doing in my opinion.

Now, I just need to find some of those rubber bands. Worse yet, I don't like broccoli. :)
 
I just use the write protect switch. If a card is full its write protected. If its clean and ready to shoot, its not write protected. This with having them all labelled works pretty well for me.
 
I just find the write protect switch too tiny! And I believe it is not labeled, so it is not 100% clear to everyone. It reminds of a story from my AC days:
Producer to local PA: Where have you been? I sent you with the film to the airport to ship it over the counter to the lab 2 hours ago? (35mm 1000' rolls.)
PA: Like, OMG, the guy at the airport? He made me open up EVERY SINGLE CAN before he would check it! It took forever! :Drogar-Shock(DBG):
(Only the first roll was unusable, the rest were edgefogged and able to be saved in post. BTW, this was a friend's job, not mine. But a true story. I swear!)
 
golf_bht said:
I can send you some. I own a rubber band factory. better eat some veggie it is good for your health.
Click to expand...

Are you serious? A rubber band factory? Hahaha! Cool! You should market them with the DOWNLOADED and SAVE pre-printed on them. hehehe
 
I understand the caution with static charges, but looking at the triboelectric series of materials, metal and rubber are very close together, therefore not likely to cause a static electric build up or discharge. Actually, your hand and metal are more likely cause this effect.
"The following table shows you the triboelectric series for many materials you find around the house. Positive items in the series are at the top, and negative items are at the bottom:


  • Human hands (usually too moist, though) Very positive
  • Rabbit Fur
  • Glass
  • Human hair
  • Nylon
  • Wool
  • Fur
  • Lead
  • Silk
  • Aluminum
  • Paper
  • Cotton
  • Steel Neutral
  • Wood
  • Amber
  • Hard rubber
  • Nickel, Copper
  • Brass, Silver
  • Gold, Platinum
  • Polyester
  • Styrene (Styrofoam)
  • Saran Wrap
  • Polyurethane
  • Polyethylene (like Scotch Tape)
  • Polypropylene
  • Vinyl (PVC)
  • Silicon
  • Teflon Very negative
(The above list is adapted from Nature's Electricity, by Charles K. Adams.)
The relative position of two substances in the triboelectric series tells you how they will act when brought into contact. Glass rubbed by silk causes a charge separation because they are several positions apart in the table. The same applies for amber and wool. The farther the separation in the table, the greater the effect."
 
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