My datacard, has no video on. Can anyone help?

[JimS2]

Oh okay. Well thanks a lot everyone for the help. I tried PhotoRec and that helped recover all the footage and it looks like it's all there. So thanks! And thanks for all the extra help!

I think we get surprised, because even if it's corrupted we still expect to see the files and we are scared they are gone. But yeah everyone blames it on things like virus's or something of that sort. My friend asked me if I was watching porn and could that have affected it.

However, I was thinking instead of shooting on large size data cards, perhaps from now on I shoot shoot on 4GB cards because then if one card gets damaged, then it's only 4GB of footage damaged then, and just shoot on more small cards instead of two large ones?

 

[Alex H.]

However, I was thinking instead of shooting on large size data cards, perhaps from now on I shoot shoot on 4GB cards because then if one card gets damaged, then it's only 4GB of footage damaged then, and just shoot on more small cards instead of two large ones?

So you want to have to swap cards every 12 minutes or so? This is a ridiculous idea, aside from the fact that most 4GB cards available now don’t have write speeds that are sufficient even for a T2i.

You just need to replace that SD card. Take it out of service. 32GB and 64GB cards are cheap these days and should work just fine. But if one gets corrupted, replace it and don’t use it again.

 

[paulears]

Data backup should be in your mind Ryan. Are you so poor that you are thinking cost? The inconvenience of having to watch the clock is just daft. Buy as Alex said, sensible sized cards. If you are worried about them, then swap the cards when they're not full - BUT - keep in mind, this wears out your camera contacts more quickly. A card that's working fine could be damaged coming out if you are unlucky - but in all my years I've never thought about using a small card rather than a big one. It's plain silly! Surely, if you do intend to resume them, then longer ones make sense. It'l like when we used tape. Did anyone buy those ten minute tapes when a 30 min tape was just a little more? We went to DV and I only ever bought 60 min ones and never refused them. My accounts consider them consumables.

What you need to assess is if it was simply bad luck, or did you pop it out before writing finished?

It's very worrying we have somebody trying to raise money for a big shoot with actors and crew and yet a few memory cards are causing this amount of grief. That course you went on really was rubbish. They didn't actually teach you anything useful at all!!

 

[JimS2]

Oh okay. Do you think for example if I have two scene locations to shoot in a day, that if I switch to a new location that I should then use a new card, every location, because at least then if one card is corrupted on location, the footage from other location for that day is still good?

As for popping it out before writing is finished, after I hit stop recording, how long does it then need to write, before shutting off the camera on a T2i, if the card is a class 10?

 

[Alex H.]

Oh okay. Do you think for example if I have two scene locations to shoot in a day, that if I switch to a new location that I should then use a new card, every location, because at least then if one card is corrupted on location, the footage from other location for that day is still good?

Whatever floats your boat, sport. Because, honestly, it doesn’t really matter what we tell you here. You’re going to ask the question 12 different ways, and probably float it on another forum at the same time.

Personally, I use 64GB cards (not that I shoot much on DSLR these days) and will run them until they’re close to full. I also have 8-10 cards on me on any given day. More than I would ever, realistically, shoot over the course of a day (or even 2 or 3 days). And if I move from one location to the next, if the card isn’t close to full, I don’t swap out.

But rather than beating this dead horse, you decide what you want to do and how you want to organize your cards.

As for popping it out before writing is finished, after I hit stop recording, how long does it then need to write, before shutting off the camera on a T2i, if the card is a class 10?

Why would you be in a rush to turn your camera off as soon as you stop recording? There’s a red access light that flashes when the camera is writing or reading the card. Let it stop flashing before you do anything. Just slow down and take your time.

 

[JimS2]

Oh okay thanks. I didn't think I was in a rush to shut it off. I always play back the clips before shutting it off, so I thought it was finished writing, if the clips are playing back. But I can watch out for that. Thanks.