Need Advice: May have 'bricked' a SxS card..

F

Fotojorno

Well-known member
**Resolved, see post #21 on page 3.


Since getting my F3 on numerous occasions I've taken a SxS card out of my EX1 put it in the F3, reformatted it in-camera, recorded with it and all is well. Have done the reverse as well, F3 to EX1. Yesterday however I messed up and put it in the F3 but forgot to reformat it. Proceeded to record some test footage on to it and it worked fine, even watched one of the clips in camera. When I came to download the footage via my expresscard slot in my MBP the card would not mount and a message saying card needs to be initialized appeared on my screen. I instantly knew what I had done.

No matter what I tried to do to get it to mount, no luck. Tried opening/mounting the card with Clip Browser, XDCAM Transfer, Browser, nothing. Opened Disk Utility and the card was recognized in the left column but I was unable to apply any action to it, repair disk permission, erase, reformat, etc. Tried putting the card back in the F3 but the camera would not recognize it at all, went to reformat it in-cam and the slot it was in was greyed out as if there was no card. Tried playing clips back, same result. One last shot I tried doing the same thing with it in the EX1 and no luck.

So basically, no matter what I've tried the card is dead in the water. It's a three year old 8GB SxS Pro that came with my EX but would still rather not throw it in the trash. Any advice would be very welcome..
 
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I wish I had an answer for you but your question leads me to ask a question myself....

My F3 is on its way to me and I also have an EX1. Are you saying that if a card bounces from the F3 to the EX1 or vice versa, it has to be formatted?

Does that mean that if I'm a shoot, I can't switch the card between cameras? Don't know why I would... just asking.



Have you tried plugging the camera into the MBP? I believe the express slot sees the card differently. That's why you need to install divers if you're using the express slot but not if you just plug the camera in. Although I'm not sure that would do any good... you need to have the camera see card, not the computer so you can format it. Aren't these NTFS volumes? You would need "NTFS for Mac X" to be able to format the card with the computer but as a last ditch effort.... maybe.
 
What you're describing shouldn't have bricked a card. I've switched cards transferably between my EX1, my EX3, and my PMW-F3. I've never had to reformat.
 
Viddovation said:
What you're describing shouldn't have bricked a card. I've switched cards transferably between my EX1, my EX3, and my PMW-F3. I've never had to reformat.
Click to expand...

Here's what pg.37 in the owners manual says and what I've always done until yesterday:
"Formatting may be required before using an SxS memory card with this camcorder. For an SxS memory card that is not formatted or that was formatted with another system, the message “Unsupported File System” is displayed on the LCD monitor/viewfinder screen. Any SxS memory card formatted with a device other than this camcorder cannot be used with the camcorder."

To "Westview":
According to Sony, no you cant or shouldnt switch card between cameras without reformatting. I've had the SxS drivers installed in my MBP since day 1 and they've always mounted and worked fine from both camera's. I tried reformatting the card with Disk Utility in every and any format to try and kick it back to life and none of them will even apply a reformat. As far as connecting the camera to the computer, I dont have the right cable(s) and frankly dont care about the footage. If the cam is no longer recognizing the card in any way, I doubt the files would show if I were able to connect the cam to computer.

I really appreciate your guys advice but Im at a loss..
 
Fotojorno - I'm merely reporting my personal experience, which has been that my cameras load and recognize the cards interchangably. I would agree that in theory, a reformat is likely the best practice, I've just never found it necessary to bother.

A few things:

When used for the Sony PMW-EX1, EX3, or PMW-F3, SxS cards need to be formatted FAT32.

Some broadcast cameras that use XDCAM-HD (50mbit) require UDF formatting for SxS cards.

The EX1r and PMW-F3 offer DVCAM recording modes not available on the EX1 or EX3, these files will not be readable on those cameras.

Apparently, the recent firmware for the F3 made enough changes to how XDCAM-EX files are recorded that older versions of the XDCAM Browser software no longer could play them back. It's quite possible this could have a similar effect when attempting to play back on a camera with old firmware.

Just ran a check: my EX3 will play back files recorded on my PMW-F3, and, space available, is happy to record new files to the same card.


Keep in mind there are other cameras by JVC and Arri that also use SxS cards, and these would not be compatible.
 
Yeah, I considered they might have been referring to Arri, JVC and non-FAT32 cameras as well but didnt want to chance it, so I made it a habit of re-formatting when going from cam to cam. My F3 has the most recent firmware and yes your correct, after the recent update the older Clip Browser 2.6 was no longer able to read cards coming out of a updated F3.

Maybe the XDCAM EX deck would have some luck recognizing and formatting it. I know a production company that has one, might be worth trying..

Thanks again guys
 
Thanks Doug. So weird, I have no idea what it could be then. I'm very careful when it comes to cards, power off before ejecting, etc. that I cant imagine what could of done it.

If I ever get the bottom of this I'll be sure and share it with everyone. Until then Im open to any ideas for bringing the card back to life.

*BTW Doug, bought your EX1 dvd a few years ago and it was very useful, I recommend it to anyone who's interested.
 
Thanks for the compliments on the training DVD. If you want to send me the bad card I'd like to take a shot at it. I have NEVER seen a bad SxS card. I'd send it back right away whether I was able to revive it or not.
Also, I will add that I never bother to turn the camera off when changing cards. I don't think even Sony says that is necessary. In my experience the SxS cards have been 100% rock solid no matter what I do with them.
 
Doug, I'd be happy to send it to you. PM the address you want it sent to and I'll shoot it over to ya. Thanks very much!

In regards to shutting the camera off, I meant if the card you want to pull is the one currently selected by the cam, not yanking it out before de-selecting that slot or turning the cam off. I change cards all the time while on and rolling.

Merry Christmas..
 
Doug Jensen said:
Thanks for the compliments on the training DVD. If you want to send me the bad card I'd like to take a shot at it. I have NEVER seen a bad SxS card. I'd send it back right away whether I was able to revive it or not.
Also, I will add that I never bother to turn the camera off when changing cards. I don't think even Sony says that is necessary. In my experience the SxS cards have been 100% rock solid no matter what I do with them.
Click to expand...

+1

I've never had a genuine Sony (or Sandisk) SxS card die on me. I even put one through a washing machine and dryer, and it not only was still usable, but didn't lose a single file or frame of data.
 
Better check your washing machine. It should have washed that card clean.
Sorry, long day of color grading my movie.
I once had a P2 die on me. I never heard of one dying before, but mine did. Panasonic replaced it for me even tho it was out warranty after I complained.
 
Just thought I'd check. :)

I look forward to seeing what Doug has to say. I've never seen a bricked SxS card and you didn't do anything extraordinary to it like put it on top of a stack of speakers at a rock concert.

If absolutely nothing else works and the footage is a loss I'd try to reformat. If that doesn't work I'd whine to Sony. They ought to replace it. They shouldn't fail.
 
I had a nearly new SxS 16gb card have very similar symptoms to what you describe - overnighted it to Sony, they tested overnight, called me to say it was a bad card and overnighted me a new replacement. Three day process. I can't be happier!
 
Fotojorno said:
Doug, I'd be happy to send it to you.
Click to expand...

Fotojorno, I just wanted to follow up and let you know I never received the card. If you changed your mind and decided not to send it, that is fine, I just thought I'd let you know just in case you did send it.
 
Hi Doug, sorry about the delay, mailed it out yesterday actually. Thanks again and good luck with it..

-Bill
 
Fotojorno, I got the card yesterday and spent some time last night trying to revive it, but I am sorry to say I was unsuccessful. Nothing I did could bring it back to life. Sorry. I'll mail it back today. You should check with Sony and see if they'll replace it or perhaps give you some credit towards a new card.
 
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