When to format?

No. I format when ever I am going to a new event and know I will need the entire card. I like to leave footage on the card as long as possible as an extra backup to the copies I have on the HDDs.
 
One consideration about formatting, is that footage isn't the only thing that might be on your card. You might also have metadata files or scene files. If you format, you'll be erasing those as well as the footage.

If you use scene files or metadata files, it's good practice with the AVCCAM cameras to use "delete clips" instead of formatting.
 
If not, formatting is more certain and can keep the file system organized (and efficient). Plus it's faster. I do it every time I've uploaded and backed up my footage. Otherwise I might forget, and my camera always has to be ready.
 
Can you delete "all the clips" regardless of the recorded format?

I have been double and triple checking the cards with AVCAM Viewer and then when satisfied, formatting them in the camera.

Honestly, I am not disciplined enough when shooting, to use scene or meta data files.....
 
I always format in camera with brand new cards.

Also, I have a Canon t2i. If I previously shot footage on a card using the t2i, I format when using the card on the HMC150.
 
Oh, and absolutely when you do format, you MUST format the cards IN-CAMERA. And that's the very first thing you should do with any brand-new card.
 
I ifnd it easier to just format the card in cam. You donl;t have to flip over to playback mode etc.
 
Barry_Green said:
One consideration about formatting, is that footage isn't the only thing that might be on your card. You might also have metadata files or scene files. If you format, you'll be erasing those as well as the footage.

If you use scene files or metadata files, it's good practice with the AVCCAM cameras to use "delete clips" instead of formatting.
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So scene files are not stored in the camera itself? They are stored in the sd card that you happen to be using when you set your scene files? Could you please elaborate on your quote. Thanks.
 
The last set of Scene Files that you loaded into the camera, and any changes made to them, remain on the camera. All you would lose is the ability to load that deleted set(s) into another camera, or to reload them from the card.
 
ramkuma said:
So scene files are not stored in the camera itself? They are stored in the sd card that you happen to be using when you set your scene files? Could you please elaborate on your quote. Thanks.
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It is possible to save a copy of a scene file to the card for later use. If you have a custom scene file for a specific purpose, you can save it to the card and then transfer it to a computer (it's a simple text file) for later use. It also makes it possible to transfer between multiple cameras, which is really handy on a multi-cam shoot when you need to the cameras to look the same.
 
I format every time to avoid any possible creeping corruption and make sure the camcorder still likes the card. Also FCP likes to interpret the metadata on the card instead of dealing with the MTS files directly so that way I don't wind up with multiple copies of things that aren't easily separated.
 
I like to format after every transfer. If I don't do it, since I am downloading the whole private folder, I have to then manually delete double clips from my pc.
 
Me, I use a 4 GB card to store and save my scene files and camera setup files. And I don't use this card to record video.

With my other 16 GB and 32 GB cards, I always format them before a new job.
 
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