Formatting memory card in computer vs in camera?

Is there any difference if you format a card in camera vs in computer?

Personally, I avoid formating my cards, because if you lose yous photos saved on your computer, you will never be able to revover them. It you just erase them from your card, there are some softwares that can recover the data lost.

To answer your question formating is formating wherever it is.

Difference? Dunno, but I believe the consensus is always format in camera....

www.digicamhelp.com/accessories/memory-c...tting-a-memory-card/

M-C Simard wrote: Personally, I avoid formating my cards, because if you lose yous photos saved on your computer, you will never be able to revover them. It you just erase them from your card, there are some softwares that can recover the data lost.

To answer your question formating is formating wherever it is.

You can only retrieve photos from the last photo shoot correct? So you can't access photos deleted from card 2 months ago and the card has been filed up a few times since right?

Cards should always be formatted, deleting does not remove data just renames it, as far as recovering lost data as mentioned that is only possible until the card is used. I always use the camera to format even if I format on the pc I will do it again in the camera before using it....

Wild Mitch wrote:

M-C Simard wrote: Personally, I avoid formating my cards, because if you lose yous photos saved on your computer, you will never be able to revover them. It you just erase them from your card, there are some softwares that can recover the data lost.

To answer your question formating is formating wherever it is.

You can only retrieve photos from the last photo shoot correct? So you can't access photos deleted from card 2 months ago and the card has been filed up a few times since right?

I have been able to recover photos from a longer period than two months when one of my hard drives "died", two years ago, I did not got back all of my pictures, but at least a part of it. Obviously if you tries to recover photos from a year ago, more or less depending on how many photos you took since then, it won't necessary recover them.

In camera and be done with it

I was told to format in camera, so I've been doing it that way since.

I don't know the difference between in camera or computer. But I have Canon, Olympus and Panasonic cameras and all the manuals say format in camera. If that many manufactures recommend in camera formatting I am inclined to do as they request.

Here are a couple of links that might help you.

://.thedigitalstory/blog/2005/11/memory_cards_erase_d.html
://digital-photography-school/13-tips-for-using-and-caring-for-memory-cards

M-C Simard wrote:

Wild Mitch wrote:

M-C Simard wrote: Personally, I avoid formating my cards, because if you lose yous photos saved on your computer, you will never be able to revover them. It you just erase them from your card, there are some softwares that can recover the data lost.

To answer your question formating is formating wherever it is.

You can only retrieve photos from the last photo shoot correct? So you can't access photos deleted from card 2 months ago and the card has been filed up a few times since right?

I have been able to recover photos from a longer period than two months when one of my hard drives "died", two years ago, I did not got back all of my pictures, but at least a part of it. Obviously if you tries to recover photos from a year ago, more or less depending on how many photos you took since then, it won't necessary recover them.

But the problem with that is when you shoot another photo after deleting the photos some of the previous data is still there, which can eventually lead to corrupting your current photos at one point. Either way the previous photos become unrecoverable due to the over write. Formatting the card makes it fresh for putting new data on by recreating the file system with new directories and such. The only way to keep any photos you have shot on you memory cards, is to store them and not use them again. And I know some people who actually do this. Or you get a nice removable hard drive, and back them up on it. Backup as always should be your first line of defense in saving photos, any all other irreplaceable data. Also having a fireproof safe rated for electronic media is advisable.
As far as why to Format in camera, it does exactly what your camera wants in creating directories. Also I never delete photos in the field. The reason being is that each photo is not always the same file size, this can be due to subject matter, and various other aspects of a photo you shot. One photo could have been very data heavy, or more complex and taken more space on the card, then the next was more basic with less data. So say you are running out of, or have run out of room on the card, and see another shot you really want, if you eliminate a small file and replace it with a very large file, you can screw them both up by jamming the larger image in. The difference in data sizes is also why when you look at how many images you can still shoot does not always change, this is because sometimes what you just shot did not require as much space on the card. So always carry a spare card when your remaining shots are getting low. It is no different than carrying an extra battery to me.

In camera

Count me in for in camera format

Since I always back up my hard drive twice before formatting cards, I probably will not lose any. One backup is in a fireproof safe (you can store off-site).
I also always format in camera. The camera knows what it needs to properly process photos. Any remnants from prior photos 1) take up space, and 2) as Ernesto said, could corrupt new photos.

Use the computer if you are going to use the card to store non-photo data or as a jump drive to take them to a processor.

I do it in-camera. Formatting in-camera uses uses the manufacturers software designed for the camera. I don't know that there is any problem using Windows or Mac OS, but it's easy enough to do in-camera.

As long as the files have not been written over it's usually possible to recover them whether they were deleted or the mem card formatted. I use Sandisk cards, and Sandisk was able to recommend free software that recovered all the photos on a card I accidentally formatted before I had copied the photos.

Why format instead of delete? Formatting identifies and isolates bad parts of the memory. Deleting does not, and if a file is written using a bad part the photo could be corrupted. Formatting occasionally is good memory maintenance.