Hi All

When I have finished a wedding, I backup the card data, transcode and then just before the next job I format the card in camera only to erase previous data.

What is the general workflow here???? Should one just delete the files in camera, format in camera or use the Panasonic Format software to do it and THEN format in camera??

What does everyone else do when you re-use a card on a new job???

Chris

I format the card in camera when the data (footage) is no longer needed.

Hi Denny

Thanks! That's what I do at present and one had the one problem as mentioned in the other post.

I'm assuming that you would only use the Panasonic Formatter if you had a card that wasn't behaving correctly???

Chris

Correct. I use the formatter on new cards before I format them in the camera.

Thanks Denny

Great timing too!! 2 new cards I had ordered arrived today so I'll zap them thru the Panasonic formatter and then when I need them I'll format in camera.

Sorry to be a pest but what settings do you use with the Panasonic Formatter and brand new cards???

Chris

FULL and Resize

It is always good to re-format any media before re-use as this will initialise the directory structure as well as delete any clips.

I always format the card in the camera before re-use but Denny pointed me to Panasonics little utility that will format the card in the PC (but you still have to format again in the camera too.

I'm not too sure why the card must be initially formatted in the PC using the Panny utility??? I have always just formatted new cards in the camera.

Denny??? Any idea why it's a good idea to format twice initially???

Chris

That util checks the card for bad sectors etc., and reformats every sector so you know if they are good. Important to help prevent and "check card" issues.

In camera basically does a quick format with the panny file system. No error checking as far as I know.

Hi Denny

Much appreciated. It's then most definately worth running cards thru the Panny software ..the extra time involved seems well worth the peace of mind that your card is A-OK especially for a wedding where the event is absolutely non repeatable!!

Thanks again!!

Chris

I agree. However....

Some issues with cheaper cards have not been bad sectors but the micro-controller on the card failing. If that occurs you will see teh "Check Card" message and the card will not be readable on any computer. USUALLY you can send teh card to the manufacturer and they can usually recover and data that was on the card.

I went through this with an A-Data 32gb class 6 card in the fall. They claimed to have had a bad batch of cards.

Hi Denny

I just ran a new card thru the Panasonic software and about 50% thru it said "Cannot Format memory Card" ... Setting was Erase (Off) and Resize ... Putting the card in the camera produced a "Check Card" message but the cam formats it perfectly and it seems to work fine. I also tested each card after the HMC had formatted them, with H2testw software which writes data to the capacity of the card and then verifies it..no errors were found

Any ideas??

Chris

Not sure what to say there.

Did you try and run it through a second time?

Hi Denny

The readme file does say that some card readers do not support the erase function so it might be that???
I see the software has erase (on) and erase (off) options too. They also have a new version out that's still in beta so that also might have been a problem.

Not to worry, the cards test read and write to full capacity without any errors and format perfectly in the cameras too. I have a few Realty Projects coming up so I'll test them on those also (weddings are in their usual lull at this time as we have moved into our cold and wet Winter months) With the Realty shoots I am just filming empty homes so re-shoots are simple and not time critical at all!!

Thanks for all the help

Chris

Can I just ask where you get the Panasonic Formatter software?

Hi Philip

Just Google for "panasonic SD formatter v2.0" it will find a link to the Panny Japan website with all the utilities.

Also google for "H2TestW" software..it's a freebie from Germany and tests SDHC and USB drives by writing and verifying data ...software also runs in English!! I found it very useful.

However, up to now I have just been formatting in camera without any issues at all ... make sure your reader can handle the formatter software!!

Chris

Thanks Chris - got it, I always download these things, you never know when you might need it. I too format in the camera before each shoot and not had a problem, but that doesn't mean I may not get a problem in the future!!

I format as well. Been doing that with the same 3 Panasonic 16GB cards I've been using for just over a year. No problems.

format...all my cards after the files are on two other drives!

Thanks Guys

When you say "format" are you using the Panasonic software on the computer first and THEN formatting in the camera???

It seems that most people simply use the camera to format the card (even if you do it with the Panasonic software you still need to format in the camera as far as I know??

My current batch of 4 cards have been only camera formatted since August with no problems apart from the one isolated incident.

If would be nice to have a definitive preferred course of action eg: Always format with the Panny software first or use the Panny software every few months just to check the card or only use the software if there is an issue.

Chris

Yes, you need to format in camera in order for the file system to work write. In fact all digital cameras state somewhere in there manuals to format the cards in camera.

I run the SD formatter on new cards. Then after that I format in camera for all other formatting.

Once the file system is established, is there a reason thereafter to not simply delete the files, rather than reformatting the whole card?

Not really. I just find it quicker as I can do this from cam mode and not have to flip back into playback mode.