I just finished a wedding I was watching the footage as the day went on now I tried to dump in the footage and the card is not readable I put it back into the camera and it it having trouble playing it back. Any thoughts!?!?!?

Hi Randy

If the card has an issue then the camera should come up with a message and ask you if you want to repair it. Exactly what happens when you put the card in the computer's card reader? Will it not read it?

Sometime I have had a card from cameras that wouldn't read and I simply re-inserted it a couple of times until the 'puter read it. If you can do that for starters ..dump the stream folder onto your drive as a back up.

Wipe the card contacts with a clean cloth as well so there is no issues there.

If it looks like the card has been damaged somehow then you might need a recovery program.

If you can specify exactly what happens with the card in the camera and the card in the computer I'm sure some of us can figure what's going on?

BTW: Lock the tab on the card so the computer cannot write any data to it as well

Chris

If none of Chris' suggestions work, a recovery program is a good option.

I've used Recuva many times with good success, but it will only work if the card is still actually readable and it really depends on what the underlying issue is: Recuva - Undelete, Unerase, File and Disk Recovery - Free Download (http://www.piriform.com/recuva)
The Windows version is free. The Mac version isn't, for some reason. Maybe they think Mac users have more money? Who knows.

A data recovery specialist is an option but should be the last resort. Hopefully it doesn't come to that... they're not cheap!

Thanks Jody

That will help him too. Seriously any decent card should never fail unless it is damaged or a cheap eBay knockoff. This sounds weird as the camera should have picked up an error as soon as the card went faulty. Luckily I have never had a card issue but I do use good cards. I'm surprised the card only failed when uploading so it could be a card reader fault or similar.

The other option might be to see if the USB camera interface will transfer the data with the card intact in the camera.. We are often warned to lock cards before transfer so the computer cannot write/overwrite anything and is only allowed to read ...it should never damage a card just reading it surely??

Chris

I am currently running a recovery program I am not hopefull its acting just like a bad hard drive where windows sees the data but when I try to move the files windows says the files are corrupt or damaged. I got some files off but they are fragmented pretty much un useable. I put it back into the camera I see all the clips I get no errors until I try to play one. Anyone know a good affordable recovery service? This is making me want to but 2 16gigs per wedding instead of 1 32.

Randy look your email

This is making me want to but 2 16gigs per wedding instead of 1 32.

It was exactly the same reason that made me buy a sony hvr-dr60 a few years back when I had one bad minidv cassette which made me loose a entire wedding ceremony, it costed 1K back then but I had more ease of mind afterwards being able to record simultaneously to cassette and the dr60, the safest option you have is to get a fmu128 so you get dual recording. In my case there was no recovery option, the footage was so badly corrupted it was gone, on a sdhc card you still do have the option to have a specialised firm try to recover it, it won't be cheap but there still is a chance, I do hope it turns out alright for you, I know how it feels to lose important footage, not fun.

An FMU is a good option but that's not the concern at the moment.

When you put the card in a reader can you navigate the folders at all or does the card simply refuse to read. It would be nice at least to be able to look at the batch of files and see what has gone wrong and whether they still are listed and all have MTS extensions.

A long shot but have you seen if the Sony Content Management Utility will read them???

Hope you manage to get them all. The worst I have ever had over the last 15 years has been an old card that froze my Panny HMC72 and I lost just one clip.

It would be nice to know what has actually happened??? Holding thumbs for you!!! Have you also tried the repair database option in the camera which is supposed to repair damaged files

Chris

I know the fmu is not the concern right now, if you actually read my comment you"ll notice it was a reaction to Randy's comment to get 2 small instead of one big card. You might loose only half in case you get corrupt data again but with a fmu you would not lose anything.

Everything seems normal until I try to copy them over or play them. All the folders are there and so are the files its like the disc is bad when it tries to move or play them. I hope the file recovery places can do more than I can do. I am sending it off to one my friend recommended I think I am going to invest in a fmu in the future though.

Would be great if you could update on the outcome, hope it works out for you, fingers crossed!

Will do, I think I will try a Mac just so I can say I tried everything I could.

Just out of curiosity, what type of SD card were you using?

If it wasn't such important data, I'd try doing a "quick format" on the card (same file system) and then using Recuva again. This would sort out any potential issues with the file system. A quick format doesn't technically delete any data, so in theory Recuva would get it back.

But this really is a last resort. And I probably wouldn't do it with such crucial data at risk.

You've really highlighted my 1 big issue with the EA50. The single SD card slot does make me nervous. I've had a corrupt SD card on my HM600 in the past. It happened during a live event shoot, but luckily I was using dual-record mode so I could keep going without any interruption.

The omission of a 2nd SD card slot is obviously just so Sony can sell that overpriced FMU.

Well I had Panasonic AG-HMC 150s and they only have one slot.

As Noa says , rather get a FMU as with 2 x 16GB cards you still could lose half the wedding. I shoot in 16GB cards in each camera so my only advantage is if I saw a camera fail/fall/go up in smoke, I could continue with the second camera and film the wedding using just one camera.

For $300 a GoPro is also a great investment for me! At least I would be able to give the bride something if the other gear failed!

This card issue is still puzzling Randy ?? Sony use quite extensive error trapping routines on their cameras so it seems strange that the camera never came up with an error message on such a corrupt card unless it WAS ok in the camera and when it went into the computer something went wrong and data on the card was corrupted by the computer ..easy to do if the protect tab was not on!!

Yeah, Randy, what card brand were you using ?? I still use Transend 16GB cards and have never had an error since I stared with my old HMC72's ... Unlike others I have only had issues with SanDisk cards ..weird, they are supposed to be the best but the 30K ones I had gave me issues in the EA-50's

Keep us updated

Chris

I use centons and adatas I am definately getting the fmu once I get the money:) I wonder what makes it tick? Is it a solid state HD? or a few SD cards RAIDED together? Or a regular HD which would be the worst of the 3. I found a good program called "ontrack" everytimre I scan I get something different if I keep this up long enough I may get all of it I wonder if I can use the camera as a reader? I will spend the $350 if I have to I just want to make sure I have to.

Randy

Read the customer comments about Centon cards on Amazon!!

Amazon.com: Centon 32 GB Class 10 SDHC Flash Memory Card 32GBSDHC10: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Centon-Class-Flash-Memory-32GBSDHC10/dp/B004L08DCM)

You are shooting a wedding. A one off event that you can never reshoot and you are using 32GB rubbish cards!!! Only buy well known brands (You might notice that people bought Transcend and Sandisk cards after visiting the page above) Stay away from low prices and make sure the cards are sealed and Genuine retail packets ...Both San Disk and Transcend have a scam card checker that will verify the card serial number to make sure it's not a knock off!!

I also "retire" my cards every 6 months (I keep them and use them for no critical shoots)

OK, the FMU128 is an SSD 128GB drive what what I have read and works well ...I don't have one BUT I do have decent cards and never an issue!

Those amazon reviews about the centons are pretty clear, the same issue as Randy had is reported there, about Sandisc, allthough they have a proven reliablity I have read a topic here recently about a certain 32gb type card from sandisc that was causing issues as well with corrupted data, can't find that topic back though. But in general they are very reliable cards.
The price of the fmu is not cheap but I paid 1K for 64gb (hvr-dr60) a few years back which was even more expensive but it had been reliable from day one I used it, I use several small camera's and all record to 1 card, it does make me nervous though having to trust a full days work onto one flimsy little piece of plastic.

Using the camera as the "reader" is probably a good place to start - I've had the rare "read error" if a card doesn't quite line up right, and remove/reinsert usually cures it. Makes me a little nervous you can't play the clips in camera (if I read you correctly).

Are the contacts on the card and camera/reader clean? Might be worth picking up a can of contact cleaner - seen read problems with dirty/slightly corroded contacts, cleaning will resolve - since you are getting random results, this might be worth exploring? Your data may be there and intact, but getting scrambled from interference at the contacts... it takes very little oxidation/corrosion to make for a 'bad connection". Seen it ALL the time in doing electronic repairs!

And Chris could also be right, you card may have a fault... some cheap cards are sketchy, or knockoffs with substandard parts that WILL cause problems. Ages ago I bought a few "Scamdisks" (fake cards with legit looking Sandisk labels/packaging), all sorts of weird problems... Better to spend a little more, get known brands from KNOWN sources than to save a few $$ and have problems/lost data.

The more I "play" with it the more it seems like its corrupt and not physical damage. I use software to recover the files but they are fragmented the card does the same thing every time so it doesnt look like its getting worse. I am hopeful that a professional company can save it.

OK update, My friend let me use a program called "ontrack" very expensive like $500 I think I got all the data BUT it got EVERYTHING which crashed Edius soon as I imported it. So I imported all the clips into Adobe media encoder to "launder" them I got a lot more stuff but its going to take a day or two to render so I dont think I am ready to send out my card for $350 just yet. If I cant get enough to edit this video then I will. Right now I remain hopeful.

Did you try putting "everything" you got onto another SD card and let Sony PlayMemories or Content Management Utility read the card ? If the directories were copied then they will know what files to choose. If you can get the recovery program to copy the card then using this copied card the in camera database correction may also recreate the directories.

Ron Evans

Ron,
I cant do that because windows or OSX wont let me move files off the card, I think I did get what I needed though. In hind site I was playing with fire it wasnt so much the cheap cards it was the age. For now I am going to buy some new cards and in the next few weeks I am going to get a FMU. Are Sony cards good enough for now? The guy who I called about the card recovery told me PNY were crap and he wouldnt even recommend Sandisk Microcenter has Sony and Kingston.

I use Patriot 64G cards and the FMU128 on my NX5U. Use the same cards in my NX30U and CX700 they
have been very good shopRBC.com :: Patriot EP 64GB SDHX Class 10 UHS-I Memory Card (http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_details.php?pid=85852)

Ron Evans

I must admit I have never had Windows not being able to copy folders or files from a card. I'm wondering if maybe the card reader has a fault??? What actually happens when you put the card into the reader?

If the reader doesn't even read the card then maybe see if another card reads and copies OK? For something like this you do need to totally isolate the faulty component ... it seems strange that the camera shows the existence of the clips but won't play them ... I'm wondering if the camera can only read the metadata files which will confirm the presence of the files and then due to corruption it camera cannot play the actual files in the stream folder? Very weird!!

Hope they are eventually recovered OK!!!

Chris

I tried other readers and computers, Im pretty sure the card is just worn out. I kinda remember looking at the footage in the field and seeing the camera hesitate a little bit.

Hi Randy

I was just checking! Yep that card is finished it seems. I always make sure that my cards for weddings don't have a lot of use, Compared to the cost of MiniDV where it would cost me about $32.00 per wedding with 4 x tapes, you can now buy a good 16GB card for that which you can use it only for say 10 weddings and then 2 x 16GB cards will have a media cost of a tiny $6.00 per wedding ... I use my about 20 times and then they move to my 2nd card case and get used for Realty shoots ...(those I CAN reshoot if a card fails) ... On my EA-50's I have a 16GB card in each camera and that gives me about 80 mins of footage on each camera ..plenty of space for me and I find that 16GB cards for some reason are more reliable than 32GB ... I have no idea why!

I reckon that apart from overuse, if a card is going to fail, it will do so on the first couple of uses so I run my new cards in the camera on non-critical shoots before they become my "wedding" cards.

Chris

For the time being I picked up 4 32 gig sandisc class 10 cards I dont think I need to over think this. The card that failed was like 4 years old I just used it one to many times:) I will use these for a few weeks until I can get a FMU

It happend again! No lost data but enough to make me nervous about moving forward. I bought 4 new cards last week I shot 2 weddings with them last weekend. I dumped them fine right after each job this week I went to find one to reuse for todays wedding. One of them was corrupt just like last time! I pulled it out of service I have to do another job or two before I can afford the FMU now I am going to be very uncomfortable for a while.

hmm, something else must be going on, if you are that (un)lucky you better start playing the lottery. :) I think the chances of the issue you had happening so close together with 2 totally different cards seems very unlikely that your new card has the same problem.

Have you tried transferring with the camera connected to the pc vs a cardreader?

Well im heading out today I am going to take my laptop to copy the card after the ceremony then again at the end of the night for the whole thing.

I second that something else is going on... either bad cards (there are a LOT of knockoffs out there?), or something wrong elsewhere.

I've on RARE occasion had a card fail to read due to not seating in a slot properly (seems to happen with the "dual format" Sony slots fairly often), but removal and re-insertion cures it - there isn't any reason you should be having corrupted files - I've even seen files that weren't properly closed because of improper camera shut down recover on the next startup...

I tend to use the camera USB to download rather than taking cards out if I can, but with lots of cards and cameras... I haven't ever run into an unreadable card/file.

I actually would be a little concerned about the camera at this stage...

Hi Dave

I somewhat doubt it ..my EA-50's work every day and they are in their 2nd year now and card read/writes are perfect. Randy has already said that his card (Poor brand too!) was 4 years old and just over used and worn out so the contracts were more than likely suspect/bad

He should be OK with his new cards.

Chris

If you read a few comments back you"ll see Randy had the same issue now with his new cards.

Thanks Noa

I see that! Weird issue ?? Seriously the only card I ever had an issue with that came up "Error" on one of my Panasonics ..I reinserted in and no issues after that and that was a Sandisk. I went back to Transcend and never have had any sort of problem.

You note that the card that Randy had an issue with (the new one) only occurred after dumping the footage. I wonder if his card reader or computer is causing an issue on the card ? The EA-50 shows a card fault if it's not formatted in camera. I used one of my cards in my Nikon by mistake and my EA-50 then came up with an offer to repair the database. I wonder if Randy is locking the card tab to read only before putting it in the computer?? At least that way, the computer cannot write anything to the card

Chris

My shoot went fine I took my laptop and backed up every hour or so, I didnt need to though it was all there at the end of the day. I got the cards at Bestbuy There Sandisk Ultra plus class 10 32 gigs. They were on sale for $25 each maybe they were on sale for a reason. I just need them to hold out for one more week the I will get my FMU and the cards will be used as backups. You CAN dual record with the FMU right?

Hi Randy

From what I read in the manual the camera will record to both cards and FMU at the same time but you have to set it up in the menu before it will do that. What I didn't check was if you have to use the USB output to transfer the FMU footage .. I would think so. I reckon it's better to use the cards and transfer to the computer and then IF you have a problem you still have the FMU for backup ...The nice thing is you can leave the footage on the FMU while to edit which frees up the cards and then once the wedding is done and dusted you can delete the FMU footage ready for the next wedding.

Glad everything worked out OK!!

Chris

The EA50 does record to the FMU and SD cards at the same time - peace of mind :)

ok after further evaluation I noticed that the 2 weddings I did seems to have gotten mixed on each other card! Weird! The only think I can think is maybe I didnt properly eject one of the cards and somehow windows mixed them.

Hi Randy

Are you serious? There is no way footage from one wedding can transfer themselves to another card unless you physically use the card from the first wedding at the second wedding.

When you put your cards into the reader I would definitely flip up the locking tab so no writing to card (or deleteing) can occur. I'm at fault too forgetting to lock the cards before they go into the reader but have never had Windows do anything except read them.

I have had two wedding sequences on one card BUT it was only because the cards that I used at the Friday wedding were left in my card case and when I realised that I might run out of space, I picked up the Friday card not my spare card ..that was a while back and if I do two weddings the first wedding cards stay at the computer and I just take the two allocated cards for the second wedding with me as primary cards plus, of course. two spare cards just in case

Chris

Well what I think it is, when the "thumb" file gets damaged on a card Windows starts looking for matching files so the files arent really on the card windows just thinks they are.