digital camera 1st timer worried about memory card errors

[Tickla]

I just bought a digital camera and love it, but after reading all kinds of stuff on the internet about people all of a sudden having lost all their pictures due to a memory card error for no reason, I am so worried this will happen to me--what causes this? How do I prevent it? I don't know much at all about digital photography and I dont want to lose all my vacation pictures from the card. I am SO WORRIED! HELP! Thanks!!!

 

[AbbysFamily]

It happens, but its pretty rare.

You can really limit the possibility by doing 2 things:
1) Never take it out of the camera unless the camera is off.
2) Try and remember to use the 'eject' in Windows to make sure it is safe to take out of the pc.

You do that and there is little chance to lose anything.

 

[Furgus]

Don't fill the cards up all the way and remove the pictures as soon as you can.
I have taken 5343 pictures on my D50 since May, and I have never lost any pictures. I use PNY and Toshiba cards, or whatever is on sale.

 

[MarkBarbieri]

Some lessons I've learned:

1) Don't put your memory card in the washing machine. It comes out cleaner, but it doesn't necessarily work as well afterwards.

2) I've used microdrives safely, but I would recommend against them. They made some sense when memory was expensive, but I wouldn't use one now.

3) If you're really paranoid, you can get a camera that uses two cards. Mine can write to a CF card and an SD card at the same time, so you have an instant backup.

I bet that a lot more pictures get lost from poor file handling than for corrupt memory cards. People accidentally delete files, put them where they can't find them, don't make backups, etc.

 

[jann1033]

i've never had a problem either but i do try not to drop them, keep them in a little case instead of floating around "nick-ed" and unprotected in my bag where I might get gunk in them and i don't believe everything i read on the internet

 

[handicap18]

Never had a problem either. Taken about 4500 pics in the past 12 months. Just do what the others have said and you'll be good to go.

For extra percautions when traveling I like to keep the camera bag in the front seat with the seatbelt over it. Oh, and in addition to not putting them in the washer, its even worse when you try to put them in the dryer afterwards, even if you use the delicate cycle.

Seriously though, don't worry about it. Just like anything else, practice safe handling like the ones listed in previous posts and you'll be good to go.

Have fun with the new camera and be sure to post pictures!! We like pictures!

 

[Tickla]

Thanks everyone-I knew I could count on you to ease my fears!!

 

[WillCAD]

Another thing you can do to reduce errors is never delete pics from the card while it's in the camera. Lots of deleting makes errors more common; instead, wait till you get all the photos off the card, then format it in the camera.