Memory card question

[TheGoofster]

I've noticed that I have a tendency to take about 40 or 50 pictures, than transfer the shots over to my computer (unless I'm at a special event that calls for a lot of pictures).
I was wondering if this is actually a smart way of using my memory card or not. Would it be better to keep the pictures on the card, and just copy them over (instead of transfering them), thus using more of the actual card?

I guess in other words, what I'm wondering is if I am using the same files (megabytes, location, etc...) on the card over and over again, thus reducing the life of the card quicker? Would it be better for me to use more of the card before transferring (erasing) the memory off of it.

 

[ukcatfan]

I am not sure if that habit would wear it out quicker, but I would seriously doubt it as it is solid state memory (i.e. no moving parts like a disk drive). It probably does not even store the information in the same memory locations anyway. You are at the greatest risk of losing your information by leaving the pics on the cards longer. The cards can fail and you can accidentally make mistakes such as formatting the card with images you have not downloaded. Also, with memory being dirt cheap, why even worry about it? I recently bought an 8GB card for around $20-25. It is nearly at disposable prices.

 

[NateNLogansDad]

I'm not 100 percent on exactly how the cards store data, but I have done data backup/restores on all different kinds of media including camera cards. I've been able to get files back that were deleted by the user by mistake so I'm assuming that when you delete a file, the next one doesn't actually get written in the exact same spot. Just one guy's opinion.

 

[seashoreCM]

I suggest letting the card fill up to about 3/4'th (all the way if you are taking lots of pictures), but copying new pictures onto your computer as quickly as possible each time.

Then erase the card and start over.

I recommend a low level format on every third erasure, but if if formatting is much faster than erasing*, do the formatting instead.

Digital camera hints: http://www.cockam.com/digicam.htm

* Heaven forbid, you shouldn't have to erase pictures one at a time.

 

[WillCAD]

The amount of data you copy on or off the card is not as important as the total number of read/write cycles you put it through. Solid state media like memory cards DO have a finite number of read/write cycles in their lifetime, but depending on the type of card, that lifespan might be in the tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of cycles, so you don't have to worry about a card "wearing out" until you've written and read data tens or hundreds of thousands of times.

Each time you take a pic, delete a pic, or format the card, that's a write cycle. Each time you review or copy a pic, that's a read cycle.

Personally, I copy my pics off the card onto the computer, and the next time I put the card into the camera, I format it (always format in the camera). I never erase individual files, either by computer or by camera, because that increases the statistical probability of malfunction.

It's also worth noting that I rotate my memory card usage, thus increasing their lifespan. I have 4 main memory cards (all the same make, model, and capacity, purchased in 2 pair about 6 months apart), and I rotate among the 4 whenever I take pics so that I'm not using the same card each time. By rotating the cards, I split the number of read/write cycles among them, in essence making each one last 4 times as long.

Here a nice article with more info on memory cards:

http://digital-photography-school.com/memory-cards-how-to-extend-their-life-and-keep-them-healthy