What is wrong with my memory cards?

[disneyfanUSA]

Hi, I recently bought PNY's class 10 memory cards. I tried one of them out this weekend it worked fine at first. Then all of a sudden it said memory card full. Even though i had room for about 4,000 more pictures. It also said card was not formatted. I had already formatted the card before using it. This also happened with a class 4 Sony memory card I bought recently but I took that one back already. Any idea what the problem is? Is it because I was shooting some of my pictures in RAW? Should I take them back?

Thanks for any advice!

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

The only question I can think to ask is, did you format the cards in your camera or computer? I've always been told they should be formatted for the camera you are using. I thought of one more. I don't know which camera you are using, but the card capacity you are using seems large. Check your manual to ensure your card size hasn't exceeded that which the camera will handle. Some have a size limit.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

I formatted it in my camera and I have the Pentax K-X.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Latest firmware on your camera (Don't know anything in particular. Just throwing that out there.)?

What size are the cards? Just curious.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

What is firmware? And it is a 16gb card.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Hmmm... 16G shouldn't be a problem on any modern camera.

http://www.pentaximaging.com/support.aspx?p=manuals-and-literature&t=firmware&pid=K-x20090914154235

 

[photo_chick]

You said it's happened to 2 cards now... Where are you storing your camera and cards? maybe something has affected them when you have them stored. Do you have any issues with static electricity? I once picked up my cards, touched the door knob and got shocked and ended up zapping them all that way.

There's so many things that can cause problems like this, the best approach is to eliminate the possibilities one at a time.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Some cameras are notoriously finicky about brands of SD cards that work properly in them. I would find a good Pentax K-X support forum and do some reading.

A lot of people consider PnY cards to be "low hanging" fruit in the memory food chain. I tend to disagree in that I've had pretty good luck with PnY's stuff generally over many years, but I admit I don't have any of their SDHC cards (if I do, they're small and long since "retired").

You could have some bad contacts inside the camera but things like that are really jumping out on a cliff.

My suggestion would be to go buy a "high end" SDHC card like maybe a SanDisk or Transcend and see if you have the same problems with those. They are somewhat reasonable and generally available at BestBuy and Staples type stores nation-wide.

It should be noted that the SDHC spec supports cards up to 16G but it is known that some devices do not properly support beyond 8, despite their claim to be within the spec. I seriously doubt that's the case with the K-X, given its reputation, but I shoot Canon so this is not really my area of expertise.

There are Pentax shooters here on the forum and specifically K-X shooters. Hopefully, some of those guys will chime in here and give you a little more help and what I can and have given you is very general, at best.

Good luck.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Once the card has gone "bad" in the camera, how does it appear when you put it in a card reader and try to read it on a PC or a Mac?

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I've never tried anything larger than 8gb in my Kx or Kr, but I have and use cheap Chinese cards, as well as Kingston and Sandisc, never had an issue with them other than the casings falling apart

 

[disneyfanUSA]

Thanks for the replies .. But I don't know what's wrong with it still! I can uploaded the pictures that are on there to my computer. I tried using it again today and it let me take 45 raw pictures and a couple videos. Then it said card read error...card not formated. Then when I look at the pictures I took the last photo taken is black. Is it because I am shooting in RAW? I am going to California in less then two weeks and wanted to have lots of memory cards. Should I just take them back. I have only tried one of the three cards. Should I try one of the other ones and see if they work or just take them all back. This sucks! I'm scared if I order another knew one that won't work either.

 

[manning]

I passed your post to live chat at Pentax support web site

You may want to go there for more help


Thomas C: Thank you for contacting Pentax Chat Support. How may I help you?

Frank Smith: I am sending this for a friend who does not have a computer this is her note sent to me hope you can help

Frank Smith: Hi, I recently bought PNY's class 10 memory cards. I tried one of them out this weekend it worked fine at first. Then all of a sudden it said memory card full. Even though i had room for about 4,000 more pictures. It also said card was not formatted. I had already formatted the card before using it. This also happened with a class 4 Sony memory card I bought recently but I took that one back already. Any idea what the problem is? Is it because I

Thomas C: SD or SDHC cards? what sizes?

Frank Smith: 16gb

Thomas C: how many pictures did the camera take before being full?
Thomas C: also what format where the images you are taking? Jpg, raw.

Frank Smith: 45 raw pictures and couple videos , but don't know how long

Thomas C: the raw images are much larger than the compresseg jpg format and Video's are even worse.
Thomas C: I can reccomend dropping the image resolution and using a larger memory card for video's

Frank Smith: Is this what is causing the problem???????

Thomas C: that whould be my first guess

Frank Smith: Thanks will pass that on a

 

[WilsonFlyer]

There's NO WAY 45 pictures and a "couple of videos" (even if he went up to the imposed size limit on each one, it still wouldn't even be close) filled up 16G. Hog-wash. Something else is going on here FOR SURE.

 

[Bstanley]

Something else is going on here FOR SURE.

Totally agree.


OP:

You say you can upload pictures to your computer - how? Are you putting the card into a card-reader on the computer or connecting the camera to the computer? If you have a card-reader I would try copying files (lots of files - maybe 8 GB worth) to the card and see if the card works that way. If the card works with the computer card-reader but doesn't work with the camera I would say take the card back and try a different brand.

If the second brand has the same problem then the camera becomes the suspect.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

Totally agree.


OP:

You say you can upload pictures to your computer - how? Are you putting the card into a card-reader on the computer or connecting the camera to the computer? If you have a card-reader I would try copying files (lots of files - maybe 8 GB worth) to the card and see if the card works that way. If the card works with the computer card-reader but doesn't work with the camera I would say take the card back and try a different brand.

If the second brand has the same problem then the camera becomes the suspect.

When I upload them I put the SD card right into the computer. All of my old memory cards work fine even the class twos. I ordered 3 Kingston Class 6 cards last night. I have that brand in an 8gb and it works fine! These better work or I don't know what to do! Lets hope it's not my camera.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

Totally agree.


If you have a card-reader I would try copying files (lots of files - maybe 8 GB worth) to the card and see if the card works that way. .

I did that and then i put the card in the camera and it said no image! So I'm thinking something is wrong with the card..hopefully?!

 

[eblong]

I did that and then i put the card in the camera and it said no image! So I'm thinking something is wrong with the card..hopefully?!

This may seem basic, but did you put the pictures you copied onto the card into the same directory where the camera would put them? (on my Cannon that would be: "\DCIM\100Cannon").

I think that all cameras use the \DCIM as the root directory on the memory cards, and then create a subdirectory that is manufacturer unique.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

This may seem basic, but did you put the pictures you copied onto the card into the same directory where the camera would put them? (on my Cannon that would be: "\DCIM\100Cannon").

I think that all cameras use the \DCIM as the root directory on the memory cards, and then create a subdirectory that is manufacturer unique.

Yes I did that. The copied photos show up in the memory card in a sub folder while looking at it on the computer..but they do not show up when I put the card in the camera. Are the transferred photos supposed to be seen on the cameral? I have never done this before so I'm not sure what is supposed to happen!

 

[Bstanley]

I did that and then i put the card in the camera and it said no image! So I'm thinking something is wrong with the card..hopefully?!

Not clear yet. I'm just interested in whether the card worked with another device other than the camera actually. Since the card worked with the computer reader it's been demonstrated that:

1. The computer and that card DO play nice with each other.

2. The camera and that card DO NOT play nice with each other.

At this point it looks like there is some odd timing issue between the card (SDHC cards are notorius for such things) and the camera, or less possibly an issue with the camera.

You might as well return that card and the other two identical ones that you haven't tried - since at this point they can't really be trusted in your camera.

When you get the new cards give them a similar workout to what you gave these - Odds are high that everything will be fine. If not the camera becomes the prime suspect IMHO.

 

[Wadecool]

Following this thread very closely.