Certain tips for SD memory cards can help you more fully utilize them.
Secure Digital (SD) memory cards have revolutionized photography. No longer does taking pictures mean developing film--photos can be taken with a digital camera, stored as data and transferred to many different mediums. SD memory cards make that transfer possible . Although these cards are simple to operate, there are several tips that can help you should unexpected situations arise.
Error Messages
Although the cards are very reliable, sometimes an error may occur with the card. Usually the photographer becomes immediately aware of the situation, as the camera displays an error message instead of displaying pictures. Although it might be tempting to delete the picture itself, assuming that there was an error when taking the picture, or just ignore the issue and keep shooting, it is important to stop, plug the SD card into a computer and attempt to salvage the picture. When errors occur, the pictures can usually be recovered; however, if the photographer continues to shoot pictures, he can sometimes overwrite the image.
Prolonging the Card's Life
As with every piece of technology, there is a finite number of times that an SD memory card will work correctly. The card becomes worn from repeated deletion of photos, leading to a continuous cycle of storing and erasing. One key to ensuring longevity in the card is to perform a deletion when the card is plugged into the computer rather than the camera. This adds life to your card, as deleting can be done in one large swoop, rather than several small deletion jobs.
Multiple Cards and Reformatting
Although they can be difficult to keep up with, having multiple SD cards can be extremely beneficial. Most importantly, having more cards means you have the ability to take more pictures if one card becomes full, which can be especially useful on trips. It also means that if you lose your data, you will have a backup card with pictures.
Reformatting, which can be done from the computer and some cameras, is the process by which every piece of data is wiped from the memory card. This can help some cards to run more effectively, creating a fresh slate to be recorded upon.
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