Memory cards are the digital equivalent of film. And you can get a remarkable number of pictures on a memory card that is smaller and more compact than any roll of film. Memory cards are typically sturdy devices that can withstand a good amount of wear and tear. Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat them with the same care that you would give to a roll of film. After all, you wouldn’t leave a roll of film out in the sun, or toss it into a cup of coffee. Here are ten ways to take care of your memory cards and get more out of them.
1. The backup plan.
The best way to make sure your pictures are safe and secure is to back them up to your computer. Don’t leave them on the memory card, where you may find yourself choosing between saving old shots and taking new ones. And one key way to extend the life of any memory card is to keep the number of times you delete or backup images to a minimum. The process of continually updating memory cards will typically shorten their lifespan. Another way to shorten the life of your memory card is to fill the card up to its maximum capacity. When you load it to its maximum you risk being out of memory at a crucial moment. When you overload it, you risk the chances of data corruption.
2. Reformat and rotate.
A good rule of thumb with your computer is to defrag the hard drive on a regular basis in order to maintain its level of performance. It’s the same with your digital card. To keep it performing at an optimal level, reformat it after you’ve downloaded your pictures. And to minimize the stress your picture-taking can have on any given memory card, it’s a good idea to rotate usage between several memory cards. This way, you’ll also always be certain to have enough memory to get the shots you want. And you will always have the maximum amount of memory available on your card. It’s also a good idea to reformat your memory card in the camera it’s intended to be used in. Every camera performs differently and often your memory card will perform better if it’s in sync with the camera it is going to be used in.
3. Charge your batteries and avoid corrupt data.
When you’re in the middle of a photograph shoot and your batteries start to die, you can actually damage your memory card in ways that will lead to corruption of crucial data. And turn the camera completely off before you remove the memory card. This also minimizes the risk of data corruption. Plus some cameras can corrupt data through a process known as ‘voltage shock’ that occurs when powering down the camera. When you let the process complete, that risk is eliminated.
4. Wait for the save.
Another way to corrupt data and lessen your memory card’s functionality is to remove it before your camera has finished saving pictures, or taking it out in mid-upload to your computer. Your digital memory card has been programmed to perform to a specific set of instructions that are designed to keep its performance at a maximum. Follow the commands you receive when uploading pictures to your hard drive, and wait for the memory card to finish its job. Oh, and if you shoot pictures in burst or in rapid succession, make sure you allow your camera all the time it needs to save those pictures.
5. Static electricity is NOT your friend.
While memory cards are packaged in relatively sturdy plastic units, they are susceptible to data corruption in a number of ways, including significant discharges of static electricity. This is related to the phenomenon of ‘voltage shock’ mentioned previously. If you suspect that you have built up a static charge, find a way to discharge it before handling your memory card to avoid transferring a static charge that can lead to corruption of data.
6. Avoid temperature extremes.
Your digital camera’s batteries don’t perform well in extreme temperatures of hot or cold. The same applies to your digital card. It’s designed to perform at its optimal level within a specified temperature range, and when you subject it to use outside of those parameters you can significantly shorten its lifespan.
7. Avoid strong magnetic sources.
When you’re traveling, make sure you avoid x-ray equipment at airports. Some scanners and x-ray equipment may be safe, but there is a definite risk from stronger x-ray equipment like that used to scan baggage. Don’t take the chance with your pictures – once you’ve subjected your memory card to x-ray devices it’s too late to wonder.
8. Save the editing for your hard drive.
One of the things that will shorten the life of any memory card is editing photographs directly on the card. Your hard drive is much better equipped for that kind of function, and has adequate memory for that purpose. Your memory card is designed primarily for storage and data transfer.
9. Choose your options carefully. “Reformat” and “Delete All” functions are irreversible.
When you’re deleting photographs off your hard drive, your computer is set up to ask you before each deletion. That’s not always the case with memory cards. Usually once the data has been deleted it is irretrievable.
10. Don’t recycle bad memory cards.
If you’ve had memory cards that have caused you problems in the past, stop using them. You can try reformatting or defragmenting them, but chances are once they become unstable or unreliable, they’re going to stay that way. And if you are using a memory card and you get an error message, stop using that card immediately. You might still be able to recover its data with the help of special software designed for that condition. And if you continue to use it you will definitely risk over-riding any images that are stored on it.
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