Borked CF card

trolley

So I was shooting holiday snaps on my D800 when I got a card error. I swapped it out for another Lexar 32Gb 1000x and carried on. But when I put the card in my reader it says it's corrupted. The camera says the same thing. I tried the Lexar recovery software but it doesn't find the card - or it suggests formatting the card. My question is - should I format the card anyway & then try using the recovery software? Or what? My current card reader is my printer - it reads the other CF card & SD card so it works. If I connect the camera to the computer via USB 3 it doesn't pick it up - hence why I don't use it

NSXTypeR

I haven't tried recovery software, but I would avoid formatting the card until you've tried other recovery software. Formatting normally deletes everything off the card, I can't see how that would help your situation.

PB_PM

A basic format in camera will not write zeros to the card, so the recovery software should still work. There is always a risk though. If you have an PC/Mac based drive repair software that might be something to try as well.

spraynpray

If it were me, it would go like this: If they are clients wedding photos, then yes, I would do whatever presents the least risk first, but if they were less important, I would format in camera and recover with software.

Ironheart

This is the best recovery software I know of. It has a 30-day money back guaranty, and a free trial download. It can't hurt to try:
http://www.easeus.com/

tektrader

I had a in interesting experience with my back up cards in my D800 when we went away recently. I have a some Kingston card. I put it in the card reader and it BENT IN HALF.

I wasn't even being too rough putting it in the reader. Luckily they where only small Jpg back ups or I would have lost over 1000 frames.

Convinced me regardless of speed, that CF's are the way to go. I hope they don't go to Dual SD cards in the D810 replacement when it comes.

haroldp

I just want to see two of the same type of card in the next camera. One CF and one SD is a PITA.

That being said, I would prefer two CF, they are physically more robust and no exposed contacts.

... H

Ironheart

CF is not more durable. The pins on the CF card interface are in the camera. If they get bent, your camera is going in the shop. Also I would argue that the smaller form factor of SD makes it harder to damage than the larger CF. The SanDisk extreme pro SD cards are built for and tested in harsh conditions; temperature proof, water proof, shock proof, and x-ray proof. The same CF cards are none of these.

Photobug

I use to love the CF cards on the D200 & then D300. But now after using SD cards in my camera fro 2 years I agree with @Ironheart. I really like the idea of no pins to be bent. Ben there and done that once on my Buffalo back- up drive.

proudgeek

Had a similar issue the other night. Pulled a CF card from my D810 (Lexar 800x) and got an unreadable message when uploading to Aperture. So I pulled it out of the reader, took a deep breath, said a little prayer and all was good. Does make you wonder though. And yes, I reformat in camera prior to each use.

trolley

I reformatted them in camera before use. But since the camera says there's an error as well as the printer, I'm beginning to believe them
I guess formatting using the camera is a better bet than using Windows to format?
I ran a check on the SD card that's in it - I formatted that as well before use. And I can recover stuff that was on it before I formatted it

retread

I have never used a CF card but don't like the idea of having pins that can bend. There will be no further advances in CF cards if I understand correctly.

I have never had a problem with SD cards. It seems that the new faster UHS II cards would be great if the camera could use the higher speed clearing the buffer. Currently that is not the case.

How does the CF card compare to the XQD card? Could the XQD replace the CF?

Photobug

@trolley - never format a memory card using a computer. Always use the camera. Even if you switch from camera A to camera B, reformat memory card used in camera A and now planning to use in camera B.

That is recommend by Lexar and San Disk.

Wesley

CF card size with SD contacts would be great.

trolley

I just found this on the Lexar site:
http://www.lexar.com/files/support/Lexar-CF-400x-1000x-firmware.pdf
And the duff card has one of the serial numbers marked!

Photobug

@Trolley, excellent information.

trolley

Lexar has agreed to replace the card and attempt to recover the photos, free of charge. So that's nice cervice

Ironheart

Oh, are they sending you pickled fish as well? Sorry, I first read cervice as ceviche ) glad they are making it right.

haroldp

perhaps they will also send ceviche.

trolley

Lexar says that having received the card it's counterfeit! So they won't do anything.
But if I pay them £6 they'll return it to me.
Or they can ditch it.
Plan B I think

proudgeek

Where did you buy the card? I just bought 2 of the exact same card from B&H yesterday.

spraynpray

Lexar says that having received the card it's counterfeit! So they won't do anything.
But if I pay them £6 they'll return it to me.
Or they can ditch it.
Plan B I think

What a bummer! Don'tcha just hate that. Where did you buy it?

haroldp

B & H, Adorama, and Amazon (direct, not marketplace), are reliable because they buy enough to source directly from Sandisk or Lexar. Smaller merchants use distributors, where counterfeits often enter the supply chain.

A write speed test will always detect a counterfeit, but you need a known good copy to calibrate.

... H

trolley

Bought on Ebay - yer pays yer money etc.

Ironheart

Was the price "too good to be true?" You can probably get yer money back from eBay. At least boink the seller...

spraynpray

That's right. I have been ripped off worse by high street sellers than eBay these days. Their buyer protection really is good.