shutter activations

[flake]

Not all cameras use the same file format as the PC and some people claim that inserting a PC formatted card into a camera which can't recognise it has somehow ruined the card. Whether this is true or not I do know that sometimes it doesn't work and needs reformatting, but not all people realise this so I just thought it best to advise them to avoid it.

[duncan22]

I followed the suggestion by Chris about checking the shutter count in CS3 and whilst the file info contains details about almost everything including camera number, lens info etc my shutter count is showing as 0 !
Tried several photos and the figure is still zero.
I only ever shoot in RAW mode so this may be a reason why the figure is wrong.

[chris-p]

I also only shoot in RAW and I get a number but I don't think it's right (90,000+ for a camera thats less than 12 months old)

As for formatting a card on a PC it's fine but, as Flake says, it might then need formatting in the camera as well. If people don't use the right file system when they format on the PC that can throw the camera off but reformatting the card again on the camera should resolve the issue.

Actually, formatting like this on a PC is actually a very good way of properly clearing a card and it's file allocation system.

[anglefire]

Chris, that is essentially what I said.

Duncan, I as said Canon don't store the file count on RAW or Jpeg files that can be read by any known program, except the early 1series.

I believe most digital cameras support FAT16 and some FAT32. As long as you format with the appropriate one, there will not be an issue as FAT16/32 is a standard. (Edit: FAT 16 is limited to 2Gb - so most cameras will support FAT32!)

I did find a thread with the comment about formatting in a PC killed the card - but 1. it was 2003 and 2. seemed to have actually been a faulty card.

[chris-p]

Paul, you're right. My apologies, I didn't read your whole reply properly!

[anglefire]

Paul?

Blimey, gets from bad to worse

Mark

[chris-p]

Originally Posted by anglefire

Paul?

Blimey, gets from bad to worse

Mark

Ha! Sorry John!

[OldBoy]

Agree with anglefire, formatting a card in a computer give you two choices either a quick format, which will only delete the Fat file, so images can be recovered by software, or a low level format, which takes a lot longer but deletes the images as well. Either method will not cause problems to the card and I've used both on occasions without problems. Formatting a card in the camera only deletes the Fat file and not the images themselves, they just get over-written as you take new images.