corrupt images on CF card

[whittaker52]

Hi Everyone,
I was just wondering if someone might be able to help me? over the past month or so i seem to be getting more and more dead (corrupt) images on my camera (Canon Powershot G3), and i cant work out if its a fault with the camera or the CF card. At the moment i seem to be losing more shots, than its actually allowing me to keep!

Ive had the memory card less then a year, so i may be able to send it back and get a new one, but the camera is just over 2 years old, and i dont really fancy paying out to get it repaired, so if there is a problem with it, i will just go and buy a dSLR instead.

Also, might it be worth me getting a memory card reader, instead of downloading the photos via the camera software (this will also allow me to format the memory card directly on the pc)?

Any help that can be offered, will be greatfully recieved.

Thanks in advance,
Oliver

[anonymous-user]

whittaker52 said:

if there is a problem with it, i will just go and buy a dSLR instead.

If you're thinking that way already, just go and do it... And as you're a member of the dark side already...

Seriously though, a card reader will let you run various recovery tools that may help you recover some of the "corrupt" images from the card. However, it won't fix the card so you'll continue to have problems.

What card is it you have? Do you have another card/can you borrow another card from a friend to try for a bit to try to see if it is card or camera?

[beano500]

LexSport said:

Seriously though, a card reader will let you run various recovery tools that may help you recover some of the "corrupt" images from the card. However, it won't fix the card so you'll continue to have problems. What card is it you have? Do you have another card/can you borrow another card from a friend to try for a bit to try to see if it is card or camera?

We had similar question not so long ago. Lexar cards, for example, come with a bit of useful software for checking for bad sectors on (any) CF card, as well as formatting cards in a jiffy. Would agree with suggestion that you try another card - even buy a small capacity one (which you could use for back up anyway) for a few £££s to see if that works, if you can't get to borrow one easily.

[GetCarter]

I had a SanDisk card that started to do that - It was fairly new so got a replacement - not had a problem since, so I guess they do from time to time go south.

Steve

[whittaker52]

just been playing with the D70 and 350D in my local camera shop, and its looking very much like the 350D will be the one i will be getting!

Ive got myself a USB CF card reader, but the images are still corrupt, so lost, which is a pain! but luckily i managed to download some of the photos that werent corrupt.

I use a PQI 512mb hi-speed compact flash card that i purchased from ebuyer. i have a spare 256mb PQI card (which i havent had any problems with before) that i can use to see if its the camera or the card, which im going to do this afternoon.

Im hoping that if the 512mb card is still knackered, i will get it replaced under warranty

[whittaker52]

well ive just taken loads of shots on the camera, using both memory cards. As expected, the 512mb card has a fair few corrupt shots, and the 256mb card has all the shots intact, so it would seem that its definitely the memory card and not the camera, thus i have emailed ebuyer and asked them to sort it, as the card is still under a year old! so i await their reply. Meanwhile im going to continue drooling over the 350D, and hopefully i can get it all sorted out in the next week or so

now to decide if to just go for the normal lens, or get the kit that includes the USM lens.....

On another note, this is the 512mb card i use - www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=47504

>> Edited by whittaker52 on Monday 20th June 16:15

[simpo two]

whittaker52 said:

On another note, this is the 512mb card i use - www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=47504

Sorry but IMHO that's just plain nasty. You wouldn't compromise on your camera, so for the sake of a few quid get proper branded memory like SanDisk or Lexar with a speed rating that's actually printed on it. You know it makes sense

2 x 1Gb Lexar Pro 40X here, no problems so far!

[whittaker52]

a branded card doesnt always buy you a good/better memory card. a few friends have reported faults with both Lexar and SanDisk memory cards, and at the time it seemed like a good deal, and all the reviews it was given made it sound like a good card, thus why i bought it, plus it was recommended as a good card from a friend, who had no problems, so perhaps mine is just a one-off?

But anyway i will look at getting a larger capacity, high-speed card when i get my dSLR.

[te51cle]

I overheard a dealer in a camera shop that it is recommended that memory cards be re-formatted a couple of times a year. Not having one of those digital things (yet) I don't have any experience but I presume it wouldn't be a difficult thing to do to see if it helps.

[whittaker52]

Yeah, i was recommended by a friend to do that while i was out in the US, which i did when i got back, infact ive done it about 4-5 times, and it still hasnt helped, which is a pain! oh well at least ebuyer are accepting it back to replace it, so at least i should have a new one in a week or so