Deleting imported photos

[krypto]

When importing photos from a device I don't get the move option. Is there a simple way to automatically delete photos from my CF card after importing?

 

[Victoria Bampton]

No, because ideally you should be formatting the card in the camera to minimize any corruption risks.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[krypto]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Does that mean that people format the card after every transfer? I can't see the sense in this as its the same as formatting a HDD after every file transfer.

Also, this won't work for me as sometimes I leave some files on the card.

Are there any other options?

 

[Ian Farlow]

Yep... format after every transfer, and format the card in the camera. As a matter of fact, the actual steps are:

1. Download/Import images into Lightroom
2. Confirm that Import went properly
3. Delete all files on memory card (keeps the camera from picking up the wrong image number on subsequent shoots)
4. Eject card and put it into camera
5. Format card in camera (keeps the card working properly in the camera)

There shouldn't be anything left on the card once the transfer is complete. You are not using your memory card for storage of anything other than images from your camera, are you?

 

[krypto]

There shouldn't be anything left on the card once the transfer is complete. You are not using your memory card for storage of anything other than images from your camera, are you?

Thanks Ian.

I am currently working away from home and as an added backup I have left a few precious photos on both the CF card and laptop. I never like to have only one copy of important photos. Probably should have brought my external backup drive.

 

[DonRicklin]

Get/use a Thumbdrive for that. My largest is 2GB!

A USB sleeved SATA laptop drive is great for travel back-up.USB powered and small, but can be even 2''GB, 7'''rpm. Can hold lots of images while traveling. I use two, one for TimeMachine and one for current image back-up.

Don

 

[Ian Farlow]

Thanks Ian.

I am currently working away from home and as an added backup I have left a few precious photos on both the CF card and laptop. I never like to have only one copy of important photos. Probably should have brought my external backup drive.

I can definitely understand wanting to keep photos safe, but as others have suggested, I would get a thumbdrive. Small, easy to carry, large storage space that's quick, and cheap.

Or, bring your portable drive.

 

[Brad Snyder]

Does that mean that people format the card after every transfer? I can't see the sense in this as its the same as formatting a HDD after every file transfer.

It's a little different from the hard-drive scenario in that the camera file system is not as robust as that on the computer. It can easily get confused by foreign, external or corrupt files. Which is not good in mid-shoot. So if there's any chance that you actually wrote to your card with your computer, it's best to format the card in the camera.

 

[PxlFxr]

Hi all, first post here. I like your stress-free forums! :mrgreen:

Unfortunately I agree with the advice to format in camera. I got a new one for Christmas, put the card from the old camera into the new, and went from photo 17 to 4919! Oh what a mess, I'm still trying to figure out how to fix it! :roll:

Sue

 

[Victoria Bampton]

Hi Sue, welcome to the forum. We like stress-free too!

In the majority of cameras, the new camera tries to pick up the numbering from the existing card, which causes all kinds of confusion - usually the owner of the new camera saying "hey, who took 6978 on this brand new camera before me....!".

There's probably a numbering reset in the menus of your camera, or you can always renumber them in LR. I tend to use a ddmmyy-hhmm numbering system as I've been round the clock a number of times and would end up with multiple IMG_5948 images otherwise.

 

[krypto]

Given the speed of the in camera format, this appears to be a "quick format" that deletes files but doesn't check for bad sectors.

To actually check the card a full format is required that checks for bad sectors - does anyone know if the in camera format does this?

 

[Denis Pagé]

Given the speed of the in camera format, this appears to be a "quick format" that deletes files but doesn't check for bad sectors.

To actually check the card a full format is required that checks for bad sectors - does anyone know if the in camera format does this?

There is no need I think... As a card with bad memory area(s) is just good for the trash can! My understanding is that there is no control to bypass bad sectors.