While working part time in a photo lab I’m seeing more and more people coming in, with corrupt or formatted memory cards. Then asking what we can do to help them recover their photographs.
More often than not all their memories are lost. However it doesn’t have to be this way.
Where most of the Big Chain stores are telling people they need the biggest memory card they can afford we’re telling our customers that’s not what they want. We’d rather sell you two, or more smaller cards, and have you switch them back and forth from time to time.
Just a few of the reasons including Theft… If your camera is stolen at least you have some of the images left. Corrupt Media Cards… I see it happen all the time, a card just packs it in suddenly. And Accidentally Formatting, or Erasing cards… Don’t say you’d never do that, the odds are that you will sometime in your life.
When I’m talking to people before their vacation, or event I always recommend that they switch the memory cards back and forth at least twice a day. That way they’ll never loose a full days worth of memories. In addition it’s always a good idea to back the cards up on your laptop, or other digital storage whenever you have the time.
Another point about Memory Cards that I feel Must Be addressed. There’s big money in selling counterfeit cards. Most cards sold on-line are fake, along with some even sold in Big Chain stores. Personally I recommend buying any card locally. Don’t be afraid to return it if it proves to be a fake. There’s a good chance the store doesn’t even know.
One last thing. Some cameras just don’t like some brands of memory, so do some research before you buy.
Have fun out there shooting.
