Format Vs. Erase

I have been wondering about this. I had a SanDisk that was like my trusty main card for years, and one day after writing a glowing review of it, bam, dead.

One thing about that card was that I used to format it probably 9 out of ten times I went to erase it, if not more. Was I shortening the life of my card? I have gotten into the habbit with my new 1 and 2 gig cards of using the "All Erase" option, and just formatting maybe once a week. Is this a better method, or is there no real difference as for as card life goes? I always figured a format was better because of any possible digital residue from erased images.

I don't have a specific answer for you John, but I ALWAYS format my cards. I don't think I have ever used the Erase function, and I have never had a problem with my cards. I know another woman, who had never even heard of formatting her cards, and she has never had a major problem with her cards either.

I have always heard that formatting the cards, in camera, was the best way to erase the, and that's what I have been doing ever since I got them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mjs1973

I don't have a specific answer for you John, but I ALWAYS format my cards. I don't think I have ever used the Erase function, and I have never had a problem with my cards. I know another woman, who had never even heard of formatting her cards, and she has never had a major problem with her cards either.

I have always heard that formatting the cards, in camera, was the best way to erase the, and that's what I have been doing ever since I got them.

---

Thanks Mike!

Anyone else have any thoughts?

Per a Canon tech, always Format, and do it in the camera, never by computer. For sports shooters formatting is quicker. However the tech said erasing doesn't do as well cleaning the card which is their main reason for format vs erase.

JS

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JSPhoto

Per a Canon tech, always Format, and do it in the camera, never by computer. For sports shooters formatting is quicker. However the tech said erasing doesn't do as well cleaning the card which is their main reason for format vs erase.

JS

---

Thanks JS!

The aformentioned CF Card was pretty old to begin with. I got it with my first digital camera which I bought used in '03, and the card itself was from '01. It died in December just after I sold my D60. So I guess it had a pretty good run.

I guess I will stick with the "Format" option for now on.