How to Prevent Photo Loss From Your Digital Camera
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Photographers’ worst collective nightmare is probably the failure of technology. Whether it be a hard drive or a compact flash card, not being able to deliver captured memories to your paying client is not only a huge disappointment, but a reflection of your professionalism – even if the data loss wasn’t your fault.
David Zimmerman, CEO of LC Technology and a global leader in data recovery, has created a list of tips on the proper ways to prevent photo loss from your digital camera.
- Take your time. When you click the button to take a photo, the device needs some time to properly write and organize the image file. Wait a minute after taking shots to remove or access the memory card to be sure you don’t cause file errors or cause formatting problems for the entire card.
- Give your card a partner. You should have one dedicated memory card for your DSLR or compact camera. Every device has a unique numbering and formatting procedure, so you want to avoid any corruption problems that can come with mixing cards. Using one card also helps you avoid accidental deletions or losing the card as you move it from place to place.
- Don’t get them wet. Similar to the infamous “Gremlins” from the movie, you don’t want to get your SD cards wet or to feed them at all. Keep liquids and food away that can ruin the gold-plated contact points and the inner workings of the cards. You obviously want to be careful taking pictures in rainy weather and avoid transferring files while sipping on your morning coffee.
- Watch your battery power. Avoid taking pictures while on low battery, because this might cause errors in how files are written to the card. It takes power to run all of the camera’s processes, so don’t risk a problem. Use a spare battery to ensure you aren’t caught facing that perfect shot and then see the dreaded “red battery” signal.
- Watch the deleting and formatting. SD cards hold a tremendous amount of photo and video files, so you shouldn’t be deleting pictures manually in order to free up card space. Some devices use a very destructive form of deletion, which can overwrite the entire picture’s data, making it impossible to recover. Leave the deletions and formatting actions to your computer’s photo management software, so you avoid file corruptions or accidental deletions.
- Use a card reader. Looking for an easy to use, reliable, and cost-effective device to help you manage your photos? You need a card reader and plug-and-play device that enables fast file transfers from your SD card to computer. Available for under $20, these products help you avoid any “low battery” issues and are very convenient.
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