Tips for making memory cards last longer?

[ickle_robot]

Does anyone have any? Specifically, I recently bought a Sandisk Ultra II 1 gig memory card, and since it was a pretty significant purchase, I was wondering if anyone had any tips for keeping it in shape? Is it more efficient to fill up the card completely before transferring each time? Is it better to leave it in the camera or in its case when it's not in use? Any answers are great.. and other tips as well!

Thanks!

-Jenny

[Rhys]

Does anyone have any? Specifically, I recently bought a Sandisk Ultra II 1 gig memory card, and since it was a pretty significant purchase, I was wondering if anyone had any tips for keeping it in shape? Is it more efficient to fill up the card completely before transferring each time? Is it better to leave it in the camera or in its case when it's not in use? Any answers are great.. and other tips as well!

Thanks!

-Jenny

They're exactly the same as any other storage medium - tapes, casettes, disks, CDs etc. They will wear out but it'll take quite a while.

Sure - it's a significant investment this year. Next year, the price will be half of what you paid this year. I paid GBP 25 each for my 128mb CF cards in 2003. Now they're on sale for less GBP 10. In 2003 a 1gb CF card was GBP 250. I paid $100 for one a few days ago - that's GBP 50. And I've only ever had one memory card fail. That was a FujiFilm 64MB CF card.

[cdifoto]

They're exactly the same as any other storage medium - tapes, casettes, disks, CDs etc. They will wear out but it'll take quite a while.

Sure - it's a significant investment this year. Next year, the price will be half of what you paid this year. I paid GBP 25 each for my 128mb CF cards in 2003. Now they're on sale for less GBP 10. In 2003 a 1gb CF card was GBP 250. I paid $100 for one a few days ago - that's GBP 50. And I've only ever had one memory card fail. That was a FujiFilm 64MB CF card.

I got a 4GB Kingston Elite Pro (45x) for $217 with free FedEx 2 Day Air shipping.

[David Metsky]

Does anyone have any? Specifically, I recently bought a Sandisk Ultra II 1 gig memory card, and since it was a pretty significant purchase, I was wondering if anyone had any tips for keeping it in shape? Is it more efficient to fill up the card completely before transferring each time? Is it better to leave it in the camera or in its case when it's not in use? Any answers are great.. and other tips as well!
I don't think any type of use will have any affect of card life. There's no moving parts, nothing really to break or wear out except the contacts, and they are good for a long time. Leaving it in the camera or case should make no difference either.

Memory cards rarely fail, and if they do I doubt it has anything to do with how you used it. More likely it would be a manufacturing defect.

Just go shoot! :D

-dave-

[ickle_robot]

I guess it's just a matter of time then. :)

It's insane to me that a 4 gig memory card even EXISTS. Haha.

[D Thompson]

Does anyone have any? Specifically, I recently bought a Sandisk Ultra II 1 gig memory card, and since it was a pretty significant purchase, I was wondering if anyone had any tips for keeping it in shape? Is it more efficient to fill up the card completely before transferring each time? Is it better to leave it in the camera or in its case when it's not in use? Any answers are great.. and other tips as well!

Thanks!

-Jenny
Jenny - the only thing I've read is that it is better to format than just delete the photos each time.