Memory card error, help please

[scupking]

When I try a low level format on my memory card in my camera, I get a memory card error half way threw on the format. Whats wrong, Is it the card? Its a 50x 2GB A Data card.

[BowerR64]

Have you tried another brand?

[scupking]

No, what would you recommend for the S2. I want know less then 2 GBs.

[BowerR64]

Sandisk, but i wonder if it isnt the size of the memory causing the problems.


Remember back in the day motherboards were limited to a certin size of memory? anything over what it was rated for caused problems? I wonder when the S2 was designed 2gig memory cards were even available to test?

What if you used 4 512 cards? if a memory problem happens it wont ruin the data on all the cards. They are so small and so easy to change, just curious.

[XaiLo]

Before you tried to format it did it recognize the card as a 2GB card? I doubt if the problem is with the S2 recognizing a 2GB card. The only card that I ever put in my S2 was a 2GB TRanscend 150x and I shot at least a couple of thousand pics before it was formated. And the only reason I formatted it was because an aquaintance said that he had once lost some pics and someone in a photo store suggested that he format the card in the camera but it was not a canon. So I just did it for GP, either way no problem with the 2GB card and the same card also works fine in my S3. It should tell you it has a capacity of 1.8GB. What does the camera recognize it as? I am inclined to believe the issue is with the card.

[BowerR64]

I have yet to fill the 512 so im gona stick with my setup for now. On fathersday i shot like 3-4 videos and i didnt fill it then either.

I did buy 2X 256 meg dane-elec cards and one flaked out. It still works once in a while but i wouldnt count on it with anything i wanted.

[XaiLo]

I typically shoot only super pics at a recent private event that covered three days I shot 1024 pics. From which I used nearly 700 pics in a compilation. I have shot 500 pics in a day on several occasions. Basically it's all relative to how and what your using the camera for as to what size disk or disks will meet your needs. Considering my needs it would be prudent to have another 2GB card dedicated to video only.:cool: I actually would have prefered that a 4GB card would have worked, I like the option of not having to swap cards. It decreases the points of vulnerability.

[BowerR64]

But so does file coruption, its your call though.

Ive posted many times that i only see memory problems with cards over 512 meg. Its usualy 1 gig cards though.

[scupking]

The camera sees the card as 1.9GBs. I'm on the same boat as XaiLo 2GB is the minimum I want in the camera. I can fill a 2GB up fast. I always shoot on the highest quality settings so I just ordered the 2GB TRanscend 150x that XaiLo recomended.

[BowerR64]

Do some searching about the larger SD cards.

[mcenut]

When I try a low level format on my memory card in my camera, I get a memory card error half way threw on the format. Whats wrong, Is it the card? Its a 50x 2GB A Data card.

Just out of curiosity, where did you buy the card? I came across an article the other day discussing phony memory cards being sold online. These cards say that they are 2GB but aren’t. The only way to tell the fake for sure was to low level format it. The fakes caused an error during format.

Hope this helps and isn’t your problem.

[BowerR64]

Sent from canon.

"Thank you for your inquiry about using a 4GB memory card in your
PowerShot A540. We value you as a Canon customer and appreciate the
opportunity to assist you.

Any card with a capacity up to 2048GB that adheres to the SecureDigital
card standard, and is formatted with either a 16 bit (cards up to 2GB)
or 32 bit (for cards larger than 2GB) file addressing system, should
work in your camera.

Unfortunately, because we have not tested the camera with all speeds,
sizes, and brands of SecureDigital cards, we are unable to speculate as
to the performance of the camera with a particular card installed, or to
recommend a specific type of card.

When it comes to memory cards, bigger is not always better. Please keep
in mind that if you choose to purchase a very large card (1GB or 2GB,
for example), and that card is subsequently lost, corrupted, or damaged,
you will have lost a great deal of memory and many, many images.
Extremely high-capacity cards are most often used by professional
photographers who shoot several hundred (or even several thousand)
images in a single session. They are not necessarily the best choice
for the average digital camera owner. You may wish to consider
investing in several smaller cards (128MB, 256MB, 512MB). If one of the
cards is lost or damaged, you will have other cards to use. Another
fact to consider is that as larger cards are introduced, the cost of
smaller cards usually decreases. Of course, you may use whatever card
you wish; the above information is provided so that you can make an
informed decision"

This is a newer canon camera and they dont even recomend larger size cards.

[XaiLo]

I would say that is more of a pat response and still based on usage and does not favor one over the other. As they state if the cards are compliant they should work. Good 2GB cards are under $50, and in all my years of computing I have never wished for less memory, hardrive space, or speed. ;)

[BowerR64]

Yeah me either but ive had memory not work in some boards. Wether it be bus speed or timming problems or the size some memory just was not compatable.

I have a feeling you guys are messing with memory that is just about to change to a new type and these are the inbetween stages of this change.

I guess if its only $50. its not really a big deal so far i havnt had one glitch with my S2 and a 512 sandisk.

[XaiLo]

Unfortunately for we the consumer BowerR64 your absolutely right and they 99.9% of the time do not make it backwards compatible. So here we are again forking over our non-readily available cash. I saw my SD card in under the span of two months drop nearly 60% ouch :eek: timing is everything. ;) and I'm begining to wonder what canon is going to release next the S3 prices seem to be dropping too quickly.

[BowerR64]

I am waiting for SLR to change memory format. I dont like the CF memory at all. I seldom take my memory card out of my camera but the design of the CF memory is not a good one.