2 replies to this topic

[Tony]

Yesterday I was planning on working with one of my Nikon D200s.  Using a fully charged Nikon battery, I proceeded to take 

 

a photo and I received the message; "You cannot use this card." It also produced a very odd looking red symbol which I 

 

could not identify.  I simply could not take a photo.  I switched camera bodies to my other D200 and again with a fully 

 

Nikon battery, I realized the same results.  The other D200 has the identical Compactflash card and has not had any issues

 

with it.  This is surprising because both were purchased new as a package deal.  It is only about six months old and has not

 

experienced much usage.  Perhaps 500 actuations if that many.

 

The culprit card is a;  Lexar Professional, WA (Write Acceleration) 80X , 1GB card.  I have heard of cards that fail, but 

 

certainly not this soon and with a card that received hundreds of glowing reports on performance and reliability.  I wonder 

 

how soon the other one will crap out on me.  Thanks for any assistance and advice.

 

Regards,

 

Tony

[Merco_61]

Do you format your cards in the camera or in the computer? Do you erase the cards or format them?

 

A card that is formatted in-camera as soon as you have saved the files off it will usually be more reliable than one that only gets the files erased between uses. 

 

Those cards were reliable, high performance cards when they were released in 2004. If you got one NIB 6 months ago, it has been lying around in a warehouse for many years.

[Tony]

Do you format your cards in the camera or in the computer? Do you erase the cards or format them?

 

A card that is formatted in-camera as soon as you have saved the files off it will usually be more reliable than one that only gets the files erased between uses. 

 

Those cards were reliable, high performance cards when they were released in 2004. If you got one NIB 6 months ago, it has been lying around in a warehouse for many years.

Actually, I looked up the purchase date which is Oct., 29, 2018.  If there were any deterioration, certainly it would have happened sooner.  I believe.  Here is something interesting.  In the Operation Manual for the D200, under Nikon approved Compactflash cards, this one is clearly indicated.  However, in the foot note, Nikon states that it does not support the WA (Write Acceleration).  They approve it, but do not support it.  I take this to mean that should anything happen to the camera while under warranty, Nikon will not recognize the card as being at fault, even if it was.  I only format in camera.  I do not erase images, only delete them when needed and then reformat when getting ready to use again.  I took the Lexar WA card and cleaned it with a quality lens cleaner and I could not believe the black stuff that was removed.  This is the first time removing it since initial use, so I do not know what happened.  Obviously, I was sold a very nearly dead card, made in USA but shipped from China, so who knows what they did to it over there.

 

Thanks for your assistance.  tt

 

I just had another thought that perhaps could be causing a problem.  In Photo Editor 10, just prior to uploading images, I am given the option to delete images after uploading, which I use every time and do not format immediately after uploading.  Any ideas on this procedure?  tt