Is it harmful to the camera to shoot without a memory card?

Bryanpic114 · 07-07-2010, 09:47

Hello

In my excitement of getting my new camera, I began taking test shots without a memory card. Everytime I pressed the shutter button the camera would say that the image cannot be saved (well obviously). So now I was just casually reading through my camera's manual and it said "be careful not to shoot without a memory card". Does anyone know if this is truly harmful to the camera? Thanks everyone.

wegotitugetit · 07-07-2010, 09:48

not that im aware of i have done it when testing a lens out and still the camera is fine

Terrywoodenpic · 07-07-2010, 09:49

I have never heard that it was harmful...
But the pictures are rubbish.

morsing · 07-07-2010, 09:52

Maybe the manual means be careful as you'll lose the photos? Can't imagine it would be harmful...

loplyg · 07-07-2010, 09:57

Ofcourse not. That's a daft suggestion.

Rob 80386 · 07-07-2010, 10:02

It won't hurt the camera,

The manual is telling you not to forget the memory card, or you'll feel like a wally

~~Arkady~~ · 07-07-2010, 10:56

No it won't, but most cameras have the option to disable the shutter if there's no card present - it's what I do...

Hairyduck · 07-07-2010, 11:29

Shooting without a CF card in there will cause data to leak everywhere inside your camera, this can be a really pain to clean up and should be avoided, the same goes for leaving usb cables plugged into your pc with nothing on the end, I've found it makes a right mess

Kemble3 · 07-07-2010, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by loplyg

Ofcourse not. That's a daft suggestion.

It was not a daft question at all. The OP should thank you for educated and well thought out answer. With your kind of attitude, no one would ever post on here again.

To the OP, no it will not harm your camera.

ShawWellPete · 07-07-2010, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arkady

No it won't, but most cameras have the option to disable the shutter if there's no card present - it's what I do...

Cameras ship with this turned off so people can press the shutter when playing with them in shops. I do what Rob does so I don't spend a day shooting to find that there is no card in.

mattyh · 07-07-2010, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kemble3

It was not a daft question at all. The OP should thank you for educated and well thought out answer. With your kind of attitude, no one would ever post on here again.

To the OP, no it will not harm your camera.

In fairness, I don't think he meant it was a stupid suggestion from the OP - he meant it was a stupid suggestion for the manual to say that it would damage the camera

I also lock the shutter if no memory card is present - Just in case!

Rob 80386 · 07-07-2010, 11:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hairyduck

Shooting without a CF card in there will cause data to leak everywhere inside your camera, this can be a really pain to clean up and should be avoided, the same goes for leaving usb cables plugged into your pc with nothing on the end, I've found it makes a right mess

thats the same as turning a hard drive upside down, the data falls off

Terrywoodenpic · 07-07-2010, 13:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob 80386

thats the same as turning a hard drive upside down, the data falls off

But that is a good way to shake out the viruses...

whitewash · 07-07-2010, 13:34

if you shake your monitor hard enough all the letters come off the screen etchersketch styleee.

I think the manuals warning was so you dont take loads of shots and not get them saved onto card, rather than actually causing any harm to the camera

munkeyq · 07-07-2010, 13:44

Bad wording there in the manual, but it's a good pointer! I've almost done it a few times.

It's a bit like how some old TVs mentioned in the manual not to move it when it's switched on which led people to believe that it got heavier when it was on.

07-07-2010, 09:47	#1
Bryanpic114 Quite Chatty Posts: 59	Is it harmful to the camera to shoot without a memory card? Hello In my excitement of getting my new camera, I began taking test shots without a memory card. Everytime I pressed the shutter button the camera would say that the image cannot be saved (well obviously). So now I was just casually reading through my camera's manual and it said "be careful not to shoot without a memory card". Does anyone know if this is truly harmful to the camera? Thanks everyone.

07-07-2010, 09:52	#4
morsing Getting Comfy Real name : Henrik Location: Aylesbury Posts: 185 Camera: Nikon D5000	Maybe the manual means be careful as you'll lose the photos? Can't imagine it would be harmful... __________________ Nikon D5000 A histogram is not a light meter

07-07-2010, 10:02	#6
Rob 80386 Loves the place Real name : Emily Location: on a paternoster lift Posts: 5,221 Camera: Nikon D90 Gripped / Olympus Mini E-MP1	It won't hurt the camera, The manual is telling you not to forget the memory card, or you'll feel like a wally __________________ 80386 Well into the Mix New Flickr Page If you like music, Listen to it with a subwoofer

07-07-2010, 11:29	#8
Hairyduck Feet under the table Real name : Kevin Location: Nr. Huntingdon, Cambs Posts: 1,502 Camera: Nikons	Shooting without a CF card in there will cause data to leak everywhere inside your camera, this can be a really pain to clean up and should be avoided, the same goes for leaving usb cables plugged into your pc with nothing on the end, I've found it makes a right mess __________________ My Flickr

07-07-2010, 13:34	#14
whitewash Fishy Fingers Location: Preston Posts: 3,294	if you shake your monitor hard enough all the letters come off the screen etchersketch styleee. I think the manuals warning was so you dont take loads of shots and not get them saved onto card, rather than actually causing any harm to the camera __________________ http://www.whitewashimages.co.uk Just some of my pictures!

07-07-2010, 09:48	#2
wegotitugetit On the hit list !!! Real name : alex Location: hull east yorkshire Posts: 5,255 Camera: Canon 5D Mk2	not that im aware of i have done it when testing a lens out and still the camera is fine

07-07-2010, 09:49	#3
Terrywoodenpic Feet under the table Real name : Terry Location: Saddleworth in Yorkshire Posts: 1,699 Camera: canon 40D Fuji X10	I have never heard that it was harmful... But the pictures are rubbish.

07-07-2010, 09:57	#5
loplyg Been here a while Real name : Rich Posts: 365 Camera: Nikon D700	Ofcourse not. That's a daft suggestion.

07-07-2010, 10:56	#7
~~Arkady~~ Banned Real name : Rob Location: Iserlohn, NRW, Germany Posts: 9,505 Camera: Chang-Cheng DF-3	No it won't, but most cameras have the option to disable the shutter if there's no card present - it's what I do...

07-07-2010, 13:44	#15
munkeyq New here Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 2	Bad wording there in the manual, but it's a good pointer! I've almost done it a few times. It's a bit like how some old TVs mentioned in the manual not to move it when it's switched on which led people to believe that it got heavier when it was on.