Memory Card failure at wedding

ryanyboy · 26-04-2012, 18:50

Hi all,

A Lexar Professional card failed me at a wedding today. The camera came up with "For" on the LCD top plate and wouldn't shoot until I replaced it

When I put it in the Mac just now Lightroom said it was unable to read from this card.

Now, the question is, would you reformat this card and happily use it at the next wedding or would you throw it in the bin (as is my intention)??

Just wondering really…..

(P.S I have 15+ Sandisk cards and just two lexar cards. I wonder if it's significant that it was one of the Lexar's that died…..)

mh photography · 26-04-2012, 18:52

I guess any card can develop a fault. I would reformat and test extensively before chucking it myself. In fact I would get in touch with lexar god a replacement!

gramps · 26-04-2012, 18:57

Me? I would format and reuse it ... but if I was using it professionally, especially for something like weddings I would bin it.

Actually had an issue with a Duracell 8GB at the weekend, 2nd slot card had an error and I tried to format it in camera but it wouldn't have any of it. Tried twice and then fellow tog offered to format it in his Canon ... it did ... then my camera saw it and formatted it fine ... continued to record images

hunnymonster · 26-04-2012, 18:58

I'd be relegating it to the bottom of the pile (as in 'use only if there's no alternative' - so if you're using it, the alternative to it would have been "not taking any shots").

It's possible that being Lexar is significant - but then do Lexar actually have their own flash fabrication plants? If not, it might be Sandisk under the hood... then what do you start to think?

Luckily I just checked - they're a division of Micron (Crucial are another brand of theirs) who do have their own flash fabs. It's all a highly nefarious business though flash memory manufacturing and marketing....

paul_g · 26-04-2012, 19:08

Straight in the bin. You'll never use it at another wedding so why waste time on it.

RichardtheSane · 26-04-2012, 19:23

I have only ever had one card fail on me. It was a lexar pro.

Like you I was able to format it and use it again - but it went straight in the bin. Can't be trusted and I had plenty of other (Sandisk) cards.

Nikon Fan · 26-04-2012, 19:24

As I have said in other similar threads. I will only ever use Sandisk cards, and have never had a card fail.

I would bin the Lexar, as it would always be in the back of your mind.

Galaxy66 · 26-04-2012, 19:27

Lexar have a lifetime guarantee don't they, contact them for a replacement.

MrRiley · 26-04-2012, 19:58

Hi.
Sorry to hear about your card failure. Ouch! I have been there and know how much it hurts.

If you still have images from the wedding on the card you can often get them back with recovery software.

As for the card. Just chuck it or keep it for emergencies. Cards are cheap these days.

Good luck with everything

Roy

www.royriley.co.uk

postcardcv · 26-04-2012, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul_g

Straight in the bin. You'll never use it at another wedding so why waste time on it.

Totally agree - definitely not worth risking it.

Lunawolfy · 26-04-2012, 20:02

Should be able to boot onto linux and carve the images out. Should have just about every image up until failure, unless it shorted or the connector failed

big soft moose · 26-04-2012, 20:11

I'd defitely ask lexar about the lifetime replacement (even if they say no you've not lost anything by asking) but i wouldnt use it again - cards are cheap (comparitively) so why risk it

incidentally i use a mixture of lexar, sandisk, kingston, jessops, and generic 7 day shop cards and i've only ever had one fail , and that was sandisk - so i'm not sure brand has anything to do with it.

ryanyboy · 26-04-2012, 20:17 **Thread Starter**

Thanks all for you help and advice.

I should point out that although the card failed, I was also backing up to a 16gb sandisk card that lives in slot 2. So no dramas. But it was a scary situation for a mo when I couldn't shoot because of the error!

Lunawolfy · 26-04-2012, 20:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanyboy

Thanks all for you help and advice.

I should point out that although the card failed, I was also backing up to a 16gb sandisk card that lives in slot 2. So no dramas. But it was a scary situation for a mo when I couldn't shoot because of the error!

Good man!

smudgie49 · 26-04-2012, 21:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikon Fan

As I have said in other similar threads. I will only ever use Sandisk cards, and have never had a card fail.

I would bin the Lexar, as it would always be in the back of your mind.

Just had a Sandisk 2Gb CF card fail in my D3s. Had lent the camera to Willenium (TP) during a studio shoot and it died in the camera. Nothing I've tried will even let me read the card let alone recover anything. I'm just about to break it in half with some pliers!!

To be fair - this is the only card I've had fail on me and I always use 2 x CF cards on any paid work.

Lunawolfy · 27-04-2012, 08:29

Would be a scary thing if your CF with your only copies of your work dies.

What would happen if you shot a wedding for example with your D700 or a 5DII and it corrupted? Would you give them some money back or does insurance cover these scenarios.

srichards · 27-04-2012, 08:37

I only use cheap cards. I fill them a few times and reformat. Fill a few more times then replace them with another and put the old one in the bag as a spare. I've not had any fail even when using a cheap card constantly in an old lumix compact. I never use an external card reader. They live in the camera and are read by the camera. Don't know whether that makes any difference.

I'd bin a card that gave an error. I'm tight as a duck's bum too so it's not something I'd do lightly either

big soft moose · 27-04-2012, 09:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lunawolfy

Would be a scary thing if your CF with your only copies of your work dies.

What would happen if you shot a wedding for example with your D700 or a 5DII and it corrupted? Would you give them some money back or does insurance cover these scenarios.

in short you'd be screwed , and you'd definitely have to return the fee , but would still have a seriously unhappy client. Which is why many pro's use cameras that are capable of shooting to two cards at once, and those of without that luxury use more than one camera , and smallish cards (I usually shoot with 2gb cards) with regular swaps so that all your eggs arent in one basket.

with regard to insurance , business costs insurance (sometimes incorrectly refered to as PI) would cover you for the consequences (such as lawsuits/damages etc) but usually not for the return of your actual fee.

V8burble · 27-04-2012, 09:31

Thank goodness for our dual slots!!!

It's a difficult choice but I'd stop using it myself, once it's failed once I'd expect it to fail again one day soon. If a lifetime guarantee I'd act on that.

ryanyboy · 27-04-2012, 13:28 **Thread Starter**

I only shoot with max 4gb cards but after yesterday I'll definitely be swapping them out more regularly (rather than when they are nearly full).

I would guess that the majority of canon wedding togs are shooting with 5D mk II's. And a high percentage of Nikon shooters are using D700's (including me). So It has to be a case of good card discipline, shooting to two cameras where possible and (in my case) using the D3s as the main camera.

I hope those who "fancy a go at shooting a wedding" have been reading this. It's a serious business and not one to be taken lightly.

stevewestern · 27-04-2012, 15:09

Slightly off topic but....
What I don't understand is WHY would a card fail - there are no moving parts, so unless it got wet, short-circuited etc then what can go wrong and why ?

Galaxy66 · 27-04-2012, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevewestern

Slightly off topic but....
What I don't understand is WHY would a card fail - there are no moving parts, so unless it got wet, short-circuited etc then what can go wrong and why ?

Anything can fail at any time, it does not need to have moving parts.

~~Gregory Hicks~~ · 27-04-2012, 16:12

Straight in the bin for me.

Stratman · 27-04-2012, 16:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevewestern

Slightly off topic but....
What I don't understand is WHY would a card fail - there are no moving parts, so unless it got wet, short-circuited etc then what can go wrong and why ?

Electron tunneling.

db247 · 27-04-2012, 16:41

I had never had a card error until I got this d700.... Two cards are now relegated. One took an absolute age of swapping and trial and error to get the images off it.. then it won't format ready for use anyway so it's in the relegation zone. Then yesterday another card too but that one let me get the images fine but after CHA shows in the body/both the d700 and d300S actually. I'm thinking either they've had it naturally and it's all coincidence or there's something wrong with my imagerouter reader. Last nights and today's shoots have all gone through the sandisk extreme cf reader instead. That'll be a step backwards after tomorrows wedding when I have more than 2 cards to download.

Nervous times. At least the d300S has dual card slots. Grr.

Always format in camera. And don't throw all your eggs in one basket. I stick to 4gb max, but may go down to 2gb what with my new nervous disposition.

Oh, I do have the latest firmware in case anybody thinks it could be that.

V8burble · 27-04-2012, 16:42

Stratman: I have a mental image now with really small shovels

Lunawolfy · 27-04-2012, 16:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanyboy

I only shoot with max 4gb cards but after yesterday I'll definitely be swapping them out more regularly (rather than when they are nearly full).

I would guess that the majority of canon wedding togs are shooting with 5D mk II's. And a high percentage of Nikon shooters are using D700's (including me). So It has to be a case of good card discipline, shooting to two cameras where possible and (in my case) using the D3s as the main camera.

I hope those who "fancy a go at shooting a wedding" have been reading this. It's a serious business and not one to be taken lightly.

Genius idea with the deliberately small cards and mirroring! All about delivering just in case as a wedding tog I imagine :P

ziggy© · 27-04-2012, 16:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikon Fan

As I have said in other similar threads. I will only ever use Sandisk cards, and have never had a card fail.

I don't use Sandisk and never had a card fail

simonblue · 27-04-2012, 17:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanyboy

I only shoot with max 4gb cards but after yesterday I'll definitely be swapping them out more regularly (rather than when they are nearly full).

I would guess that the majority of canon wedding togs are shooting with 5D mk II's. And a high percentage of Nikon shooters are using D700's (including me). So It has to be a case of good card discipline, shooting to two cameras where possible and (in my case) using the D3s as the main camera.

I hope those who "fancy a go at shooting a wedding" have been reading this. It's a serious business and not one to be taken lightly.

I rember the old days of film,used to make you

,a bit waiting for your film to return.
I had some problems with lexar card a few years back,alway been a bit warey of them since

ryanyboy · 03-05-2012, 08:14 **Thread Starter**

An interesting update to this story....

On Wednesday a chap phoned me to confirm he wanted me to be their wedding photographer. I had met him and his fiancée a couple of weeks ago.

We chatted for several minutes and just before the end of the conversation he said "do you know what clinched it"?

"no" I said.

He replied - "I saw your update on your Facebook page about how your memory card went wrong but that you had a backup in the camera. I told Lisa, you must know what you're doing and that you were the man for the job"

I guess it was that extra bit of peace of mind for this couple

26-04-2012, 18:50	#1
ryanyboy Feet under the table Real name : Ryan Location: Cambs Posts: 3,811 Camera: D3s & D700	Memory Card failure at wedding Hi all, A Lexar Professional card failed me at a wedding today. The camera came up with "For" on the LCD top plate and wouldn't shoot until I replaced it When I put it in the Mac just now Lightroom said it was unable to read from this card. Now, the question is, would you reformat this card and happily use it at the next wedding or would you throw it in the bin (as is my intention)?? Just wondering really….. (P.S I have 15+ Sandisk cards and just two lexar cards. I wonder if it's significant that it was one of the Lexar's that died…..) __________________ www.ryanjarvisphotography.co.uk flickr

26-04-2012, 18:52	#2
mh photography Forum Regular Real name : Matthew Location: harlow Posts: 523 Camera: D3s and D800	I guess any card can develop a fault. I would reformat and test extensively before chucking it myself. In fact I would get in touch with lexar god a replacement! __________________ Facebook wedding photographers Essex wedding photographers Hertfordshire

26-04-2012, 18:57	#3
gramps Growing roots Location: UK Posts: 8,573 Camera: Nikon D3s & D800	Me? I would format and reuse it ... but if I was using it professionally, especially for something like weddings I would bin it. Actually had an issue with a Duracell 8GB at the weekend, 2nd slot card had an error and I tried to format it in camera but it wouldn't have any of it. Tried twice and then fellow tog offered to format it in his Canon ... it did ... then my camera saw it and formatted it fine ... continued to record images __________________ I like taking photos and I know what I like, I'm not a professional photographer. If I offer feedback on your photos it's just as I see them and because I am trying to give friendly support and help. I hope you will do the same.

26-04-2012, 19:08	#5
paul_g Forum Regular Real name : Paul Location: Sutton Coldfield Posts: 872 Camera: Canon 5d mkIII	Straight in the bin. You'll never use it at another wedding so why waste time on it. __________________ www.paulgoodephotography.co.uk

26-04-2012, 19:23	#6
RichardtheSane Feet under the table Real name : Richard Location: Nottinghamshire Posts: 3,969 Camera: 5DIII	I have only ever had one card fail on me. It was a lexar pro. Like you I was able to format it and use it again - but it went straight in the bin. Can't be trusted and I had plenty of other (Sandisk) cards. __________________ ______________________________________ www.misfitphotography.co.uk live music photography

26-04-2012, 18:58	#4
hunnymonster Been here a while Real name : Jason Location: Near England Posts: 336 Camera: Box Brownie	I'd be relegating it to the bottom of the pile (as in 'use only if there's no alternative' - so if you're using it, the alternative to it would have been "not taking any shots"). It's possible that being Lexar is significant - but then do Lexar actually have their own flash fabrication plants? If not, it might be Sandisk under the hood... then what do you start to think? Luckily I just checked - they're a division of Micron (Crucial are another brand of theirs) who do have their own flash fabs. It's all a highly nefarious business though flash memory manufacturing and marketing....

26-04-2012, 19:24	#7
Nikon Fan Forum Regular Real name : Barry Location: South/Mid Wales Posts: 758 Camera: Nikon D700, D200, D70 & D70IR	As I have said in other similar threads. I will only ever use Sandisk cards, and have never had a card fail. I would bin the Lexar, as it would always be in the back of your mind.

26-04-2012, 19:27	#8
Galaxy66 Jeremy Beadle Real name : My name is Mal not Jeremy :) Location: Alnwick Northumbria. Posts: 6,220 Camera: 5D MK3 40D IR 665nm Panasonic G1 IR 720nm G5 G1	Lexar have a lifetime guarantee don't they, contact them for a replacement.

26-04-2012, 19:58	#9
MrRiley New here Posts: 29	Hi. Sorry to hear about your card failure. Ouch! I have been there and know how much it hurts. If you still have images from the wedding on the card you can often get them back with recovery software. As for the card. Just chuck it or keep it for emergencies. Cards are cheap these days. Good luck with everything Roy www.royriley.co.uk

26-04-2012, 20:02	#11
Lunawolfy Quite Chatty Real name : Sean Location: Edinburgh Posts: 94 Camera: Canon 40D	Should be able to boot onto linux and carve the images out. Should have just about every image up until failure, unless it shorted or the connector failed __________________

26-04-2012, 20:11	#12
big soft moose Loves the place Real name : Pete Location: East Devon Posts: 6,090 Camera: Eos 40D	I'd defitely ask lexar about the lifetime replacement (even if they say no you've not lost anything by asking) but i wouldnt use it again - cards are cheap (comparitively) so why risk it incidentally i use a mixture of lexar, sandisk, kingston, jessops, and generic 7 day shop cards and i've only ever had one fail , and that was sandisk - so i'm not sure brand has anything to do with it. __________________ The price of garage air has increased substantially in the last ten years , that's inflation for you

26-04-2012, 20:17 Thread Starter	#13
ryanyboy Feet under the table Real name : Ryan Location: Cambs Posts: 3,811 Camera: D3s & D700	Thanks all for you help and advice. I should point out that although the card failed, I was also backing up to a 16gb sandisk card that lives in slot 2. So no dramas. But it was a scary situation for a mo when I couldn't shoot because of the error!

27-04-2012, 08:29	#16
Lunawolfy Quite Chatty Real name : Sean Location: Edinburgh Posts: 94 Camera: Canon 40D	Would be a scary thing if your CF with your only copies of your work dies. What would happen if you shot a wedding for example with your D700 or a 5DII and it corrupted? Would you give them some money back or does insurance cover these scenarios.

27-04-2012, 08:37	#17
srichards Feet under the table Real name : Suz Location: Stoke On Trent Posts: 3,204 Camera: Sony Alpha 580	I only use cheap cards. I fill them a few times and reformat. Fill a few more times then replace them with another and put the old one in the bag as a spare. I've not had any fail even when using a cheap card constantly in an old lumix compact. I never use an external card reader. They live in the camera and are read by the camera. Don't know whether that makes any difference. I'd bin a card that gave an error. I'm tight as a duck's bum too so it's not something I'd do lightly either __________________ http://www.tokenbird.me.uk http://500px.com/srichards

27-04-2012, 09:31	#19
V8burble Feet under the table Real name : Andrew Posts: 3,393 Camera: D3, D7k, D200	Thank goodness for our dual slots!!! It's a difficult choice but I'd stop using it myself, once it's failed once I'd expect it to fail again one day soon. If a lifetime guarantee I'd act on that. __________________ There is never enough time! People Photography Nursery and pre-schools Photography

27-04-2012, 13:28 Thread Starter	#20
ryanyboy Feet under the table Real name : Ryan Location: Cambs Posts: 3,811 Camera: D3s & D700	I only shoot with max 4gb cards but after yesterday I'll definitely be swapping them out more regularly (rather than when they are nearly full). I would guess that the majority of canon wedding togs are shooting with 5D mk II's. And a high percentage of Nikon shooters are using D700's (including me). So It has to be a case of good card discipline, shooting to two cameras where possible and (in my case) using the D3s as the main camera. I hope those who "fancy a go at shooting a wedding" have been reading this. It's a serious business and not one to be taken lightly.

27-04-2012, 15:09	#21
stevewestern Feet under the table Posts: 2,136	Slightly off topic but.... What I don't understand is WHY would a card fail - there are no moving parts, so unless it got wet, short-circuited etc then what can go wrong and why ?

27-04-2012, 16:12	#23
~~Gregory Hicks~~ Banned Real name : N/A Location: N/A Posts: 725 Camera: N/A	Straight in the bin for me.

27-04-2012, 16:41	#25
db247 Forum Regular Location: Birmingham Posts: 1,476 Camera: Nikon	I had never had a card error until I got this d700.... Two cards are now relegated. One took an absolute age of swapping and trial and error to get the images off it.. then it won't format ready for use anyway so it's in the relegation zone. Then yesterday another card too but that one let me get the images fine but after CHA shows in the body/both the d700 and d300S actually. I'm thinking either they've had it naturally and it's all coincidence or there's something wrong with my imagerouter reader. Last nights and today's shoots have all gone through the sandisk extreme cf reader instead. That'll be a step backwards after tomorrows wedding when I have more than 2 cards to download. Nervous times. At least the d300S has dual card slots. Grr. Always format in camera. And don't throw all your eggs in one basket. I stick to 4gb max, but may go down to 2gb what with my new nervous disposition. Oh, I do have the latest firmware in case anybody thinks it could be that. __________________

27-04-2012, 16:42	#26
V8burble Feet under the table Real name : Andrew Posts: 3,393 Camera: D3, D7k, D200	Stratman: I have a mental image now with really small shovels

03-05-2012, 08:14 Thread Starter	#30
ryanyboy Feet under the table Real name : Ryan Location: Cambs Posts: 3,811 Camera: D3s & D700	An interesting update to this story.... On Wednesday a chap phoned me to confirm he wanted me to be their wedding photographer. I had met him and his fiancée a couple of weeks ago. We chatted for several minutes and just before the end of the conversation he said "do you know what clinched it"? "no" I said. He replied - "I saw your update on your Facebook page about how your memory card went wrong but that you had a backup in the camera. I told Lisa, you must know what you're doing and that you were the man for the job" I guess it was that extra bit of peace of mind for this couple