Formating Sd cards

[bowhunterforever]

I have a trail cam that I have only been using the same 2 cards in it and now for some reason both of the cards wont get pics on them when the cam triggers. So yesterday I tried a different Sd card and the cam worked fine. So I think I need to format the sd cards or something? I have never had to format any sd cards in any of my cams so not sure how to do it. Any info/ thoughts! thanks

[Bean Counter]

There should be an option in your trail cameras menu to format the card. In my Brownings its erroneously called "erase all" which is stupid and should be relabeled. You definitely want to set up the new file allocation table according to the camera you're shooting in every time you put in a card.

[bobcat]

I always format my cards in my laptop.

[bowhunterforever]

I always do the erase all and that still wouldn't work

[bowhunterforever]

I always format my cards in my laptop.

How do you do it? Never had to but its worth a try

[bobcat]

Go to Windows Explorer, right click on the sd card, select format. That's about it. Pretty simple, takes about 10 seconds.

[Roosevelt]

I've had an issue with SD cards/trail cameras from time to time where it just randomly goes to some weird coded alien looking language and doesn't take pictures when I try and view my photos.  It's happened numerous times with different cameras and different SD cards.  I have never been able to figure out why it happens or what is happening really.  Anyone ever experienced this?  I just quit using that SD card and switch to another one but I sure would like to know how to avoid that issue.  I used to think it was because I have switched SD cards between so many different cameras, but it has also happened with brand new SD cards.   

[NOCK NOCK]

Has the little "lock" feature on the SD card been moved to Lock? that could be your problem

[Bean Counter]

I just pulled my trail cameras from world class elk country and the cam that was in the area I expected to be the most productive came out with zero images  It was in my Primos Truth 35, and I put in 4 batteries that had about 30% juice left in them. That should have been enough for a month or two easily. When I came back a month later the batteries were dead and the card was blank. I'm wondering if the batteries going out formatted the card. I have card recovery software and may give that a go. 

[bobcat]

I never use batteries that are less than 70%.

[SteelheadTed]

You should format the SD card in the device you intend to use it in.  99 times out of 100 it isn't an issue but it takes 5 seconds and saves the heartache of loosing photos.

[NOCK NOCK]

Bean,  Dead batteries do not format the cards in my bushnells.  I run all my cams in video mode with a 32g SD card. One particular set for elk, the card will have 1200 25sec. vids. and the batteries will be dead, never lost any videos. Guess I should extend the lapse time between triggers

[Dan-o]

I can't imagine that dead batteries would ever cause the camera to format the SD card.

That would be a HORRIBLE design.

[Bean Counter]

I never had a problem with it last year, and it was out for about 5 months. I'm pretty sure I turned it on before walking away from the tree, too 

For some reason, when I plug it into the card reader, it reads "EX FAT 32" and I don't remember it saying that last year. This is an older Primos design and the way its 'formatted' is to push the up and down arrow buttons simultaneously and wait for the LCD to blink. Again, pretty sure I did that, too.

Another possibility is that it was a 16GB card, and the manual lists an 8GB card as the highest capacity for showing the number of photos it will hold given the resolution. However, i did call Primos and they told me that it will work with a 16.

[Knocker of rocks]

Has the little "lock" feature on the SD card been moved to Lock? that could be your problem

   The cause of many a gremlin

[LeviD1]

Every time I swap chips I format the card in the camera. It deletes all the old photos and I know it is formatted to that device. I have never had a problem. In the past in a cheaper camera I used to have, if I tried to view the photos in my digital camera is would show as no photos, but once I put it in my laptop they would be there. The pictures may be on your card still also, sometimes they can be saved in a wierd folder on the chip, you just have to dig for it.

[fishnfur]

I also format the card with the camera.  I also have two cards for each camera, name labeled so I know which one goes where, which reduces the reformatting I'd do otherwise.

One of my old cams would only work with 3 manufactures cards.  Since then, I've stuck to San Disk and had almost no problems. .......  My Bushnell did record about 100 vids last summer that I couldn't open on my laptop.  Tech support suggested reformatting the card every time I put it in the cam.  No similar problems since that one.

[LeviD1]

Oh yeah I only use San Disc cards. Dont use cabelas brand or some other wierd no name brand. They will give you trouble. I have 5 cameras and 10 cards. None are dedicated to any certain camera. Reformat every time and theres never been any issues. Never buy cabelas cards. They want $20 for an 8 gig when you can go to radio shack and get a 16 gig for like $14ish

[NOCK NOCK]

I also format the card with the camera.  I also have two cards for each camera, name labeled so I know which one goes where, which reduces the reformatting I'd do otherwise.

One of my old cams would only work with 3 manufactures cards.  Since then, I've stuck to San Disk and had almost no problems. .......  My Bushnell did record about 100 vids last summer that I couldn't open on my laptop.  Tech support suggested reformatting the card every time I put it in the cam.  No similar problems since that one.

I have had the same issue with a couple of my bushnells. They have replaced the cam both times. Do you think it was the San disk card that fixed your issue?

[LeviD1]

4 of my cams are bushnell.

[Bean Counter]

I started with SanDisk because that's what Costco pimps on their sales. All my recent purchases for my DSLRS have been Lexar Professional, who will recover your data and replace the card if it ever goes Tango Uniform.