Preventing Digital Image Loss

Preventing Digital Image Loss and Data Corruption
With film cameras we never opened the camera before rewinding the film into the film canister or sliding the dark slide back into the film holder. If these precautions were neglected images were lost. Extending the analogy to digital cameras, never turn off the camera power before the data is finished writing to the media card. The disruption of power will corrupt the data being written at that moment. Worse, it may set a data error on the card that will not allow you to retrieve the remaining good data from the media card. Camera manuals routinely warn against this, but it happens daily. There is no warranty against operator error. Many cameras have a display light, or other warning that indicates data is being written, so while it is lit or operating, do not disrupt the power!

Secondly, a word of advice about not pushing the preview button (or what ever method your camera has) to review the picture on the LCD before data writing completes. Cameras can be set to provide a brief preview immediately upon completion of the write cycle, so be patient. Premature pushing of the review button or the turning of the review switch, briefly disrupts power. As discussed above this is not advisable.

Do NOT open the media access door or remove the media card while the data writing indicator is operating or before turning off the camera. This will result in guaranteed that data corruption. This warning is not only for media ejection from the camera, but applies equally to premature or improper media card removal from the computer, card reader, or other data storage devices. With a Mac computer, be sure to drag the media card symbol to the trash can to properly terminate a read or write session. Wait for the card reader indicator light to signal it is OK to remove the card before doing so. On a PC double click on “MY Computer”, find the drive letter associated with your card reader, right click on that drive, and select “eject” from the menu. Even though it will not physically eject the media, it will properly break the communication link. Wait for any indicator lights and then remove the media. I understand how hectic and fast pace life and photography can become, but without a moment of patience’s precious images may be lost.

Power failure within the camera may also create a data write failure. Check your battery condition and power level often. Shut down (turn off) the camera properly and replace drained batteries prior to complete exhaustion. By following this prescription it is unlikely that you will write some type of power failure glitch to the media card, thus rendering it unreadable.

It is good advice to not use the same media card in different brands of cameras. Each manufacturer employs a different method of data writing, so using the card in different types of cameras will alter the file allocation table, making the information inaccessible. So keep one card for your Canon and one for your Nikon.

If you should experience any type of problem, immediately discontinue use of the media card. There is a good chance that most of the stored data may be recovered at that point. If the data is over written or the card reformatted, it is unlikely that you will retrieve any data. If the stored images are very important to you or a client – STOP.

There are software solutions available to the media card user for data recovery. If you utilize a high performance card, such as the Lexar Professional or SanDisk Extreme™, you can obtain their “Image Rescue” software for your personal data recovery. There are other software solutions available, on the WEB, but remember you get what you pay for. There are also numerous companies out there that specialize in recovery software.

Consider recovery software only partial solutions because there is NO guarantee of complete, 100%, data recovery anywhere. Take good care of your media cards. Keep them clean and stored in their magnetically protected storage bins. Keep them away from excessive heat or strong magnetic fields. Download them religiously. If the images are important or irreplaceable, be certain to back them up to two different places and/or mediums.

After the media card data has been safely transferred and backed up, reinsert the card into the camera. The media card should then be reformatted in the camera for a clean erase of image and built up residual file data. Erasing the card from the computer does not eliminate all of the residual file data which may become a problem at some random time. The in camera reformatting will help make certain that data writing will proceed completely and smoothly in future use.

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