512MB CF 69 pics, 256Mb xD 71 pics??

Hi all,

Hope someone can help me explain this.

I have an Olympus 5050Z that takes both CF and xD cards simultaneously and
I have one of each inserted, a 512Mb CF card and a 256Mb xD.

When I switch from card to card, the number of remaining shots on that card
is displayed...and here's where it gets a bit freaky

The newly formatted 512Mb CF card displays 69 shots on SHQ 2560 x 1920
jpeg, whilst the 256mB xD card *on exactly the same settings* shows 71!!

How can that be possible?? How can a 256Mb card hold more pictures than a
512Mb one?? Is this something specific to xD cards???

Hope someone can help


--

Regards

John [Harold Hill, Essex, UK]

Remove the obvious spamtrap from the address to reply!

 

Something must be wrong with the 512 MB CF card.
According to the 5050 specs, a 256 card should capture about 70 pictures in
SHQ 2560x1920 mode.
A 512MB card should therefore capture about 140 images in the same mode.
So, it's not that the 256 MB xD is showing an unusually large capacity, the 512
MB CF card is showing too low a number.
Perhaps the 512 is mislabeled, have you tried it in another camera?
If you have a card reader, see what size the computer says the 512 really is.
Bob Williams

 

Hi John,

Can you give specific brand and model #'s for the memory cards? First
thoughts are that either the 512 card could be defective (large number of
inoperable storage locations) or that your camera is fomatting the card
differently than the 256m, or that your camera may have a bug in accessing
this type of card ... I would send this question to the manufacturer of your
camera with all the details and see what they say.

 

Try it again, one in at a time.

Having them both in, even tho' it says it's
supported, would seem to me to be asking for
trouble.

 

Format the 512 card as a disk drive while in a card reader.
Then format it in your camera for use there...without the xD card in the
camera.
Check it now.
If this doesn't fix it, then you almost surely have a defective CF card.
Except....
You could still borrow another large capacity card somewhere and see if you
get similar results.
If similar...then talk to Olympus about your camera's card identification
trouble.

 

Formatting in a card reader and then inserting into the camera seems to
have done the trick.....Weird eh???

Incidentally, the 5050Z is designed to take more than one card...due to the
fact that it has a button just below the LCD allowing you to change
cards...which isn't necessary if you've only got one card inserted!


--

Regards

John [Harold Hill, Essex, UK]

Remove the obvious spamtrap from the address to reply!

 

Poor Mr. Bandicoot,

Obviously so consumed with self hate that his anger must be directed at
everyone he encounters.
It has to be hard to be you.

Your Friend