What's going on here?

Nikon D300. Sandisk Extreme III 4 GB compact flash card.

I regularly format the card - in the camera, with the camera.

I normally download directly from the camera to my computer using
Nikon Transfer.

Recently I took a series of shots, all of which downloaded, except for
one. It wasn't important and I was in a hurry so I just carried. After
taking about another 160 shots (yeah - 90 still available - see below)
I downloaded again - and there was that same image still stuck in the
camera. I checked, it wasn't locked, and eventually I dragged it
straight out of the camera to the directory in which I wanted it. This
only copied it (transfers between different physical devices do that)
so the image was still in my camera.

Everything else was gone (deleted by Nikon Transfer) so I once again
formatted the card. To my surprise the image was still there.
Eventually I reached into the card (Windows Explorer) and deleted the
image. Before the image was deleted the camera showed 150 shots
available. After the image was deleted the camera still showed 150
shots available. So, once again, I reformatted the card and the camera
still showed 150 shots available. I have just now taken 5 RAW shots
and the camera shows 148 shots available.

What I want to know is, do I still have a problem, is the problem in
the card or the camera, and what should I do about it?


Eric Stevens


There are two classes of people. Those who divide people into
two classes, and those who don't. I belong to the second class.

 

Good question - it's a weird symptom. I assume you've already
re-formatted your card in the camera. The worst case scenario is that
your card is worn out, & isn't writing correctly. You might try
re-formatting your card on your PC, filling it with data, then
re-formatting in your camera. If that doesn't work, I'd probably toss
the card.

 

I can't speak to the issue with NT and the remaining image. I can
speak to the image remaining count. Be aware this is just an estimate
using some conservative average file size for the size and quality you
have chosen to save to. The D300 NEFs can be 12 or 14 bit and
uncompressed, losslessly compressed or lossily compressed. The
efficiency of all the compression schemes can be effected by the image
content, resulting in differing files sizes dependent upon the
content.

FWIW, I almost never format the card in the camera, except when I
first get them or if I have experienced a problem and use a card
reader and Explorer to Move/Copy the files off my cards. I also
routinely swap cards between a D200 and D300 but have also used them
in a D70, CP-5700 and Cp-990 with no real problems other than being
caught with the numbering scheme once or twice. Have you tried a
different card to narrow the issue to the camera or the card?

 

Another thought. My versions of this card have a switch which allow it
to use the whole 4GB space or either of two 2GB spaces. If yours has
such a switch have you tried repositioning/resetting it?

 

RTFM time Eric...
You inadvertently "protected" the image while looking at it in camera.
I've done it myself, just like shifting the exposure point off centre
and not realizing it in the heat of the moment.

Unprotect the image and delete it! Simple as that. I'd give you
instructions but if you readt the manual, it might sink in for next time.

 

That was the obvious first thought, and no, it wasn't protected. To
make sure, I protected the image and then unprotected it. It made no
difference. The image wouldn't download either way and stayed in place
through several down loads and reformatts.

Are you trying to get me on your side?

With a D300 the '?' button on the back handles protection.



Eric Stevens

 

Mine are the same.

Good idea.

 

No switch



Eric Stevens

 

He apparently didn't read your original post which touches on the lock
issue so read the post before responding [email protected]
Personally, I would put the card in a card reader to pursue the problem,
posting here isn't likely to get much of an answer.
Dave Cohen

 

You might want to take your foot out of your mouth and actually READ
who wrote that criticism, so that you can attribute it to the PROPER
person!

 

My error (well you already know that), so apologies are in order.
Dave Cohen

 

Accepted.

 

Since you wrote that (and after I wrote my original article in which I
described how I used Windows Explorer to delete the pesky file) I have
twice reformatted the card in the camera and STILL that file was
there.

Now, I have reformatted the card in the card reader and then filled it
to overflowing with data from my 'Job' archive. I then reformatted the
card in the camera and now that nuisance image has finally gone. So
thank your for your suggestion.

Interestingly enough neither Nikon Transfer nor my newly installed
Paint Shop Pro could find it when the card was in the camera but Paint
Shop Pro could find it when the card was in the reader.

Anyway, thank you for your suggestion: it seems to have worked.



Eric Stevens

 

No problem, glad I could help.

I suspect that the card has developed bad spots that are no longer
capable of writing correctly, & filling the card forced it to write to
the entire array, & map them all out. IMO, it might be best to avoid
using that card for anything important.

 

Nope, that's not the end of it.

After writing the above I turned the camera off, and then turned it on
again. There was the adjectival pesky image!

At this stage, I went and found the Rescue Pro software which came
with the memory card. I used this to write zeros into every byte of
the card. I then put the card back in the camera and formatted it once
again. That got rid of all the images.

Then I took a photograph and after that I formatted the card once more
in the camera. Lo and behold my latest image was still there. Grrr!!

I then changed the card for a 2 GB Lexar. I formatted it. No images.
I then took a photograph. Once again I formatted the card. There was
the latest image. I am strongly suspecting the problem is in the
camera.

On Monday I will take the camera and cards into the dealer who I
expect will pass the problem onto the local Nikon service centre.

Watch this space.



Eric Stevens

 

Stranger and stranger.

Install 2 GB card, reformat, take photograph, verify photograph is
there. (Not at all bad for 1/5th handheld). Reformat. Image istill
there. Hmm. Hit delete. "Folder contains no images". Hmmmm.

Instal 4 GB card, reformat, verify photograph is still there. Take new
photograph, verify that it is there, reformat and find that both the
new one and the previous unvanished one is still there. Confirm that
both unvanished photographs can be removed by the delete button. Once
again "Folder contains no images".

I think the problem may be in the way that the camera handles the
reformatting. Its not a deep reformat and somehow leaves the data in
place for the first image in the series. So far I haven't found
anything in the Nikon knowledge base about this problem.



Eric Stevens

 

There's a thread on the Nikonian's site about the dangers of deleting
files in the camera. Specifically a D300. I'm not sure but you might
have to spend money joining to read it. Worthwhile spend incidentally.

I was wrong about the advice I gave you earlier. It was based on my
experience with a Fuji s5Pro which is a D200 body with Fuji on-board
computer and dual sensor. On reflection nothing at all in common with a
D300 except it looks like one! My Nikons are D700 and a D90 for movies.
I'll learn to keep my mouth shut one day.

 

Many thanks. I will look it up.

Eric Stevens