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Reformat M8-cards for M9 use?


vanhulsenbeek

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Actually the cameras are a bit smarter than that! It depends on the file numbering options you have set too. Its only relevant if you don't format the card though.

For example, Leica loaned me an M8.2 for a weekend while my M8 was being upgraded. I put in the card from my camera complete with exposures on it. The loan camera continued the number sequence over around 500 exposures and another card. Then when I returned the last card with M8.2 exposures on it to my M8 the sequence continued seamlessly again.

If you put a formatted card in the camera and you have continuous numbering, then the camera continues the sequence it last recorded. If you put a card with exposures on it into the camera and have continuous set the camera picks up the sequence from the card.

I just rechecked. 7551 taken with my M8 while on Customer Service tour in Solms of a Leica technician at work. 7552 taken with Leica's loan M8.2 of four Forum members sitting in the customer lounge.

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Has anyone else noticed that the gyrations that you once had to do to get your files to come out starting anywhere but at L100 (or L999 if the camera has been in the shop) have been eliminated on the M9? There is now a menu entry labelled "Folder Management LEICA" that lets you set the directory name in which the files are collected and from which they take their names. For example, setting up the card in the computer to have directory structure

DCIM --> 400LEICA, then using this menu entry to "reset folder No" makes all the files be numbered L400xxxx. This prevents duplicate filenames when you have more than one M-digital body.

 

scott

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Steve (250swb) is correct, It is safest to re-format for every re-use.

 

While one may go for some time with no problems, the issue is that Fat32 (used on all flash cards) is not a particularly robust file system ( Microsoft will not format Fat32 drives above 4GB, defaulting to NTFS). The variants of UFS that Apple uses are also much more robust.

 

When you delete files, particularly variable size compressed files (like jpg), you leave 'holes' of available space into which a new file may or may not fit. Ultimately files get fragmented (blocks are chained), and space is not really available. It is also easy for directories to get corrupted which is how files are 'lost'.

 

'Quick' Formats simply rewrite the directory / File allocation table, rendering all space as usable.

 

'Low level' formats re-write the headers on every block (this appears to be what Leica does given how long it takes).

 

'Secure erase actually write new values into the data space, rendering them truly unrecoverable.

 

This is a simplified high level explanation, but useful for our purposes.

 

Regards to all ... Harold

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Has anyone else noticed that the gyrations that you once had to do to get your files to come out starting anywhere but at L100 (or L999 if the camera has been in the shop) have been eliminated on the M9? There is now a menu entry labelled "Folder Management LEICA" that lets you set the directory name in which the files are collected and from which they take their names. For example, setting up the card in the computer to have directory structure

DCIM --> 400LEICA, then using this menu entry to "reset folder No" makes all the files be numbered L400xxxx. This prevents duplicate filenames when you have more than one M-digital body.

 

scott

 

Tried this and it didn't work for me. I'm now back to start. :(

 

Anyone care to walk me through getting a file # say starting with 200...? I'm on a Mac btw.

 

CP

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I just caused the same problem myself here fiddling after reading this thread.

The procedure provided by shootist in this earlier thread works

disregard the line about setting picture numbering to 'standard' first (not in M9 menu)

Be sure to rename both the folder and actual file on the card in your computer.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/64023-2-0-firmware-old-sd-cards-2.html

 

Tried this and it didn't work for me. I'm now back to start. :(

 

Anyone care to walk me through getting a file # say starting with 200...? I'm on a Mac btw.

 

CP

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What is the difference between reformatting and formatting?

 

Formatting is what you do the first time with a new card. So after downloading your images you should re-format the card, or format it again, whichever sounds most logical (i.e. not just press 'delete all'). haroldp gave a very good explanation why to do this in his post above.

 

Steve

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Leica says

Formatting the memory card

It is normally not necessary to format (initialize) a memory card that has already been used. If however a card that has yet to be formatted is inserted for the first time, it must be formatted. In such cases the sub-menu appears automatically. Nevertheless, it is recommended that the memory card be reformatted occasionally, as a certain amount of residual data (info accompanying pictures) can take up memory capacity.

 

To use M8 formatted cards on the M9 probably requires formatting.

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I just caused the same problem myself here fiddling after reading this thread.

The procedure provided by shootist in this earlier thread works

disregard the line about setting picture numbering to 'standard' first (not in M9 menu)

Be sure to rename both the folder and actual file on the card in your computer.

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/64023-2-0-firmware-old-sd-cards-2.html

 

Yes this worked for me. Thanks!

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Leica says

 

 

To use M8 formatted cards on the M9 probably requires formatting.

 

I was advised by my dealer - for when this M9 moment comes :) - to first format on the PC and then in the M9. Irrespective of former use in a M8 or not.

 

I tried this PC format with XP, with a Sandisk reader thingy attached to a USB port. The card shows up as removable disk in Explorer and a right click gives you a Format option. In the dialogue FAT32 shows up fine and there are two format options. Quick format and (full) format. The latter takes about 20 seconds and the first 3 seconds (4Gb Sandisk Ultra II)

 

My advisor said, why not do both, first the full and then the Quick. Then format in the M9 - where the DCIM folder is added as well as the folder for your pictures - and there your are!

 

Probably redundance in triplicate but who cares? It should work!

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That's a lot of formatting, Sander!

I don't remember seeing you wearing belt AND braces in Amsterdam :)

Don't forget, if you want to continue your file number series from a particular point (that is, don't start from zero) you will need to do the folder and existing file numbering too.

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That's a lot of formatting, Sander!

I don't remember seeing you wearing belt AND braces in Amsterdam :)

Don't forget, if you want to continue your file number series from a particular point (that is, don't start from zero) you will need to do the folder and existing file numbering too.

 

:D:D I'll keep that in mind!

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I was advised by my dealer - for when this M9 moment comes :) - to first format on the PC and then in the M9. Irrespective of former use in a M8 or not.

 

I tried this PC format with XP, with a Sandisk reader thingy attached to a USB port. The card shows up as removable disk in Explorer and a right click gives you a Format option. In the dialogue FAT32 shows up fine and there are two format options. Quick format and (full) format. The latter takes about 20 seconds and the first 3 seconds (4Gb Sandisk Ultra II)

 

My advisor said, why not do both, first the full and then the Quick. Then format in the M9 - where the DCIM folder is added as well as the folder for your pictures - and there your are!

 

Probably redundance in triplicate but who cares? It should work!

 

If you want your card perfectly clean you'll have to wash it in tepid soapy water first, rinse it in distilled water and blowdry on the low setting of your hairdryer...:p

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If you want your card perfectly clean you'll have to wash it in tepid soapy water first, rinse it in distilled water and blowdry on the low setting of your hairdryer...:p

 

Jaap, you don't want to know what I regularly use that procedure for as well! :eek:

 

(See my PM to you as just sent. Oh dear, now our readers really are curious!)

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