SD Card Full ... but it isn't!

[colonel]

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I have a problem which is similar.

I am currently using a 16gb integra card with my M8 (I do have other cards but haven't used them, all much lower capacity)

 

When I get to around 150-200 pictures (card is around 10% full by bytes) the camera says "card full". It also refuses to let me browse the pictures saying oddly "no pictures exist on card".

 

The card is fine in that I can take the pictues off onto my computer.

Then I put the card back into the camera, re-format in the camera, and start again.

 

Originally I thought this was;

1. Just the camera didn't like 16gb cards, perhaps I should use less (e.g. 8gb) - although looking above this might not be the case

2. That the card has some bad sectors, and just corrupts at a certain point. I have had a corrupted card once before, using a Canon, so know they do exist.

 

Anyway, my Sandisk extreme pro card is coming soon, so hopefully will see if it has the same issue. I continue to keep a 8gb and a 4gb as spare in my camera case.

 

Would be interested if anyone else has the same issue ?

Edited March 28, 2011 by colonel

[braza2013]

I had the same (or very similar, my memory escapes me) error message last year, but resetting the image numbering solved it. Don't know if it will help you, but here is the way to do it:

 

 

Here is a procedure that will allow you change to anything you want:

1. Set the Picture Number in the menu to "Standard".

2. Format the SD card in camera.

3. Reset the File Number in the menu. It actually says “Reset fold. No”, that is the one you want.

4. Set Picture Number back to "Continuous"

5. Take one image

6. Shut off camera, remove SD card and place in card reader attached to a computer.

7. Access the image in your Finder or Explorer (Mac or PC); rename the image number to whatever file number/image number you want. I would suggest Lyyyxxxx, with "y" being your preferred folder number (See Note Below) and "x" being the frame number you want to start with. (You are making these changes to the file name on the card in the card reader.)

NOTE

 

If you want to change the first or second digit of the L100 (Lyyy above) in the file name, like to L200 or 120 or 220, then you have to change the folder name also.

The directory/folder structure on the card when in a card reader is [Drive Letter]:\DCIM\100LEICA\. You need to change the 100LEICA to whatever you want the file number to start with. Like if you want it to be L200xxxx then you need to rename that folder to 200LEICA. If you want L120 then you need to change that folder name to 120LEICA. It would look like this [Drive Letter]:\DCIM\120 or 200LEICA.

8. Properly remove card from card reader and return to camera.

9. Turn the camera on and press "Play". The file will now display with newly renamed folder and file number. (Use "Info" to see this data.)

10. Expose another image to confirm and check file numbers.

11. Format SD card, and you are good to go from that point on.

[Shootist]

The SD card implementation on both the M8 and 9 are less robust then any other maker.

Because of this it is best to use no card bigger then 8GBs. That means you could fit 470 DNG shots on a 8GB card. If you take more then that at any one shooting session then carry 2 cards and change it out when you change batteries.

[jaapv]

The best working cards on the M8, in my experience, are the Sandisk Ultra and Sandisk Ultra II. I've got a drawer full of them, in various sizes, and never had a problem with them, only one card that died, over the last 4 years. It makes no sense on the M8 to buy new sophisticated ultra-fast cards, they only cost money and break down, without offering any benefit.

[colonel]

The best working cards on the M8, in my experience, are the Sandisk Ultra and Sandisk Ultra II. I've got a drawer full of them, in various sizes, and never had a problem with them, only one card that died, over the last 4 years. It makes no sense on the M8 to buy new sophisticated ultra-fast cards, they only cost money and break down, without offering any benefit.

 

thanks

since I don't have a sandisk card I thought I might as well get the best, since I get a discount. i am aware that the M8 and M9 do not have a fast bus to the SD card.

 

Didn't realise the newer cards are more likely to break down - I thought they were getting better over time, especially the sandisk extreem range .....

[Shootist]

thanks

since I don't have a sandisk card I thought I might as well get the best, since I get a discount. i am aware that the M8 and M9 do not have a fast bus to the SD card.

 

Didn't realise the newer cards are more likely to break down - I thought they were getting better over time, especially the sandisk extreem range .....

 

Best is not what everyone thinks is the best on the market at the present time. Best is what works without problems. That is why I still use 2GB SD cards in my M8. That size card gives me 190+ shots and If I take more then that in one session I use another card. I've only completely filled a card maybe 3 times in the 4 years I've had the M8.

Certainly you don't take over 470 shots, 8GB card, in 1 day/session of shooting. So what is the sense of using these mega GB cards. They just cost more and as you have encountered can cause problems.

[colonel]

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Certainly you don't take over 470 shots, 8GB card, in 1 day/session of shooting. So what is the sense of using these mega GB cards. They just cost more and as you have encountered can cause problems.

 

I understand your sentiment, although I was referring to the newer design cards, rather then higher capacity

 

On the note of capacity I do like the 16gb cards when I am am abroad. Although I download each day to a laptop, I like to keep on the SD cards until I get home as a backup. So an SD card will typically have multiple day's shooting

 

rgds

[jaapv]

I have never had any problems with Sandisk Ultra II 16 Gb cards.

[xom6]

Hello,

I recently got from time to time this full card message when it is empty ! I found a simple solution by making a mistake : I took the card out forgetting to turn off my M8 and then the error message disappears.

Now I have a new problem which is that, with the M8 fully upgraded to the 2.05 firmware, I get the shutter fault when in continuous mode, so I'm back to the old days. Then came up another M8 strange behavior : it does not recognize my Tri Elmar Wate but it does with any other lens, even an old 35 Summaron f2,8 which I have coded with a pen. I tried the Tri Elmar Wate on other bodies and they all recognize the lens.

 

I wonder if it could not be a software problem in my M8. Does anyone know if it is possible to go back to the original firmware version and than do again all upgrades ?

[jaapv]

No- that is impossible. But you can reload the last firmware if you wish, that will overwrite all earlier versions.

[Christoph13]

No- that is impossible. But you can reload the last firmware if you wish, that will overwrite all earlier versions.

 

This is not true for the most recently released firmware though (version 2.014). The readme clearly states that it is not downgradable.

[framestore]

This is not true for the most recently released firmware though (version 2.014). The readme clearly states that it is not downgradable.

 

Although they stated it, technically it wouldn't be difficult at all in Solm.

 

FW updating is a process of earsing old codes and uploading fresh new codes into camera's internal flash.

Edited August 16, 2011 by framestor

[framestore]

I have never had any problems with Sandisk Ultra II 16 Gb cards.

 

I recently got a "SD Card Full Message" on a location shooting. Fortunately, I had an extra 2GB SD card in my bag. My card is Sandisk Ultra SDHC 8GB.

When I got this nasty error, the card only have a half full. So this was a false feedback.

After format the card, error seems disappeared but after few shots, the error start displaying again.

 

I think this false error is related to file numbering or folder names.

And it had started happened just after updated FW with latest one, so this has to be looked in by Leica.

Edited August 16, 2011 by framestor

[framestore]

The best working cards on the M8, in my experience, are the Sandisk Ultra and Sandisk Ultra II. .

 

I recently got a false error, "SD Card Full" with a Sandisk Ultra SDHC 8GB.

Though I think this error is not associated with a certain brands or GB, I would not recommended SDHC cards.

 

Sandisk SD card is working fine without error.

Edited August 16, 2011 by framestor

[jaapv]

This is not true for the most recently released firmware though (version 2.014). The readme clearly states that it is not downgradable.

 

Ummm... That is exactly what I said. Ah i see what you mean. I should have said newest instead of last.

[lct]

I recently got a false error, "SD Card Full" with a Sandisk Ultra SDHC 8GB. Though I think this error is not associated with a certain brands or GB, I would not recommended SDHC cards...

Got those false errors a couple of times with M8.2 and 8GB Transcend HDHC 10 cards. Each time formatting the card in a Mac then formatting it again in the camera solved the problem, to the point that i now format all my cards in the Mac before using them. Nothing scientific i guess but it does work so far.

[framestore]

Got those false errors a couple of times with M8.2 and 8GB Transcend HDHC 10 cards. Each time formatting the card in a Mac then formatting it again in the camera solved the problem, to the point that i now format all my cards in the Mac before using them. Nothing scientific i guess but it does work so far.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Until I read your comments, I was sure that the false error relating to the file numbering or folder names. But now I'm puzzled..!! Everyone (who got this error) seems to have their own fixer.

[framestore]

Best is not what everyone thinks is the best on the market at the present time.

 

I agree.

 

Best is what works without problems. That is why I still use 2GB SD cards in my M8.

Same here.

 

It's now really difficult to buying 2GB SD card.

I'm planning to buy more of this outdated cards before it completely disappear from market;)

[k-hawinkler]

You may be interested in this Panasonic releases 8GB & 16GB UHS-I SDHC cards: Digital Photography Review.

Interestingly, the TUV verified the power failure protection.

 

There seems to be still a 4 GB card available as well Amazon.com: Panasonic 4 GB High Speed 22MB/s SDHC Class 10 Memory Card RP-SDW04GU1K: Electronics.

 

I have got the newer 8 and 16 GB cards in my M9. So far no problems.

 

K-H.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[DOUG66]

I have had problems with SanDisk extreem III cards also. It would appear that there is some code on them when purchased. SanDisk deny this and say it is a problem with the Leica firm ware. I cured it by firstly putting the card in a card readed and formatting it in the computer and then putting it in the M8 and reformatting it in the camera. No more problems the cards (2) have been reformatted in the camera many times since and have worked without a problem. Try it on one card first and see if it works.

Doug.