M9 memory card malfunction averted

[Archiver]

Had a scare with my M9 yesterday. It's been relatively unused since getting my SL2-S earlier this year, and I took it out for the first time in some days. When it powered up, it took a photo and then stopped. It displayed the image just taken, but couldn't fire after that.

Checking the Info display showed that the card read empty/0, which wasn't right at all. Playback showed the 20 images in the card, but the Info panel read that there was no space left.

Popped the battery, popped the card, no dice. It seemed to fix itself (not really) by taking one image each time it was turned on, but it didn't record the image to the card.

Back at home, plugging the card into the reader brought up warning that the card contained errors. I let Windows fix the card and downloaded what was there, then did a complete overwrite format using SD Card Formatter. Then I did a quick format for good measure, put the card back in the M9 and took a few test shots. And it worked! Card read as normal, it shot as normal.

That card, a Sandisk Ultra 32GB, has been in the M9 for what must be around seven or eight years, probably more. Perhaps it's time to use a new one.

And maybe this is another thing to add to Life's Little (photo) Lessons: test fire your gear before you leave the house.

 

[boojum]

Had a scare with my M9 yesterday. It's been relatively unused since getting my SL2-S earlier this year, and I took it out for the first time in some days. When it powered up, it took a photo and then stopped. It displayed the image just taken, but couldn't fire after that.

Checking the Info display showed that the card read empty/0, which wasn't right at all. Playback showed the 20 images in the card, but the Info panel read that there was no space left.

Popped the battery, popped the card, no dice. It seemed to fix itself (not really) by taking one image each time it was turned on, but it didn't record the image to the card.

Back at home, plugging the card into the reader brought up warning that the card contained errors. I let Windows fix the card and downloaded what was there, then did a complete overwrite format using SD Card Formatter. Then I did a quick format for good measure, put the card back in the M9 and took a few test shots. And it worked! Card read as normal, it shot as normal.

That card, a Sandisk Ultra 32GB, has been in the M9 for what must be around seven or eight years, probably more. Perhaps it's time to use a new one.

And maybe this is another thing to add to Life's Little (photo) Lessons: test fire your gear before you leave the house.

Two things: 1) I seem to remember that 16GB is the recommended max card for the M9 and a card not too fast. I follow this with old 16GB cards, they are cheap and like all insurance companies I like to expose myself to as little risk as possible. 2) I use the camera to erase and format the card. I erase by format. Even if it was done on a computer. The Trolls of Wetzlar may have some secret sauce they want on the cards. It costs nothing to do it. ;o)

I just checked the internet on SD card size for an M9. Lots of opinions. I have never had a problem with 16GB. That's a very small sampling, yes.