Here are three tips that can - and WILL - save you from a disaster with your cameras' memory stick! Why risk losing it all, when a disaster is so easy to avoid?
Today's article involves your camera memory stick.
Getting the shot in raw format chews up the cameras' memory in a hurry,
but it's necessary if we hope to have all the data we need to manipulate the photos later.
In other words, since we are all shooting in RAW format (you ARE shooting in raw format, right?), with our cameras' memory stick, we need as much memory as we can get.
Tip number one is to get the most memory you can.
Why risk having a memory stick fail in the middle of an important shoot? And yes, they can and do fail, or get broken. When shopping for a new memory stick, get top quality AND some backups! They will last longer and do a better job. The cost of a top of the line camera memory stick isn't all that much more than for a cheap one - and it will pay for itself over and over again!
Tip number two is to buy the best memory sticks available - get several.
Back in ancient times (film) when we traveled, we had to jump through all kinds of hoops to keep our film from going through the X-Ray machines.
We had to get it checked by hand while all the people behind us in line shot us dirty looks and made it clear that if they ever saw us in a dark alley it wouldn't be pleasant!
To be honest, I never met anyone who actually had their film ruined by an X-Ray machine and I'm tempted to believe it was nothing more than an "urban myth."
But, to be safe - we had to do it anyway.
I CAN say that your memory stick is NOT affected by X-Rays and that is one worry you can check off the list.
But...as mentioned before, they can "fail" or get broken and you end up losing everything you have shot. You've spent thousands of dollars on your dream vacation and have no photos to show for it! Or worse, you shot a wedding for a friend - who won't be a friend for much longer.
The key word here is BACKUP! As soon as possible, download your photos to your computer if it is available. If not, go to any camera/film developing store and they can make a CD for you.
Actually, having a CD backup is a good idea even if the photos are already in your computer. Computers fail and can take years of photos with them. It's not a matter of IF your computer will crash, but when.
Plus, photos can eat up your computers' memory in a hurry. If you store your older photos on CD, you still have access, without eating up all your computers' memory. As a side benefit, having fewer photos will allow your computer to run faster too!
Tip number three is to always - and frequently - back up your camera memory stick and computer photo files onto a CD.
I hope these three simple camera memory stick tips will eventually save you from a disaster, they have for me!
For more information, check out the resource box.
