Formatting CF card for D70

[rsrocco]

I inserted the CF card for my D70 for the first time and step 4 in the

manual is "Format the memory card" but I think it may be formatted

already. I followed the steps: 1) Turn on the camera. 2) Hold the

"format" buttons down simultaneously for approx. 2 seconds. However,

I neither saw the blinking "For" nor the frame count blink in the

shutter-speed display. It just automatically dispalyed a non-blinking

"[574]".

 

Is this CF card already formatted and ready to shoot?

[ottocrat]

Yes. Why not shoot a picture and see?

[adam_squier__nw_columbus__]

You need to hold the buttons for 2 seconds -- twice, not just once. Just to make sure you

really want to do it. It wil blink "For" and then show the number of shots left.

[douglas_greenberg]

The CF cards are already formatted. You only need to use the format function if something goes awry and you want to reformat the card.

[michael_mandell]

The "easy" way is to format the CF card using the menu function. Easy to read, easy to do

[kent_demas1]

I have always used the format option through the menu as well and never had an issue. As

a matter of fact I didn't know there was another way of doing it! Hmmm... maybe I should

read the whole manual some time ;-)

[rsrocco]

This board is amazing...Thanks folks!

[tholte]

I have had my D70 since March of 04 and never formatted any of my cards. I buy them, put them in my camera and shoot. Maybe I am missing something.

[todd peach seattle, washi]

I format mine every time I use them (as the means to erase and start over), and I use the two button method. The 'timing' seems really odd until you've done it once or twice.

[marcofrancardi]

if you menage your card manually, when downloading or erasing or storing upgrades, you should format it from time to time to get rid of garbage left in it. you would not see it with the camera's functions, but when you analize the card with windows explorer, you see some "left over" that takes away "memory space" for your pics. format it, and it's brand new again.

[lex_jenkins]

Aww, that two-button format thing never works for me with my D2H. Maybe it's because my hands are too shaky and uncoordinated. I just use the menu to access the format command.

[aaron l]

I use the menu to format. Just make sure to step out of it so you don't actually get into that menu selection too fast. Format is something I want to have done deliberately, not an accidental button press.

[rob_sronce]

You can also format the card from the PC while its in the card reader. For larger cards (1GB+) I format using FAT32. If you do not reformat you may accumulate lost clusters wandering sadly about! :D