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6 - Care & Usage

Here's how to care for and use memory cards.

Conditions

While memory cards can withstand extremes of humidity, temperature, drop shock, and vibration, treat them gently.

Don't place them in direct sunlight, or near electrostatic or magnetic fields.

Don't bend them, of course.

Insertion

When inserting a memory card into a camera, the camera should be off.

Insert memory cards carefully.

They insert only one way.

They insert easily, and therefore don't need to be forced.

Often, there's an icon showing how to position the memory card for proper insertion.

For CompactFlash memory cards, the icon may show the front of a memory card.

For SD cards, the icon may show the notch found in the upper-right corners of these cards.

Removal

When removing a memory card from a camera, the camera should be off.

Often, pushing a button pops the memory card out.

If there's no button, the memory card can often be removed by pushing the memory card in further, and quickly releasing the pressure.

Don't remove a memory card from a camera or card reader while data is being transferred to or from the memory card.

Storage

Store memory cards in their cases to prevent exposure to dust.

If debris blocks a connector socket, the fragile pins in your camera and card reader may be bent.

Delete Photographs

If a photograph is obviously a clinker, delete it from the memory card.

But, delete it only if it's difficult to delete all of your photographs.

On many cameras, it's easy to inadvertently select Delete All instead of Delete Photograph.

Most of the time, wait to delete photographs until they're on your computer.

Then, delete all of the photographs from the memory card.

Transfer Photographs

If you're transferring photographs from your camera to your computer, make sure the camera battery is fully charged.

If the camera battery fails while transferring photographs, the photographs on the memory card may be corrupted or lost.

As described, you can use a card reader instead of your camera, when transferring photographs.

Wait to delete your photographs from the memory card until you've confirmed that all of the photographs have transferred successfully.

To continue, use the menu above, or click Next below.

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