1. Do not listen to the MANY photography instructors who teach that brand doesn’t matter, or that Sandisk and Lexar are both the same. That is simply incorrect. The truth is that there are loads of very relevant differences between the two. For example, Sandisk has had several exclusives with Nikon in which they create a memory card that is able to access the full processing power of the camera. Nikon and Sandisk worked together on a memory card for the D90 and recently did so again with the Nikon D7000. Lexar also has some useful advantages over Sandisk, but that’s for another post.
2. Professional photographers teach that photographers need to get a super-fast memory card only for shooting video. While it is true that HD video produces large files, digital RAW files produce more data in a shorter period of time when photographers shoot a quick burst of multiple RAW files. Fast memory cards are even more vital to still photographers who shoot bursts than HDSLR users.
3. Never “erase all images” on your card. Always format the card. DSLRs provide both an “Erase all images” option and a “format card” option. Choose the format card option in order to prevent a host of different errors that can arise by simply erasing all images. Formatting the card will re-organize the folder structure and prevent database errors.
4. While we’re discussing how to erase all images, never erase any of the images by using the computer. This will taint your database and can cause even more errors than “Erase all images.” If you persist in erasing images by using the computer, you Canon shooters will face the famed ERR-99 (side note: that is a general error that is not specific to memory card problems, but memory card problems are one of the things that can draw the error).
5. Properly format your memory cards and never edit the contents of the card from the computer. Store them properly, particularly with SD memory cards, which have delicate little pieces of plastic on the underside which can easily be bent or broken off if misused. Treat ‘em like a baby.
6. According to Lexar, using high-capacity memory cards uses more battery life from your camera. The reduction in battery use is slight, but it’s a handy bit of knowledge.
7. Both Lexar and Sandisk professional-level cards come with a free program that can help you recover the images on your card if you accidentally delete them. If you delete something accidentally, STOP SHOOTING, bring the card home, run the card through the program, and you’ll probably get the shot back–even if you formatted the card.
8. If you are unsuccessful at recovering images on a corrupted Lexar memory card, you can actually send the card to Lexar at NO COST and they will have a technician perform professional data recovery on the card, put the images on a DVD, and mail you a new card and the images. Now THAT is impressive service! Sandisk doesn’t offer this level of customer support.
