Hi Philip

Just Google for "panasonic SD formatter v2.0" it will find a link to the Panny Japan website with all the utilities.

Also google for "H2TestW" software..it's a freebie from Germany and tests SDHC and USB drives by writing and verifying data ...software also runs in English!! I found it very useful.

However, up to now I have just been formatting in camera without any issues at all ... make sure your reader can handle the formatter software!!

Chris

Thanks Chris - got it, I always download these things, you never know when you might need it. I too format in the camera before each shoot and not had a problem, but that doesn't mean I may not get a problem in the future!!

I format as well. Been doing that with the same 3 Panasonic 16GB cards I've been using for just over a year. No problems.

format...all my cards after the files are on two other drives!

Thanks Guys

When you say "format" are you using the Panasonic software on the computer first and THEN formatting in the camera???

It seems that most people simply use the camera to format the card (even if you do it with the Panasonic software you still need to format in the camera as far as I know??

My current batch of 4 cards have been only camera formatted since August with no problems apart from the one isolated incident.

If would be nice to have a definitive preferred course of action eg: Always format with the Panny software first or use the Panny software every few months just to check the card or only use the software if there is an issue.

Chris

Yes, you need to format in camera in order for the file system to work write. In fact all digital cameras state somewhere in there manuals to format the cards in camera.

I run the SD formatter on new cards. Then after that I format in camera for all other formatting.

Once the file system is established, is there a reason thereafter to not simply delete the files, rather than reformatting the whole card?

Not really. I just find it quicker as I can do this from cam mode and not have to flip back into playback mode.