SD cards damaged?

I've got a bit of a mystery on my hands. I went today to dismantle my stand and retrieve my cameras. I was busy taking the stand down and my wife went to get the cameras. She's not familiar with the setting buttons inside, so I just told her to remove the screws and bring all 3 cams (I've got them mounted to brackets that screw to the tree)
So we get to the truck afterwards and I open the cams and switch them off, take the cards out and we head home. Both of us looking forward to a weeks worth of viewing monster bucks that would no doubt show up after the rifle season? Get home, start up the puter and slide in a card. Hummm, it says the card is empty? Ok, I think to myself, maybe the batteries were dead and it didn't take any pics? Slide in another card... and it says same thing? Put in the 3rd card and same result? Went to garage to check the batteries and they were all good on all 3 cameras. Now what? All 3 cameras were switched on as confirmed when I switched them off to retrieve cards I got thinking about it and wonder if it's possible that the electrical current from the portable battery drill may have wiped the data off the cards? That's what she used to undo the screws. She suggested someone may have tampered with them, but I find that impossible for a person to even find all 3 of the units and then knowing that each unit was switched on when we got them, which should have at least got pics of her getting the cam off the tree? Only possible solution is that the current from the battery drill may have wiped them clean?

Any ideas?

3 cameras all of them with no pics at all.... not be silly here but for sure you know how to activate the cards?.... I know I have to (not sure what the term is off hand) but need to match up, blend my card to my cameras first time using them... Were they new cards?
Never heard of a power screwdriver/drill that would do that....

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Originally Posted by fratri

3 cameras all of them with no pics at all.... not be silly here but for sure you know how to activate the cards?.... I know I have to (not sure what the term is off hand) but need to match up, blend my card to my cameras first time using them... Were they new cards?
Never heard of a power screwdriver/drill that would do that....

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I've been using each of these units for a few years now, so yes I'm very familiar with them. the cards are rotated randomly each time I change them and each time after viewing, I re-format them. I have in the past forgot to turn one of the units on while changing a card, but not all three and I know each was turned on when I opened them at the truck?

Just an idea to take away the doubt-why not try out.....run few pictures on the same camera,and then run the screwdriver alongside,as if it was being unscrewed.
You can do that quite fast,since the cameras are in your home by now....then learn from it.

Please let us know the outcome...........good luck

Just grasping at straws here but any chance the reader is faulty... Let us know about the screwdriver test gbk suggested...
Oh...are they all the same model cameras?

I'll get to this thread tomorrow, i'm forbidden to go to garage tonight. I will do some testing and let you both know what happens.

My big question would be if the cards are completely blank or do they have the camera file which is empty?

I ran into this problem twice this year with two different cards in two different cameras three weeks apart.

File corruption would be my first guess but I'm not all that bright around computers so take that at what its worth.

Sent from my SM-G973W using Tapatalk

Are the cards the right size gb for the cams? Are the cards formatted? Test cams at home for a day. Keep your eyes in the back of your head when in the woods..lol

Does your trail cam have a connection so it will connect to your pc?
I’ve had different problems so now I put the cards in the camera and plug into the pc.

The batteries are unlikely to do anything... the motor and the magnets in the drill are a possibility. If it is a high torque that would be my guess but you would almost have to be holding the drill and camera side by side. If you have a laptop you can put the cards directly into and scan them you MAY recover some pictures. Check the sensitivity and do a couple tests with the cameras, maybe put them in your back yard a night or two, I tested one of the cameras I hide around the cottage in the winter and got a picture of a coyote chasing a rabbit through the back yard, a fox and of course the usual skunk and raccoon.

Actually I had 3 of 6 cards go. No idea why but they just stopped.

Ok, I managed to sneak to garage and do some tinkering.
All batteries, in all cameras are good.
All cards have been formatted, as per normal. I do that each time I view and then delete the pics. Thereby having fresh cards for change out later.
I did a test with one camera. I let it take some pics of me dancing in the garage with my spandex tights on and then ran the drill close to the cam. Opened the cam, shut it off and put the card in my laptop. All pics came out fine. but no, they're not for sale!
Not sure what to think? I guess I'll chalk it up to unsolved mystery?

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Originally Posted by Bushmoose

Ok, I managed to sneak to garage and do some tinkering.
All batteries, in all cameras are good.
All cards have been formatted, as per normal. I do that each time I view and then delete the pics. Thereby having fresh cards for change out later.
I did a test with one camera. I let it take some pics of me dancing in the garage with my spandex tights on and then ran the drill close to the cam. Opened the cam, shut it off and put the card in my laptop. All pics came out fine. but no, they're not for sale!
Not sure what to think? I guess I'll chalk it up to unsolved mystery?

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ADMINS.... ban him if he posts those pictures!

Let us know if you figure it out. It takes a pretty big magnet to clean media like that but drill seemed like good first guess. Did you format them in a new machine or different? How did you format them? Maybe you used a different format than the camera will allow (NTFS, FAT32...) ?

My son has a couple of trail cams and went through a similar situation, they worked fine for a while then one or two at random days couldn't download the pictures depending if he used his phone as a viewer. Plugged into my phone and they were ok. Then he would plug back into his phone and could see them. Head scratcher for sure.

all 3 at once I would blame it on a hicup in your computer or card reader. If you haven't already wiped them, try to view in another device. I would have started with a computer restart, then another device before giving up on there being data on the cards.

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Originally Posted by FishHog

all 3 at once I would blame it on a hicup in your computer or card reader. If you haven't already wiped them, try to view in another device. I would have started with a computer restart, then another device before giving up on there being data on the cards.

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When all 3 showed empty from viewing on my laptop, I tried viewing from my small digital camera, which is what I use as a reader while in the field. Same result. So, I just have to try something different next year I guess? This is the first time something like this has ever happened so it's a head scratcher.

Yup a wild shot but was the wrote protection tab in the locked position?

Yes SD cards can die so can the USB sticks. I have had numerous go over the years.
I think they are making them so fast and cheap.

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Originally Posted by Bushmoose

When all 3 showed empty from viewing on my laptop, I tried viewing from my small digital camera, which is what I use as a reader while in the field. Same result. So, I just have to try something different next year I guess? This is the first time something like this has ever happened so it's a head scratcher.

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Bush,

I have got into these trail cameras the past year and they can be a real PIA. For me they seem to short out a lot,they do not function well in sub temperatures and I have experienced many problems with sd card,s.My solutions have been to make sure you use the right size sd card (under 32 g) to not use a micro sd card,to use lithium batteries.I still get problems.

I will probably be buying quality trail cameras in the future,maybe also better sd cards for outdoor and sub temp's.

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

Yup a wild shot but was the wrote protection tab in the locked position?

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This sounds like it might plausible... very curious now

You purchased one from Amazon, did it die as well?

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Originally Posted by Gilroy

Bush,

I have got into these trail cameras the past year and they can be a real PIA. For me they seem to short out a lot,they do not function well in sub temperatures and I have experienced many problems with sd card,s.My solutions have been to make sure you use the right size sd card (under 32 g) to not use a micro sd card,to use lithium batteries.I still get problems.

I will probably be buying quality trail cameras in the future,maybe also better sd cards for outdoor and sub temp's.

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Originally Posted by fratri

This sounds like it might plausible... very curious now

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Also if the transfer rate for the sd card is too slow. You can get a card for $18 let's say another card the same size costs $28 but is a twice as fast and designed for Digital SLR and video cameras.

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Originally Posted by greatwhite

You purchased one from Amazon, did it die as well?

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GW none of them have died save and except the first one which was replaced by the company but all three have had intermittent problems.

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Originally Posted by Snowwalker

Yup a wild shot but was the wrote protection tab in the locked position?

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Originally Posted by fratri

This sounds like it might plausible... very curious now

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All the cards were in the "unlock" position. I was under the impression that the "locK" position is used if you want to prevent erasing the data? Ive been using these cards this way since I first began my quest into the digital era? Oh, and the cards range in GB from 4gb to 16 gb
Attachment 41150

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Originally Posted by Bushmoose

All the cards were in the "unlock" position. I was under the impression that the "locK" position is used if you want to prevent erasing the data? Ive been using these cards this way since I first began my quest into the digital era? Oh, and the cards range in GB from 4gb to 16 gb
Attachment 41150

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Yes you are correct.

Which file format are you using Fat16/32, NTFS ?

If the cameras only read and write fat16/32 SD cards formatted to NTFS will not work. Your windows OS may have defaulted to ntfs because the cards are over a Gig.

Definitely strange that all the cards have the same issue. My first thought was the card reader itself but I guess you've eliminated that. Next thought would be the cards were locked because then they won't write but you seem sure they weren't locked. Lastly, seeing as you format the cards each time I figured you may have accidentally done it in NTFS, in which case the cards won't work in the trail cams. Cheap cards are easier to corrupt but it seems you have quality ones there.
Back to formatting, I have no idea why you would feel the need to format the cards each time. I have had trail cams for ages and have never had an sd card fail. When I get a new memory card I format it in fat32 on my pc and then unless I have an issue I never do it again. I also don't delete the directory that the trailcam creates unless I'm switching brands, when in that folder and the card is getting fuller I just select all in the edit function and then shift+delete to permanently delete them and bypass the recycle bin. My reasoning is that flash memory is limited to how many read/write operations it can do, once it hits that max it won't work anymore, so I try to limit that as best as I can. So far it has worked well for me.
Finally, as it seems that the cards, or at least one for sure are functioning now I would lean to a formatting issue. Have you tested all three?

Cheers

Setting up again for the ML hunt at the camp property. A few days ago I went out to drop some corn down and there were 100 pictures between the 2 cameras. Yesterday I went out to drop more corn, 2 really big sets of tracks walking right past the camera and myself right in front of it and empty SD cards.

I have no idea what happened but you are not alone.

I wonder if the cold is affecting the cards, it shouldn't but then again they are making them quite cheap.

I will try some tests this weekend.

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Originally Posted by Bushmoose

All the cards were in the "unlock" position. I was under the impression that the "locK" position is used if you want to prevent erasing the data? Ive been using these cards this way since I first began my quest into the digital era? Oh, and the cards range in GB from 4gb to 16 gb
Attachment 41150

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Two of those are the slow Class 4 and two are Class 10(middle two), suitable for cameras. I asked about the formatting before, I think you are better off just moving the files off the card instead of formatting. I have 3 browning cameras, all year round near the cottage, all have class 10 cards and I have never formatted them and so far have not had a card go bad, I just move all the files to the laptop (where I sort them) and put the card back in. Get some Sandisk in Class 10, sizes you have should be OK.

https://www.staples.ca/collections/m...d-readers-8733

this one shows the Class 10 and is one I would get if I was buying another card but I don't buy the cheapest ones.
https://www.staples.ca/products/2448...d-32-gb-117827

mosquito-how to tell Class of an SD card-may sound strange-but have no clue-appreciate your help.

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Originally Posted by gbk

mosquito-how to tell Class of an SD card-may sound strange-but have no clue-appreciate your help.

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It says right on the card, two have a 4 on it and two have a 10

Aliens

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Originally Posted by smitty55

It says right on the card, two have a 4 on it and two have a 10

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Thanx Smitty .....figures,just needed to look harder.Appreciate it.

There is a capital C usually on the card and a number inside.

https://image.slidesharecdn.com/stor...?cb=1487514356

Thanx mosquito,never knew........never mind that i had no clue ,the higher the number,the better the card it is .....

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Originally Posted by smitty55

Definitely strange that all the cards have the same issue. My first thought was the card reader itself but I guess you've eliminated that. Next thought would be the cards were locked because then they won't write but you seem sure they weren't locked. Lastly, seeing as you format the cards each time I figured you may have accidentally done it in NTFS, in which case the cards won't work in the trail cams. Cheap cards are easier to corrupt but it seems you have quality ones there.
Back to formatting, I have no idea why you would feel the need to format the cards each time. I have had trail cams for ages and have never had an sd card fail. When I get a new memory card I format it in fat32 on my pc and then unless I have an issue I never do it again. I also don't delete the directory that the trailcam creates unless I'm switching brands, when in that folder and the card is getting fuller I just select all in the edit function and then shift+delete to permanently delete them and bypass the recycle bin. My reasoning is that flash memory is limited to how many read/write operations it can do, once it hits that max it won't work anymore, so I try to limit that as best as I can. So far it has worked well for me.
Finally, as it seems that the cards, or at least one for sure are functioning now I would lean to a formatting issue. Have you tested all three?

Cheers

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Many thanks to all who have kindly offered advice. I'm not sure what the issue was, it's never happened prior to this. All seems to be working oridinarily now, so I must have done something wrong? I wouldn't admit that to my wife though, since she refers to me as a "work in progress"

Anyway, thanks all!

Black Friday - Cabelas has Browning Cameras and some SD cards on sale