When I want to erase all of the files on a card for a digital camera, is it better for the camera’s life to:
A: delete each file in a three-button-process, (OK, up, delete),
or
B: a four or five button process to format the card?
I’m wondering which would wear the card/camera out faster? I’m thinking choice A would take more battery power, while choice B would possibly abuse the memory card. But formatting is easy, and deleting individually is tedious. Since these are two different ways to delete data, which is more entropy-resistant?
Neither will likely matter to the life of the memory card. But camera buttons have a finite life and I’d be more concerned with wearing out the button contacts.
I delete the whole card on my camera without formatting. There’s a single button option for that, check you user manual to see if there is a single button (or simple process) to delete as opposed to format. Even so, formatting isn’t going to hurt anything.
I agree with Telemark, memory cards have a limited number of read/write cycles, but for a normal user you’re likely to lose the card before you reach the limit.
I remove my cards and use a reader to transfer the files. I normally format the card upon reinserting it into the camera. I like to start with a “fresh card” each time.
If I were you, I’d use the method that you find more convenient.