Photo Tip – The Do’s and Don’ts of Micro SD Cards – We love microSD cards! They’re lightweight, portable, and offer lots of storage space. But there’s a difference between what they can do and what they should do.
Read more for some tips to help your Micro SD cards last longer and keep your files safe.
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Photo Tip – The Do’s and Don’ts of Micro SD Cards
Use for Capturing, Not Computing
MicroSD cards shine in devices like cameras, drones, and handheld devices, but they’re not meant for heavy, continuous data use.
Using a microSD card to store or run large programs, games, or operating systems can cause excessive heat and wear, leading to early failure.
Keep your microSD cards for capturing photos – and use a drive for computing purposes.
Avoid Long Term Archiving
They’re great for capturing and transferring files, but not for keeping them safe for years on end. For reliable (more permanent) archiving, always transfer your files to a hard drive, SSD, or use cloud storage instead.
Keep A Back Up
These cards are best when used as temporary storage – not your only copy.
Transfer your photos to a computer or cloud storage after every shoot.
As reliable as they seem, microSD cards can slowly lose data if left unused for long periods.
Maintain Your Cards
For the best performance, format your microSD card in-camera instead of simply deleting old files you don’t need anymore. It refreshes the file system, reduces corruption risk, and keeps your card running smoothly.
Note: Remember that formatting your card will remove all files on the card – so double check that they are already backed up first!
Retire them When Necessary
If a microSD starts acting strange in any way – slower writes, missing files, or sudden read errors – don’t risk it.
Retire it before your next big shoot. They’re affordable enough to replace, but your photos aren’t.
Rotate or replace them periodically – especially if you shoot often or record video.
Be Gentle with Your Cards
Avoid heat, pressure, or bending – remember these tiny cards are tougher than they look, but not indestructible.
MicroSD cards are vulnerable to heat. Give them breaks between sessions and avoid leaving them in direct sun or your car. Extreme temps can shorten their lifespan.