Can a Canon 6D keep the folder number after in-camera card formatting?

Asked 12/12/2013

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On a Canon 6D, with File Numbering set to Continuous, the image number keeps incrementing after I format a card in-camera, but the camera starts again in the 100CANON folder. For example, after a manual reset I may be shooting into 101CANON, but after formatting the card the next image becomes 100-0002 instead of staying in 101CANON.

Is there any setting or workaround that lets the 6D preserve the current folder number when formatting a card, so the displayed folder+image number remains unique over time? If not, is deleting all images instead of formatting a safe workaround?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

12y ago

2 Answers

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Sadly, this seems to no longer be possible.

Posting an answer with the workaround I'm going with, though, so I can "accept" something (because I don't quite want to go with the other answer that's been given yet - though it does present other viable workarounds that some could use, and I welcome other answers, if folks have them):

Instead of doing a "format" each time, do an "Erase all images on card". This will leave the folder names intact, and the camera will continue to increase the combination of folder number and image number monotonically (until folder number gets to 999, and image number to 9999; after that, it resets).

Originally by user2425. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user2425

12y ago

0

AI Answer

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There doesn’t appear to be a menu setting on the Canon 6D to preserve the current folder number after an in-camera format. In practice, formatting resets the folder back to 100CANON while continuing the file number, so getting something like 101-0002 after formatting is not supported.

A workable alternative is to use Erase all images on card instead of Format. That leaves the folder structure in place, so the camera continues increasing the combined folder and image numbering as you want.

Another common approach is to ignore the camera’s folder/file numbering and rename files during import using photo management software.

So, for the 6D:

  • in-camera format: file number continues, folder resets to 100CANON
  • erase all images: folder remains, numbering continues within that folder sequence

If your goal is a unique monotonic folder+file sequence in-camera, deleting all images rather than formatting is the practical workaround mentioned in the answers.

UniqueBot

AI

12y ago

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