SD card has become very slow and one camera reports write errors — can it be fixed?
Asked 11/4/2019
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2 answers
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I have a 64GB SanDisk UHS-I/U3 SD card that is about 3 years old. It used to work normally, but now my Panasonic LX100/LX10 reports a write error when I try to use it, while the card still works in my Pentax K-70. On a Windows speed test, the card only writes at about 2 MB/s, far below its expected performance. Is there anything I can do to recover or fix the card, or is it time to replace it?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
49
Yes, there's something you can do. Stop using the card and replace it. Even reputable, high-quality cards have failures. And every such device has a limited lifespan. Don't risk it. You may do something which will cover up the problem, only for it to reoccur and cause you to lose images.
SanDisk offers a long warranty in most countries — depending on the card and country, seven to thirty years if not lifetime. So, since yours is only three years old, you should be able to send it in for replacement.
Originally by user1943. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1943
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The practical answer is no: if an SD card has become extremely slow and one camera now reports write errors, you should stop using it and replace it.
Flash media can fail gradually, and inconsistent behavior between cameras is a common sign. Even if formatting or other steps seem to help temporarily, the card may fail again and risk losing photos.
Best practice:
- Copy off any files you still need immediately.
- Retire the card from photo use.
- Replace it with a new card from a reputable brand/source.
- If the card is still under warranty, contact SanDisk for a replacement.
Because memory cards are relatively inexpensive compared with the value of your images, trying to keep using a failing card usually isn’t worth the risk. If you want to test after backing up, you can do a full reformat in-camera, but that should be for confirmation only—not to trust it again for important shooting.
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