Why don’t cameras use journaled filesystems on SD cards, and how can I reduce the risk of losing photos?
Asked 1/5/2014
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2 answers
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Why don’t cameras use journaled filesystems such as NTFS, HFS+, or ext4 on memory cards? Journaling seems like it could reduce the risk of file corruption and data loss.
I lost a card with many photos from a trip, so I’m wondering whether journaling would actually help in that situation. Are SDXC cards using exFAT or Sony Memory Stick any more reliable than standard SD cards? Also, what precautions should I take before and during a trip to reduce the chance of losing images? Should I format cards in-camera?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
28
Let's do a little cost benefit analysis:
A journaled file system is more complicated - this means longer development time, more bugs, more battery power drain, higher production cost etc.
the problem solved by a journaled filesystem - corrupted FS data but file data intact - is handled pretty well by 3rd party data recovery tools.
journaled file system does not solve all problems, you really need good backups - and not only that systems with built-in backups exists (dual card slots) it's a feature that is used to make pros get more expensive cameras.
there isn't a big memory card reliability crisis, those cards are pretty reliable and failure is relatively rare.
and finally, there is no journaled file system that is supported out-of-the-box on both Windows and Mac.
So - if you were the product manager in charge would you approve a project that 1. solves an already solved (with 3rd party tools) problem in an incomplete way, 2. is not important enough to be a selling point and 3. will make a significant part of the market unable to use the camera (at least without installing additional software they won't need with the competing brands)?
Originally by user2481. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user2481
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Journaled filesystems mainly protect filesystem metadata, not the image data itself. If a card physically fails, develops bad cells, or is damaged, journaling usually won’t save the photos. So for camera makers, the extra complexity, power use, development cost, and compatibility issues often outweigh the benefit.
There’s also no universally ideal journaled format across camera, Windows, and Mac ecosystems. exFAT is widely used on larger cards for compatibility and capacity, not because it is inherently much safer. Memory Stick is not fundamentally a solution to card-failure risk either.
The best protection is redundancy and backup, not journaling:
- format cards in the camera you’ll use
- use reputable cards and replace aging/problem cards
- back up frequently while traveling to a laptop, portable drive, or other device
- if possible, use a camera with dual card slots and record to both cards simultaneously
In short: journaling is the wrong fix for most photo-loss scenarios. Reliable workflow and backups are what actually reduce risk.
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