topic Re: CF card will not format in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

CF card will not format

BrianB — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 07:55:04 GMT

I just bought a used d50 it came with no cf card so I bought a Lexar professional 32 GB udma and a San Disk Extreme 64 GB udma7 when I put the sandisk in and try to formate the camera says can not formate card change card. And when I put the Lexar card in, the camera wont even turn on. can you tell me if I got a bad camera or is it a problem with it not being able to read those bigger cards

Re: CF card will not format

Waddizzle — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 08:10:07 GMT

@BrianB wrote:
I just bought a used d50 it came with no cf card so I bought a Lexar professional 32 GB udma and a San Disk Extreme 64 GB udma7 when I put the sandisk in and try to formate the camera says can not formate card change card. And when I put the Lexar card in, the camera wont even turn on. can you tell me if I got a bad camera or is it a problem with it not being able to read those bigger cards

I am guessing you may mean the EOS 50D camera.

The most likely problem is that your CF cards have a capacity that is way too large for the camera. You need a FAT32 CF card. There are not all that many of those still available for sale as new. Look for cards with capacities in the 2-16GB range.

Re: CF card will not format

BrianB — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 08:14:18 GMT

Thats what I was hoping the problem was I will try lower capacity cards thank you will a filmware update help the problem

Re: CF card will not format

Waddizzle — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 08:18:47 GMT

@BrianB wrote:
Thats what I was hoping the problem was I will try lower capacity cards thank you will a filmware update help the problem

A firmware update will not upgrade the older hardware.

Re: CF card will not format

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 14:14:44 GMT

Go to the Canon support site for the 50D. Looks like firmware 1.0.9 will update camera to accept more recent UDMA 7 CF cards.

"Firmware Version 1.0.9 incorporates the following changes.
1. Optimizes the camera’s performance when using certain UDMA 7-compatible CF cards released in February 2012 or later.
2. Corrects wording in the Dutch language menu screen"

Re: CF card will not format

ebiggs1 — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 15:35:07 GMT

"A firmware update will not upgrade the older hardware."

Actually in this case, it will. I usually recommend you don't upgrade FW unless there is a benefit that you need. You need this one. However, I also recommend you stick with 16GB or lower.

Re: CF card will not format

BrianB — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:10:05 GMT

Ok thank you. I have ordered some 4 and 8 GB cards and also what do you think about using one of those SD to CF adapters. will they work or are they to slow

Re: CF card will not format

jrhoffman75 — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:26:48 GMT

Many reports of problems with the use of adapters. Don’t risk your photos.

Re: CF card will not format

ebiggs1 — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 16:36:35 GMT

"...what do you think about using one of those SD to CF adapters."

Don't do it.

Re: CF card will not format

Waddizzle — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 17:57:07 GMT

"A firmware update will not upgrade the older hardware."

Actually in this case, it will. I usually recommend you don't upgrade FW unless there is a benefit that you need. You need this one. However, I also recommend you stick with 16GB or lower.

——————————————

Actually, it didn’t upgrade the hardware. It upgraded the firmware. The camera still has all the parts that it always did.

This is sort like your saying how an AFMA does not make a lens sharper.

Re: CF card will not format

ebiggs1 — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 18:27:20 GMT

Irregardless it makes " UDMA 7-compatible CF cards released in February 2012" work better or at all. You may choose to play with words but the OP needs to update the FW.

"...AFMA does not make a lens sharper." It doesn't it simply moves the focus point in the camera.

Re: CF card will not format

BrianB — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 09:11:36 GMT

Ok so I just received an 8GB and a 4GB CF cards and still when I put one in the camera and turn on the power and try to format the card it still says can not format change card

Re: CF card will not format

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 11:34:04 GMT

You performed the firmware update? Or have the 1.0.9 firmware?

Re: CF card will not format

BrianB — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 12:39:04 GMT

No it just has firmware ver. 1.0.3

Re: CF card will not format

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 12:50:47 GMT

Look at message 5 above. You need to update firmware.

Re: CF card will not format

BrianB — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 12:55:59 GMT

Ok I will do that, thank you
Brian Baker

Re: CF card will not format

Waddizzle — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 12:56:24 GMT

“Look at message 5 above. You need to update firmware.”

May have to do that by wire.

Re: CF card will not format

jrhoffman75 — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 14:56:22 GMT

Yes. Will need to use EOS Utility.

Another option is to buy a small lowest price CF card from a place like Staples or Wal-Mart. Small, slow CF cards won't be UDMA7 and then you could load firmware update on the small card.

Re: CF card will not format

ebiggs1 — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:13:48 GMT

"...it still says can not format change card"

If you format the CF card with a Windows computer, not a Mac, does the camera see it? Or, does the camera see any CF card at all? It didn't have one when you bought it?

You may have a problem beyond the FW which you do need to update.

Re: CF card will not format

BrianB — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 15:30:16 GMT

It did not come with a cf card. I have not tried to format a card on a computer because I lost my computer, 5 nikons a hassalblad and all of my studio lighting and equipment when my house burnt down. So I thought I try a canon for the first time. and so far it looks like that was a bad choice. Now it appears I've got to buy a computer so I can update the filmware to try and get this camera to work.