10
\$\begingroup\$

Canon seems to be a bit shady about what their low-level format function actually does. I know what low-level formatting means when applying it to old HDDs that had a separate disk controller, but I don't think that has anything to do with the function found on modern DSLRs

What is the difference between low-level formatting and regular formatting of memory cards?

Improve this question
\$\endgroup\$
5
  • 2
    \$\begingroup\$ Which specific model? All of my Canon user manuals indicate only the file management information is changed when the card is formatted in-camera. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Feb 3, 2014 at 16:18
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MichaelClark It applies to all of my recent cameras like the 70D, EOS M and the 6D. They all have this feature. \$\endgroup\$
    – Hugo
    Feb 3, 2014 at 16:26
  • \$\begingroup\$ If the 5DIII is the same, then the Low level format option only applies to an SD card. Of course the 6D and 70D don't have a CF card slot, do they? \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Feb 3, 2014 at 16:39
  • \$\begingroup\$ @MichaelClark No they don't and neither does the EOS M. \$\endgroup\$
    – Hugo
    Feb 3, 2014 at 16:41
  • 1
    \$\begingroup\$ @hugo - You can't do a low-level format on flash memory. You can send it all the instructions to do one but the 'disk' that the camera sees is not a true representation of where things (including writes) are because of wear levelling. \$\endgroup\$
    – James Snell
    Feb 4, 2014 at 20:55

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5
\$\begingroup\$

Based on the user manuals, it appears the in camera low-level format does indeed overwrite the entire card. I think your confusion is from the two separate notes in the user manuals for newer Canon cameras that use SD cards. The other note about only the file management information being changed applies to a normal (non-low level) format. That notice has been in every Canon DSLR manual I've looked at for several years including those cameras that only have slots for CF cards.

6D Instruction Manual (p.54)
70D Instruction Manual (p.57)
Rebel T5i Instruction Manual (p.49)

Other Canon bodies that use SD cards have the same information in their respective Instruction Manuals.

Based on this specification, SD cards support the ability to overwrite the entire card quickly. CF cards are not capable of this.

Note: the above specification link no longer allows direct access. To read it, you should go to this page, click on the blue "Simplified Spec Archive" box below the chart, click on the "Download" button for version 4.10 at the top of the chart, and accept the disclaimer to view the PDF.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
9
  • \$\begingroup\$ Ok, but what do you mean by overwriting the entire card? It can't modify each single bit since a low-level format only takes a few seconds on my 64 GB SD cards. \$\endgroup\$
    – Hugo
    Feb 3, 2014 at 16:45
  • \$\begingroup\$ The only way to "erase" flash memory is to write over it. Maybe the cards controllers have the capability to write all zeroes or all ones to the entire card in a short time. Since the data going to each address is identical, perhaps it can be done in parallel rather than sequentially. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Feb 3, 2014 at 16:52
  • \$\begingroup\$ Perhaps the controller can do that. I will wait accepting an answer to the question until the difference between the two formatting methods is clear. \$\endgroup\$
    – Hugo
    Feb 3, 2014 at 16:56
  • \$\begingroup\$ According to this Canon KB article, low-level formatting will "erase all recordable sectors in the SD card". This option only seems to appear for SD cards, not CF cards. Not sure why that would be the case (perhaps SD has a controller interface to perform a fast low-level erase). \$\endgroup\$
    – drfrogsplat
    Feb 4, 2014 at 2:25
  • \$\begingroup\$ @drfrogsplat That article is taken verbatim from the 5DIII user manual. \$\endgroup\$
    – Michael C
    Feb 4, 2014 at 3:01
8
\$\begingroup\$

I did experiment with my EOS 70D and 32GB SD Card. The normal format just rewrites the system part of the FAT32 partition, leaving data intact. The low level format really sets the whole partition data to zero, interestingly enough in approximately the same time.

Improve this answer
\$\endgroup\$
2

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.