Canon 20D question on CF card

I have only had my 20D for a short time and have noticed after taking photos for a few hours there are several folders on the CF card. It's not a big deal except it takes a little longer to download with a card reader - as I have to change folders after downloading each rather than just grabbing the whole thing.

Is there anyway to get it to stop creating folders? The sequential file numbering is working fine.

Instead of deleting the files try formating the card that removes the previous folders a new one is created the first time you take a picture.

Thanks William - I had been doing that (formatting in the camera), but for some reason it seems to be adding folders.

I just tried some tests and could not duplicate my problem - so it could very well be user error. I guess I will keep doing what I do and see if it happens again.

Thanks again - I may be asking for more help. This is an awesome camera.
Sandy

What are the folder names it creates?

I deleted them and can't remember the exact name, but I think it was Canon104 or something like that.

I have been trying to duplicate it, but it won't mess up on me now (of course not -your car never makes that noise when the mechanic listens.)

I was just thinking it might create different folders for different quality settings or something... ;) When you get it to happen again, let us know.

That is a good point - I did change my quality settings - removing the RAW - just before this happened.

I think - you have solved it!!! Thanks!!!

Mine is a Rebel and it creates a folder for RAW and a different one for JPEG. If you shoot all the same format it should create only one.

My pleasure. :D

Doesnt it create a new folder for each time you turn the camera on? I think I read something about that a while ago. Also its probably something you can change in the menu somewhere.

Doesnt it create a new folder for each time you turn the camera on? I think I read something about that a while ago. Also its probably something you can change in the menu somewhere.


I was thinking that at first too, but could not duplicate. I am pretty sure it is the quality settings being changed, though I have not verified yet.

I could not find any menu setting or anything in the manual that mentioned it.

Canon cameras store up to 100 images per folder. The folders are named according which image numbers are in them. For instance right now I have a card with the folders 143CANON and 144CANON on it. 143CANON currently has IMG_4352.JPG-IMG_4400.JPG and 144CANON has IMG_4401.JPG-IMG_4423.JPG (wanna guess how many of those are actually worth sharing?). Both my Digital Rebel and my A70 create folders the same way and I don't see anything in the manual that let's you change that.

The trick might be in using a different program to transfer them all. I personally use Windows Explorer to transfer my pictures which requires me to go into each folder separately like you said you're doing. I know there are other utilies that will transfer everything on the card at once as opposed to making you go to each folder. Canon's ZoomBrowser EX (which was most likely included with your camera) will do that, but it was a pain to use for me. Picasa2 (http://www.picasa.com/) seems to handle it nicely.

I thought that Canon's system was by date? I know that the name of the folder is, for example, 123CANON and say 124CANon, but the contents are seoerated by date. Or at least I assumed that. And BTW, you have way too much free time on your hands if you are checking out folders on a CF card. Go format the card in your camera & get shootin! :D

And BTW, you have way too much free time on your hands if you are checking out folders on a CF card. Go format the card in your camera & get shootin!
You talkin' to me? There's not much to shoot at 2:30 in the morning yanno. ;)

You talkin' to me?


Listen DeNiro, I'm talkin' to anybody who's listenin'. :mrgreen:

Thanks for all your input on this. It's not a critical item by any means, just one of those little things that bug you and you try to figure out.

You all have given me some great ideas and I thought I had it figured out (or at least in the ballpark), but was experimenting this morning and no matter what I do - I cannot get it to create another folder on the CF card. Changed the quality up and down, turned the camera off and on - took out the card.

I'm thinking Cleo may have hit it on the head. "Way too much time on my hands if I'm worrying about folders on the CF card."

Thanks -

I think thier main problem was the images are in multiple foldiers, which is the problem, they have to go into each to copy them over. Not an issue of erasing/formatting it. :0)

If you use the windows file browser you can just go to the drive and do a search for *.jpg or *.raw or what ever the raw extension is. This way you get all the files in one window, then ctrl a to select it all and ctrl c or ctrl x to move it over. But that would be a bit annoying to do each time.

Crazy read his manual!!!!

I think thier main problem was the images are in multiple foldiers, which is the problem, they have to go into each to copy them over. Not an issue of erasing/formatting it. :0)

If you use the windows file browser you can just go to the drive and do a search for *.jpg or *.raw or what ever the raw extension is. This way you get all the files in one window, then ctrl a to select it all and ctrl c or ctrl x to move it over. But that would be a bit annoying to do each time.

If it's a Canon and you use the Canon's Zoom Browser then they all download into the same folder by date.

Crazy read his manual!!!!

Cally - please help. I have read my manual front to back (I even checked the index) and cannot find the answer - can you tell me what page it is on. I am a man - afterall - and cannot be expected to see the obvious. RTFM - I have heard that before and I do try.

Thanks,
Sandy

It's on page 61. I think if it's put on auto reset, that might do the trick.

Crazy read his manual!!!!
Shhhh... don't tell everyone. It's against the men's code to read the manual and I don't want to get punished. :)

You read hte manual? Do you also stop and ask for directions? Hehe, you should write to steve and mention that you can do another trick, manual reading. Perhaps that will impress french more.

It's on page 61. I think if it's put on auto reset, that might do the trick.

Thanks for checking on that for me. I really like the sequentail numbering. I hate having two original files with the same name.

I think I figured out why it was doing. I was switching out 1GB CF cards - and I think it got confused and created an extra Canon folder on the card. I was also using one of the cards in my Fuji. Heck I was/am confused too.

So it was creating a new Canon folder on the card that only had a few photos on it after it was moved to another camera and back. At least I think that is what happened.

Anyway - thanks all of you for your patience and help on this stupid, weird problem - that will probably never happen again. :-)

Sandy

Try to always format your cards before using them in a different camera, especially different brands.