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Photography Question 
Estella Aguilar

member since: 7/27/2006
 

Digital Camera: LCD Brightness and Format


My camera's LCD monitor brightens up to 5 levels. Does it change brightness when you print your photos? Or does that brightness only apply to the LCD? Also, when should "Format" on my camera be used? And what is "format"?

9/6/2006 11:04:30 AM

 
Christopher A. Vedros
BetterPhoto Member

member since: 3/14/2005
  Changing the LCD brightness on your camera does not affect the printed photos.
The format function on your camera will erase all of the images on your memory card so you can take more pictures. You should do this ONLY after you have copied your pictures to your computer.
Chris A. Vedros
www.cavphotos.com

9/6/2006 3:12:56 PM

 
Courtney  Lawyer

member since: 2/26/2005
  I'm not a techy so I don't know exactly everything that format does but it's important that you format your card often. I lost 300 pics on one of my cards becuase the card got messed up. I called sandisk to figure out the prob and they told me that format your card is like changing the oil in your car. The recommend doing it monthly. it's quick and I reccomend it. You don't want to go through the heartbreak of loosing photos like I did.

as far as LCD brightness, try to leave it as close to the real color/settings. Otherwise you may think your picture was bright enough and then put it on the computer or print it and realize that it was way to dark

9/12/2006 10:00:53 AM

 
Lorrie A. Prothero

member since: 10/24/2004
  A format is a type of language/filing system. To format a disk means to get a disk ready for a "new" filing system. Yes, it will clean your disk of current files, but it goes beyond. Think of it like this...I you were asked to go clean/make your bed, would you take your bed apart, re-assemble then change the sheets? Well, formating takes out all the current "furniture" and rebuilds it getting it ready for new "sheets".

9/12/2006 3:31:31 PM

 
Jarrah 

member since: 7/31/2006
  I have had problems from formatting my card each time I wanted to delete all the images once they'd been downloaded. The card up and fritzed without warning. I now use "Delete All" rather than constant reformatting. Of course it may just have been a faulty card but I was told that it may have been a possible reason.

9/12/2006 3:49:47 PM

 
Courtney  Lawyer

member since: 2/26/2005
  I don't usually format my card until I've emptied it. I empty the card and then format and then the formating only takes a couple seconds. try emptying your card first

9/12/2006 4:34:34 PM

 
Jay Kinghorn

member since: 7/12/2006
  Estella,

I find that most LCD displays are too bright for me to accurately judge exposure. Changing the brightness of the display does nothing to your photo, however, with may LCD monitors being too bright, if an image looks good on the back of the camera, it is often underexposed when I bring it into Photoshop.

As to your formatting question, Courtney has it right on. I recommend formatting cards monthly or, whenever you use cards on cameras by different manufacturers. It's good preventative maintenance.

Jay

9/13/2006 2:39:45 PM

 

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