Formatting A Memory Card; Data Structure - Leica SL2-S Instruction Manual

FORMATTING A MEMORY CARD

Memory cards that have already been in use with this camera will
usually not require formatting. An unformatted memory card that
is inserted into the camera for the first time must be formatted. We
recommend formatting memory cards from time to time, because
residual data traces (data pertaining to individual shots) may reduce
the card's storage capacity. The two memory cards will be formated
separately.
▸ Select in the main menu
Format Card Format Card
▸ Select or
Format SD Card 1 Format SD Card 1 Format SD Card 2 Format SD Card 2
▸ Confirm the selection
• The lower status LED will flash during that process.
184 VIDEO SETTINGS ▸ DATA MANAGEMENT
Notes
• Never switch off the camera while data transfer is in progress.
• All data stored on the memory card will be lost during formatting.
Formatting will not be prevented by the deletion protection set for
individual shots.
• All images should therefore be regularly transferred to a safe
mass storage medium, e.g. the hard disk of a computer.
• A simple formatting process will initially not irretrievably destroy
existing data on the card. Only the directory will be deleted, which
means the data will no longer be directly accessible. Data access
can be restored with appropriate software. Only data that is over-
written when new data is saved will actually be irretrievable.
• A memory card should be formatted again in the camera if it was
formatted in another device, e.g. a computer.
• Contact your retailer or Leica Customer Care if the memory card
cannot be formatted/overwritten (see p. 286).

DATA STRUCTURE

FOLDER STRUCTURE
The files (= recordings) on the memory cards are saved in automat-
ically generated folders. The first three characters signify the folder
number (numerals), the last five the folder name (letters). The first
folder is assigned the name "100LEICA", the second "101LEICA". A
folder will always be created with the next available number; you can
have max. 999 folders.
FILE STRUCTURE
The file names in these folders consist of eleven characters. In the
factory settings, the first file is named "L1000001.XXX", the second
"L1000002.XXX", etc. The first letter can be selected, the "L" from
the factory settings denotes the camera brand. The first three char-
acters signify the folder number (numerals). The next four digits de-
note the sequential file number. Once file number 1000 is reached,
then a new folder will be automatically created, in which the file
numbering begins at 0001 again. The last three places after the dot
denote the file format (MOV or MP4).
Notes
• When using memory cards that were not formatted with this
camera, the file numbering will begin with 0001 again. Should the
memory card already contain a file with a higher number, then
numbering will be continued from that number.
• A relevant message will be displayed on the LCD panel once
folder number 999 and file number 1000 are reached, and all
numbering must be reset.
• Format the memory card and reset the frame number right after
to reset the folder number to 100.
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