New 40D. New 4GB Sandisk Extreme III CF card.

Camera seemed to be working great but then this happens...

I turn off the camera, take the battery out, put the same or any other battery back in and turn the camera back on.

Main LCD on back displays

! Cannot create folder

The top LCD also blinks Full for a CF card warning. The card wasn't anywhere full.

Can't take a picture anymore. Camera won't respond.

File numbering is on Continuous. Anyone have a clue what is causing this?

Thus far, to correct this situation I have to turn the camera off, yank the CF card out, put it back in, and turn the camera back on. Hardly convenient if there's a battery switch.

Originally Posted by David_S85 New 40D. New 4GB Sandisk Extreme III CF card. Camera seemed to be working great but then this happens... I turn off the camera, take the battery out, put the same or any other battery back in and turn the camera back on. Main LCD on back displays The top LCD also blinks Full for a CF card warning. The card wasn't anywhere full. Can't take a picture anymore. Camera won't respond. File numbering is on Continuous. Anyone have a clue what is causing this? Thus far, to correct this situation I have to turn the camera off, yank the CF card out, put it back in, and turn the camera back on. Hardly convenient if there's a battery switch.

What happens if you use a different card?

Originally Posted by Richard What happens if you use a different card?

Stand by.....

OK, I had to copy some files off a card.

I keep an older Sandisk UltraII 512MB card around for emergencies and firmware updates. Placed that in there, shot a couple. Turned camera off, took battery out - replaced battery, turned camera back on, and..... Wouldn't you know it - worked just fine.

Canon 40D + Sandisk ExtremeIII cards = Bad mix.

Canon 40D firmware 1.0.8

Originally Posted by David_S85 Canon 40D firmware 1.0.8

Sorry David, maybe I haven't had enough coffee yet...does this mean that updating the firmware to 1.0.8 fixed the problem with the Extreme III card?

Originally Posted by Richard Sorry David, maybe I haven't had enough coffee yet...does this mean that updating the firmware to 1.0.8 fixed the problem with the Extreme III card?

Unfortunately no. 1.0.8 is the newest and came with the cam. Perhaps it is producing the error.

Originally Posted by David_S85 Unfortunately no. 1.0.8 is the newest and came with the cam. Perhaps it is producing the error.

Hmm...have you tried reformatting the card in the camera?

Originally Posted by Richard Hmm...have you tried reformatting the card in the camera?

Yes I have. Just ain't working.

Here are the Rob Galbraith tests for memory in a Canon 40D using firmware 1.0.8:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/cam...?cid=6007-9257

He also posts the following note for the Extreme III:

"In early 2008, SanDisk revamped its Extreme III CompactFlash line. The cards marked "Extreme III (2008)" in the table feature a redesigned controller and faster flash memory than previous Extreme III. The new Extreme IIIs can be identified from older Extreme IIIs by the "30MB/s" labeling on the card and packaging of the new version."

I suggect contacting both Canon and Sandisk for clarification and possible compatibility issues.

I could not find any Internet-wide examples of incompatibilty with the 40D and the Sandisk 4G Extreme III of any date so I suspect this individual card.

Thanks, Ziggy. Then what I have is the newer card. Hmmmm.


I have an identical thread over at FM on this, and there's several suggesting I just format the card in my computer. OK. How does that help me in the field? So I think I call B&H this morning and ask them what's up.