Skip to main content
Ken.Clunis
Ken.Clunis
Known Participant
November 22, 2013
Answered

Can SD cards be used for permanent photo storage?

  • November 22, 2013
  • 4 replies
  • 31823 views

I have been using an external hard drive to store my photos but am leary of possible impending failure and so would like to convert over to a SSD. Question: anything wrong with using SD memory cards. 128 GB are awfully cheap these days.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer areohbee

Hi Ken,

Personally, I see nothing wrong with using cards for permanent photo storage, as long as they're well labeled .

Same technology at the core as an SSD hard drive.

It's unconventional, but I'm assuming you are too or you wouldn't be asking the question.

My advice? - knock yourself out (so to speak)...

No need for smart previews on the road if you can carry your originals in your shirt pocket .

My only reservation would be about filling them up - I have 3TB hard drives, which have plenty of room for all photos, a 128GB card would not.

Here's one idea (if you do run the risk of overfill):

* Keep whole photo collection (original source files) on a single rotating (and big) hard drive.

* Keep catalog, presets, ..., and smart previews on SD card (regular previews too if they'll fit, otherwise relocate them).

Then when you travel, you just pop out the card and take it with you, plug it back in when you return - no need for copying files anywhere, or catalog export/import. Of course you could do the same thing with an esata thumb drive...

If I ever get back to traveling, I may consider this arrangement myself - thanks for bringing it up.

PS - you have backups, so if your card only lasts 2 years, instead of 10, you can always toss it in the garbage and populate a new card from backup. I mean, same drill as if photos on spinning drive...

Rob

4 replies

A
anthonyf80425428
Participant
September 18, 2020

This is a great Idea.... I have a 256GB card for backup since its the one in my camera... may as well use my main card, slot 1 card, as lightroom backup

Ken.Clunis
Ken.ClunisAuthor
Known Participant
November 22, 2013

I guess I need to add some furthur details. To wit: I do have cloud storage and a local firewire HD for complete back up but would like to use a portable storage of some sort for working on my photos whether it be at home or in the field. Having dropped a "Shock Proof" Ex HD (which had to be replaced) I am in the market for a portable storage of some sort and thought that a SSD might do the job but they seem to be a bit pricey (~$250 for 128 GB) so I was wondering if a SD card might work out. I only need to have my latest shoots and projects each of which seldom exceed 128 GB. A recent ad for several brands of 128 GB SD class 10, 45 mb/s, lists them for $99.

And BTW, I checed out the useful life of SD cards and found this:

What is the service life of an SD memory card?
This depends on how your product in manufactured. SD standards-based memory cards, like most semiconductor cards, store information in flash memory. The current technology along with normal usage typically gives the card a lifespan of 10 years or more, allowing consumers to upgrade their devices for many years and reduce consumer electronic waste.

Thanks for all of the replies. In the future I will try to fill in more preliminary background.

Ken

areohbee
areohbeeCorrect answer
Legend
November 23, 2013

Hi Ken,

Personally, I see nothing wrong with using cards for permanent photo storage, as long as they're well labeled .

Same technology at the core as an SSD hard drive.

It's unconventional, but I'm assuming you are too or you wouldn't be asking the question.

My advice? - knock yourself out (so to speak)...

No need for smart previews on the road if you can carry your originals in your shirt pocket .

My only reservation would be about filling them up - I have 3TB hard drives, which have plenty of room for all photos, a 128GB card would not.

Here's one idea (if you do run the risk of overfill):

* Keep whole photo collection (original source files) on a single rotating (and big) hard drive.

* Keep catalog, presets, ..., and smart previews on SD card (regular previews too if they'll fit, otherwise relocate them).

Then when you travel, you just pop out the card and take it with you, plug it back in when you return - no need for copying files anywhere, or catalog export/import. Of course you could do the same thing with an esata thumb drive...

If I ever get back to traveling, I may consider this arrangement myself - thanks for bringing it up.

PS - you have backups, so if your card only lasts 2 years, instead of 10, you can always toss it in the garbage and populate a new card from backup. I mean, same drill as if photos on spinning drive...

Rob

D
dj_paige
Legend
November 27, 2013

Another reason why I still feel SD cards are a bad choice for long-term storage

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57613890-76/sd-card-too-bad-this-format-won-the-flash-card-wars/

A
austinman12345
Participant
November 22, 2013

To add to dj_paige's comments; Solid State Drives (SSD) are far from perfect and can fail. Depending on the value of your photos you could invest in RAID storage. RAID uses multiple physical drives to duplicate the files. If one drive fails you have another copy. There is also the added benefit that they are typically faster. A lot of NAS drives can support this type of configuration. You should also consider off site storage, in case work/home should be destroyed.

    D
    dj_paige
    Legend
    November 22, 2013

    There is no such thing as "permanent photo storage"; not digitally and not analog. All devices fail eventually. If you mean "long-term" storage then ...

    My opinion is just the opposite ... I would be much more leary of SD cards failing than external HDs failing in a given time period. So, I would answer you question: NO, do not use SD cards for long term storage

    By the way, why are you "leary of possible impending failure"? You could just buy another EHD, those are relatively cheap too, you can get a 1TB external HD for a lot less than a eight 128 GB SD cards.

    And don't you have backups of all your photos and the Lightroom catalog file, making this issue of impending failure much less serious?

      Ken.Clunis
      Ken.ClunisAuthor
      Known Participant
      November 22, 2013

      Which would have the better chance of breaking from a 6 foot fall onto a concrete walkway; a hard drive or a SD card?

      A
      austinman12345
      Participant
      November 22, 2013

      You have a valid point, Ken. The SD card would have better chance of functioning after a 6ft fall, but from the context of the question I think the assumption was that the OP is looking for a robust back up solution located at home/work. I wouldn't expect a typical user to be moving a hard drive over hard surfaces on a regular basis.

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices