Can camera bags erase memory sticks?

On Thu, 12 Oct 2006 19:05:33 -0400, ASAAR wrote:

No, John didn't buy it, but you did! WHOOSHHHhhh g

Maybe so, but there are people who buy crap like this all the time.
--
Bill Funk
replace "g" with "a"

"cjcampbell" wrote in message
ups.com...

Creative wrote:
My friendly camera dealer told me that I should really get a new camera
bag
as my present (oldish) Point Professional camera bag does not have the
anti-static properties of modern bags that are designed for use with
digital
cameras. He told me that putting the camera in, and pulling it out of the
bag, can create an electrical charge that has the potential to erase the
data from memory sticks etc.

OH STOP! Please. You're killing me!

No. A static charge cannot erase memory sticks. And new camera bags are
no more anti-static than old ones. Lowepro has not made this a selling
point, anyway.

Basically, your 'friendly' camera dealer just called you an idiot and
tried to take your money under false pretenses. You might want to smack
him with one of his own tripods.

But don't blame him. He probably didn't make it up. Pro Bags advertises
that they build an anti-static mesh into their bags in order to
'protect' digital cameras and equipment. Typical is this ad he

http://www.shoppersworld.co.uk/store...469&c=9&d=2785

I would avoid any bag advertising itself like this, and I would suggest
a boycott of any manufacturer making spurious claims like that.

Of course, digital equipment can be harmed by static and magnetic
fields. But it takes a lot of abuse to harm a memory stick. Physical
damage is much more likely. Just keep it away from things like tape
degaussers.


I guess camera dealers do occasionally come across memory sticks that have
been erased for one reason or another, after all they are dealing with
cameras every working day. Perhaps memory sticks and processors aren't as
impregnable as we think? I'm not sure that I see anything wrong with having
anti-static mesh if there are other types of mesh that could create static
electricity. But to make a sales feature of such mesh is a bit over the top,
but well spotted!

I remember reading a thread once where people who flew on commercial
aircraft were worried about their memory sticks being erased when their
cameras were in the luggage racks just below the ceiling of the aircraft.
Apparently there are huge lengths of wires going the length of the plane,
just above the ceiling, and possibly creating magnetic fields. People were
advised to keep their cameras on the floor of the aircraft to avoid this
possibility. So I suppose this claim is just about as silly as the camera
bags one, but some people obviously believe in it!!

People were also worried about their cameras being damaged by the screening
equipment of baggage when you go through check-ins at airports, some
suggested that hand baggage didn't get as big a zap as unaccompanied
luggage. Again, I haven't personally come across people whose cameras have
been damaged when travelling by air, but I suppose it's a remote
possibility?

"Lionel" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 20:07:10 +1300, "Creative"
opined:

My friendly camera dealer told me that I should really get a new camera
bag
as my present (oldish) Point Professional camera bag does not have the
anti-static properties of modern bags that are designed for use with
digital
cameras. He told me that putting the camera in, and pulling it out of the
bag, can create an electrical charge that has the potential to erase the
data from memory sticks etc.

This is complete bull. It's certainly possible to create a static
charge on a camera body, but that won't have any effect on the memory
card in the camera.

Now he might be just wanting to promote sales of new Lowepro camera bags,
but he said he had actually seen cases of erased memory sticks that had
probably been caused by the use of old camera bags.

Yeah? - And his proof that these memory sticks were erased by static
charges would be what, exactly?

Can anyone tell me please, whether it's possible for a camera's memory
stick
to be erased by camera bags that were manufactured prior to the digital
camera era? Although I think he is having me on, if it is possible, can
anything be done to minimize such a risk with an old bag?

If you're really feeling paranoid, you can store your memory cards in
the standard antistatic (silver/grey coloured) bags made for hard disk
& PC cards. You can use them "as is", or cut them down to fit the
pockets in your camera bag.
If you don't have any stat-bags of your own, your local computer
repair place will probably be happy to give you a few, if you ask
nicely.
You can also buy new ones, but the retail (non-trade) prices are kind
of excessive:
http://www.staticspecialists.com/esdbags.htm
--
W
. | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because
\|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est
---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------


I guess you would only be feeling paranoid if you had already experienced a
few memory cards being erased by unknown factors (which hasn't happened to
me, touch wood)! But I guess that a memory stick that is actually inside the
camera may be more protected than your spare memory sticks that are stored
loose in your camera bag?

On Sun, 8 Oct 2006 20:07:10 +1300, Creative wrote:


My friendly camera dealer told me that I should really get a new camera bag
as my present (oldish) Point Professional camera bag does not have the
anti-static properties of modern bags that are designed for use with digital
cameras. He told me that putting the camera in, and pulling it out of the
bag, can create an electrical charge that has the potential to erase the
data from memory sticks etc.

You need to get a new camera store. You're friendly camera dealer is more
interested grabbing every last dollar from you than anything else.

*All* memory cards have antistatic clamping diodes. You simply can't damage
one with ordinary static electricity.

On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 08:44:43 +1300, Creative wrote:


I guess camera dealers do occasionally come across memory sticks that have
been erased for one reason or another, after all they are dealing with
cameras every working day. Perhaps memory sticks and processors aren't as
impregnable as we think? I'm not sure that I see anything wrong with having

Invariably it's from pulling the stick while file operations are still
pending.

On Sat, 14 Oct 2006 08:50:50 +1300, "Creative"
opined:

I guess you would only be feeling paranoid if you had already experienced a
few memory cards being erased by unknown factors (which hasn't happened to
me, touch wood)!

Me either. One time I thought I had a faulty memory card, it turned
out to be a camera problem, & the 'faulty' memory cards worked fine
after I fixed the camera.

But I guess that a memory stick that is actually inside the
camera may be more protected than your spare memory sticks that are stored
loose in your camera bag?

Yes, but the loose memory cards/sticks are in very little danger
anyway.
--
W
. | ,. w , "Some people are alive only because
\|/ \|/ it is illegal to kill them." Perna condita delenda est
---^----^---------------------------------------------------------------