BusinessWeek offers tips on digicam image recovery

We're so worried about accidentally deleting pics from our digital camera's memory cards that we've dragged our laptop along on casual outings to do quick backups between shots, and have even contemplated buying one of those way overpriced Epson backup units. Turns out we're getting all hot and bothered over nothing. BusinessWeek looked at some of the top image-recovery tools, including software from Lexar and SanDisk, and found that they deliver the goods. The programs were able to find deleted pics, and were even able to recover images from cards that were reformatted. (Which all makes sense, given that data-recovery programs have been able to retrieve lost files from PCs for years.) BW also declares that your memory cards should be OK even if you accidentally run them through the wash; just let them dry for a few days before trying to retrieve the data. That's a relief. Now about that SD card we tossed in the trash compactor…

[Via PhotographyBlog]

[Brad @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

"Which all makes sense, given that data-recovery programs have been able to retrieve lost files from PCs for years."

For better or for worse, it's not exactly the same. Hard drives are magnetic media, and are thus a bit "fuzzy." That's why you can write over a sector on your HD and stilll recover data by looking for "ghosts" from a previous write.

With camera cards, you're working with Flash "ROM." Once you write over your data, it's gone. If you accidentally format your flash card, you can probably recover the data, but if you go ahead and fill it up with new pictures, the old ones are gone.

That makes recovery a bit difficult. On the other hand, it means you don't have to be as paranoid about selling a card on eBay and having the buyer recover those pictures you took when you and your cousin had too much Ouzo at your sister's wedding.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Data recovery hasn't ever been a problem for me. When I bought a bigger card for mp3's I just stuck the old one in my camera. I never have to delete anything until I get to my computer. By the way am I the only one who likes to try to make sure all my gadgets take the same card?

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

Thumbs way the hell up for Photorescue. I accidentally deleted a card and it got everything back in perfect condition. Bam!

http://www.datarescue.com/photorescue/

[fdisk @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

PC Inspector Smart Recovery is a great piece of freeware that does a wonderful job of recovering pictures and data from memory cards.

http://www.pcinspector.de/smart_media_recovery/uk/welcome.htm

[NBK @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

I have a question, what is the possible storage max on Memory Stick Duo that they could make, I read somewhere that Memory Stick Pro has a theoretical capicity for 32GB, how about a Duo?

[Dave @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

PhotoOne Recovery is the digital image recovery software I used. I lost my europe vacation photos, and PhotoOne found all lost images back.

http://www.photoone.net/

[A J Parkinson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:38AM]

I tried photo recovery software without any success, but I sent my compact flash card to FlashGuardian (http://www.flashguardian.com), and they recovered 150 photos for me. I'd recommend them because they were very friendly, and also much cheaper than other services, plus their website isn't full of advertising bull. What they quote is what they charge, and they charge *NOTHING* if they can't retrieve any photos. Unlike some other websites I looked at which have all sorts of hidden costs, and still charge fees for handling the card even though they claim to be free if unsuccessful. Oh, they're based in the UK btw (handy for me at least!) - http://www.flashguardian.co.uk is their UK site.