Flamingo, yes, I'm going to do it. I think it's a good idea. The only problem I'll have though is to remember to redo it each time I delete the photos already on there. I usually delete all photos at one time because it is so much faster than doing them individually. I make actual photos of the pictures before deleting though.

Linda

I think that's a great idea Flamey! Of course I would have to remember not to delete the address as I always download the pics to my computer and then delete everything on the camera. But I think it could become a habit to leave the address if you do it often enough.
I bet your friend is just sick about her photos.

I do the same thing, ladies. I think I'll just make up a little card and keep it on the desk next to where I keep the camera. Then when I get done deleting all the photos and put the card back in the camera, I'll just quick snap a shot of the card.

I don't think it's occured to Katie yet that all her photos are gone, MaryAnn, she's so mad about losing the camera. I'm not going to bring it up, either, no sense adding to her mad! lol At some point I'll remind her about the CD's we had made, but that won't help for the last 2 years worth of photos, just the first 2.

Linda - you should be able to "protect" the picture with your address ect. on it. That way it can never be erased. I accidentally protected a picture of my MIL and BIL on mine. It will not go away no matter how many times I try to erase it. lol

I think it is a good idea and if you protect that one picture with your info on it.. the thief or finder that doesn't return it - would get a reminder everytime he used the camera card that it belonged to someone else.

I always have a cd made once I get about 100 - 150 pictures on a card. I have a friend who keeps buying new digital cards when hers gets full - that's an expensive way to do it!

Lydia, thanks for the reminder. I had forgot about the "protect" feature, as it is something I've never used.

Good idea Lydia. I never thought of that. I also have a couple of cards with something protected on it. You are right about the fact that once protected you are stuck with them for life. :)

Linda

Excellent idea(s)!!

Great idea Flamey! I do something similar for my prescription sunglasses case. I tend to take them off & ultimately leave the case on a counter or table at eateries. I give my name & phone number so I can make arrangements to pick them up or give a mailing addy, if they call me. TWICE I've retrieved them using this method.

I just took a digital camera class at our local adult school ($15 for 5 3-hour sessions----a great bargain!)

The instructor said to never store your pictures on the card in the camera. Download your pictures to the computer, and make a disc. Always use TWO methods to save your pictures. Then when you put the card back into the camera (do not hook your camera up to the computer, use a card reader, which cost all of $8), reformat the card in the camera (not when it's hooked up to the computer.) You want the formatting (wiping clean) to be done in the camera itself.

Cards don't last forever (5 yrs?), CDs don't last forever (5-10 yrs?). Your computer hard drive can crash. The technology changes all the time, and we can't predict what we will be using for data storage in 5 years, or even less.

So for really special pictures, make an archival (acid-free) quality print (you can do that at Costco kiosks, for example) and make a nice acid-free album of pictures. That should be good for 100 years!

Here's a link to photoworks, which is just one company selling the books.

Here is a link that might be useful: photoworks albums

I'll have to investigate the "protect" feature. But, otherwise, you can always put that picture back on your card, in Windows Explorer.

Moni

That's a great idea.

As a side note, I've had 3 camera cards go bad on me in the past and the only way to fix them was to format them, therefore, losing everything on the card.

Fortunately, I'm really good about not keeping pics on my card. I always put them on my computer then back up on a CD and USB drive so I haven't lost any pics - yet! Crossing my fingers.

So for those that store photos on those cards, be careful. Losing precious pictures would be devastating!

I am a huge photo nut, I take way to many pictures but I always down load them to my computer and then to CD. I have a main folder "2008 Photo's" and then each month is in that folder. As the month ends I make sure all the pictures from that month are on saved on CD. I have CD's going back 10+ years now. I never keep pictures on my memory card.
One day my dream is to take all my "print" photos and scan them to put on CD.
I know a girl with an iPod and her sons whole life is saved on it, he is five now. If she lost it she would loose it all but she never has put it all on CD. It would be so sad for her to loose those prescious pictures.

You can buy a device that etches your info on the outside of things. It works on both metal and plastic. Where I live the police department has one available for people to use for free to etch their items. If you buy your own you can even use it on big items like TVs in your home and it will help in the event of a robbery to identify your stuff if it is ever located.

You can even put one of those return address stickers on the item. It may not look pretty but it will expediate the return of the item if it is lost. Of course none of this will help if the camera is stolen.

OK, picture this- A cute little kid or puppy or kitten, holding a sign that says "this is my camera! (pertinent info follows), protected forever on the card! lol I have such clever friends. :)

I'm going to put a card in my little camera case, too, to make it easier for someone to return it to me should I lose it. I think I'll sew a clear vinyl pocket on it to hold it, like for a Driver's License.

My computer was hit by lightning. I took it to a repair place and they said they could not fix it. The insurance company gave me a new computer. I gave the old one to a friend's teenage son. He got the computer up and running and sent me a disk of my precious pictures! I save some to photobucket , but i was pleased he could get the other ones. So if your computer crashes - don't give up on getting photos out. Take it to someone who can.
Hubby got a new camera for Christmas and the first thing I did was take a photo of an address label. I just hope an honest person would find it.

When my point and shoot camera's turn on, the first thing you see is my name and phone number on the display screen. And there is no way I'll ever lose my DSLR camera so I'm not worried about that one. it doesn't come off my neck when I'm out of the house with it.

Formatting or Initializing a memory card will remove everything...including protected photos.

My son found a nice Olympus digital camera on a hiking trail once. No way to find the owners. There were pictures on it of family events and of their hiking trip. I felt so bad for them losing it, but there was absolutely no way of tracking down the owner. Flamingo, your idea is positively brilliant! The owners would have gotten their camera back, and we wouldn't have felt guilty using someone else's camera!

http://www.camerafound.com/forum.html

http://www.ifoundyourcamera.blogspot.com/

Here is a link that might be useful: Lots of ways to find a camera's owner, or your own.... if you really want to

I love that idea...my sister could use this idea! I never leave pictures in my camera...always burn them to a cd
before I delete them too. I can't stand the fact that they are still on the card without a backup. I had a card error once with so many pictures on there and had to format and lost everything that was on the card. Now I get them out as soon as possible! BUT your idea is great especially if you are on vacation, etc and can't dump them from the card to the computer for awahile.

good idea....also on small point and shoot cameras, use low capacity cards and change frequently. That way you know you shouldn't lose many

I down;oad mine right away on the computer and then delete all files on the camera then I'm careful to not just pull the card out but to hit the eject button on that drive someone said it is supposed to help or something

Another thing you could do: write your phone# on the memory card. I was just looking at mine, and realized that's what I do in case I lose the card itself. It's easier on the larger compact flash cards. Use a fine tip sharpie for the smaller cards. Include your area code.