If I put my SD card into a new camera, will it erase all previous pics I have captured?

First of all, although I see this all the time, no one should be using memory cards for permanent data storage. If there are images that you wish to keep you should back them up at least to a computer hard drive. This way, if anything happens to the images on the SD card you still have backup.

Now to address your problem. Most newer cameras create a specific folder on the SD card for pictures for that camera. I am guessing that the brand of your old camera and the brand of your new camera is not the same. If that is the case the pictures you took on the old camera are in the folder for that camera and the pictures you took with the new camera are in the folder for the new camera. It is very possible that the cameras will only recognize the folder for that specific camera and that the only way to actually view the pictures would be to put them in the camera that took the pictures or from a card reader attached to your computer.

Most cameras will not erase the pictures on a used memory card inserted into a new camera, but a few need to use their own format and will either reformat the existing card and therefor erase the pictures already on the card. If you are trying to access the old pictures on the new camera that may not work as the camera is designed not to recognize the titles of pictures unless generated by that camera.

The best way is to download pictures to a computer as soon as possible as a computer is more reliable storage than a camera. This would be the way to answer your own question.

I hope this has been useful to you.

Put the card into your computer reader and take a look. Some cameras will format the cards but I haven't seen one yet that will do it without mentioning that the card contents will be erased.

It may just be that the old pictures are not in a format that your new camera understands so it's just ignoring them.

Anyway, get them off the card and into the computer!

Good luck.

no it shouldn't but are you sure those vacation pics were saved to the card ? or just to the camera ? and sometimes when putting it into a new device, the new device might ask you to format the card. don't do that. it will erase everything on the card.

No...but you're asking for trouble.

It will work for a while but you risk losing ALL your pictures when the card locks up.

Put all the pictures on to your computer while you still can, and format the card in your camera before continuing to use it. Only format an empty card or one where you don't want the pictures because it will delete everything on it.

Only keep the pictures on your card until you can put them on to your computer.

Format the card regularly.

I'd hate for you to be back here in a few days or weeks time saying "Help!!!! I can't see my pictures!!!! What do I do...I NEED those pictures!!!!"

Well, it shouldn't but you will not be able to view the pics from the first camera on the second camera, possibly different folder setup or format problems, you should still be able to download the card to the pc with a usb card reader. After you download the pics to your pc, you should then format the card in your new camera.

It depends on the type of computer you have, but most likely the answer is no. You can get a card reader to pull the images off of the SD card though - another idea to save you the expense would be to take the pictures to a Walgreens or other photo place where they can read the card and have them burn the images onto a CD or DVD for you.

It shouldn't have. Just put it into your computer and scan through the folders in the SD card.

If it didn't say "Disc needs to be formatted" and you formatted it, it -should- be okay.

If you don't have a memory card reader (for your computer), you can pick one up at Wal-Mart for like 7 bucks.

I Put My Camera On

as long as it didnt format the card, you should be ok.

i carry an external drive, for stuff like that.. copy all the shots to the drive and it saves you having to buy sd cards all the time.