What file system are memory cards formatted with?

Question

Is there an industry standard file system cards are formatted with (when you first get them, and/or after a camera formats them)? Fat32, FAT16?

Asked by Freddy

Answer

They're formatted with FAT16 or FAT32 (FAT32 is required for card sizes >2GB), and have a fairly specific (though simple) directory structure something like this:

ROOT --- DCIM -+- ###ABCDE
               |
               +- ###ABCDE
               |
               ...

### is from 100-999, and need not be consecutive. ABCDE is free text.

This structure won't be recreated if you format on a computer, but an in-camera format will usually construct it (or it will be built as required on a blank card).

There are similar standards for file names, and it's all specced out in detail by the Design Rule for Camera File System, which you can read in full here (PDF):
http://www.jeita.or.jp/cgi-bin/standard_e/pdfpage.cgi?jk_n=51

Answered by ex-ms

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