Deep Formatting your CFast Card

Delkin has released a helpful notice to its customers that could be useful to anyone shooting 4K video using a CFast card.

When beginning a shoot of any kind, photo or video, it's almost always a good idea to format your memory card, to ensure that you have as much space as possible on that card.

However, in some cases, it may be necessary to conduct a deep format, which is a much more involved process.

Deep formatting is may be required on 128 GB and 256 GB CFast Memory Cards, in order to support continuous 4K video recording on certain video cameras. Delkin specifically mentions the Canon 1DX MK II as requiring this, but also mentions that other 4K capable cameras may require a deep format.

If you have any questions about deep formatting, you can call pictureline any time between 9 AM and 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday at (801)364-1200.

Deep Formatting Instructions for MAC Operating Systems

1. Locate your CFast memory card as an external drive
   (you will need a CFast memory card reader or CFast memory card slot within your computer)
2. Click the "Erase" button to open the Erase window, then choose "ExFAT" as the format from the drop-down list of choices under "Format". Click "Security Options..." before proceeding.
3. Within the "Security Options" window, move the slider to the second notch from the left (as shown below), and click "OK" to proceed.

4. Your CFast memory card will be "deep formatted". This process will take significantly longer than a standard quick format process. Wait until this process is complete, then click "Done" and safely eject your memory card.

Deep Formatting Instructions for Windows Operating Systems

1. Locate your CFast memory card as a removable disk.

(note: you will need a CFast memory card reader or CFast memory card slot within your computer)

2. Right click on the desired removable disk, and left click "Format..."

3. Within the "Format Local Disk" window, uncheck the option for "Quick Format", and click "Start". You will see the following warning message:

4. Click "OK".

Your CFast memory card will be "deep formatted". This process will take significantly longer than a standard quick format process. Wait until this process is complete, then safely eject your memory card.