Pentax EI100 can't format Compactflash card. When I try to do this, according to the directions that came with it, it beeps loudly four times and a window comes up on its display that says "MESSAGE, MEMORY ERROR, EXIT" It is a Sandisk 4GB Compactflash card, which my PC can read and write just fine.

Tim Babcock

• 2794 Answers
• Posted on Jun 14, 2008

SOURCE: 4gb Memory card error

In order to use 4gb memory your camera has to be approve for SDHC use.

If it isn't the most memory you can put into your camera is 2 gb

SOURCE: New SanDisk 4GB CF Card - Coolpix displays out of memory

This is because the Coolpix 2100 and 31000 models cannot handle a card of that large a capacity. As it's only a 2MP camera anyway it doesn't need it.

The Coolpix 2100/3100 will usually accept up to a 512MB CF card, and 1GB Lexar CF cards up to and including the 24x WA write accelerated (although write acceleration itself offers no benefits on this camera). With Sandisk only a plain old and now obsolete SDFB allows a 1GB card to be used and the regular Sandisk Ultra (not Ultra II or later) will only work up to 512MB.

The camera was discontinued long before these much larger CF cards were released and Nikon no longer actively support the product so no firmware updates will be available. The hardware wouldn't support such cards anyway.

Compatibility chart for CF cards address below:-

http://nikoneurope-en.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26030/c/241/r_id/127673

SOURCE: Pentax Optio MX4 won't read my new SDHC 4gb

Does the camera work with any other card? Was the card formatted in the camera? Some cards from some manufacturers just don't work in some cameras.

SOURCE: Pentax K200D Digital SLR - Error Message "f - - "

This can also happen when the lens have an aperture adjustment ring, and it is not set to the "Auto" setting ("A", on my Sigma)/

SOURCE: Memory card Sandisk 4GB gives error memory card

The S50 uses SD cards. Your 4GB card is actually an SDHC card, and will not work in the S50. You will have to confine your choices to cards 2GB and smaller.