Sony A7 III A7R3 Malfunctioning SD Card Slot Problem (And Fix)

[@calebmarx6231]

you sir, not only fixed my camera problem, but my life too. I don't even know how to thank you. I'm in Europe for a photography festival and my camera had this problem the day before the festival and I had no idea what to do. I watched dozens of videos, googled solutions, called sony, went to a repair shop for a brief visit, and they had no idea. I saw this video and I'm like "no way this is the reason". Shook my camera vigorously for about 20 seconds, popped that lil' ol sd card in, and I was screaming. I cannot believe this was the reason. Almost lost $300+ for repair AND fantastic opportunities for taking pictures of Europe. Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!

[@AnaisandMarina]

This comment saved MY life

[@FootprintPhoto]

Just had exactly the same problem, my high speed card slot wouldnt keep the card in. my fix was to swear at it but after that didnt work i took both cards out, examined them for any missing shards of plastic, i didnt find any but i got a can of air and had a good blow around. I then took both cards out, closed the trap door and banged the camera into my hand to dislodge anything I couldnt see. I then open the door again, nothing fell out but when i put my card in again it worked fine. A combination of a good swear, a blow job and a good bang in my hand seems to have fixed my problem

[@yourownpics5690]

I'll give this a go, having the same issue :(

[@mud_rocker]

holy shit, I gave it a shake and a blow and it worked. you have saved my life, buddy!

[@JesusMartinezCreates]

Youre a fucken legebd bro! This comment made my day lol I guess I should start swearing right now lol

[@Amer_Productions]

This comment is so hilarious 😂

[@rishidev7649]

Thanks for this. I had a card stuck in the SD slot, saw your video, and new it was the answer as one of the SD cards were already staring to crack. Pulled the stuck card out with tweezers, patted the camera like a baby, and out fell a piece of plastic. All fixed.

[@debscannell]

I too just had this happen and was freaking out with my 3 month old sony a7 IV. Came across your video, tried it and it came right out. The Lexar cards are the worst, I have had several fail and break! Thank you Sir!

[@tresemes]

Thanks! I'll be receiving my A7RIII momentarily and now I know what to be aware of. I still think that Sony is at fault here, I've never heard about an SD card breaking inside a camera body so there's definitely something going on with the slot if it keeps circumcising user's cards.

[@claguill]

After quite a few hours looking for information on the internet about THAT problem ...I found your video, and the numerous comments. I've just had my SONY camera for 6 months when the memory card refused to lock in slot 1. Thank you so much, everyone for your comments and ideas ... a good shake and a blow job solved the problem ! I've never been so happy with a blow job ! LOL My camera is ready to go out now ...after 3 months of quarantine ! Enjoy your Sony !

Thank you so much! Mine was stuck under the bottom locking part, pretty hard to see. Used my phone camera and a lamp to see it and then a hypodermic needle to get it out. If anyone needs some picture references or a quick question, dm me.

@@christengoeloe9142 imgur.com/a/uTdYWWP

[@shahidurrahman1804]

I am having the same issue, after watching this video, can't wait to go home and try this. Hopefully this will work. Wish me good luck :( :'( Update: It WORKED!!! Thank you so much buddy. :,)

[@theaceventurer]

Thanks for this, these new SD cards are a real pain with those flimsy plastic legs that break off and get stuck in the camera! Was able to pry the card that was stuck and got the little piece out using a needle.

[@TheGizmoGarage]

Really a bummer, I think only Lexar uses this as other newer faster cards have ditched the design and went back to traditional connectors.

[@RogerOThornhill]

Solution is at 6:15

[@anild5342]

Thank you for sharing your issue. Today I had the same issue with Sony A7-3, card slot 2 After watching your video today I did the same, I turned the camera upside down, blew some air into the card slot, and wow I found a very tiny piece of the SD card plastic had fallen out of the slot. Magically the card mechanism started to work again perfectly! Thank God! Thank you once again for sharing your video! It really helped. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼😊😊😊😊😊

[@damedina7980]

I buy the a7iii in cheap price because of that same problem..thank you, I save a large amount money because i fixed it myself, its a win situation,luckily i didnt go to repair shop..thanks a lot ☺️☺️

[@TheGizmoGarage]

Love it! Enjoy!

[@itsluisandres]

Thank you for this video. I was freaking out because I had the same problem with my recently purchased Sony A7C. Shook the camera a lil bit and voila, a crumb of the sd card falls out. Now it works, thank you again!

[@esfandyarmazhari640]

Thank you for the video. I had the same problem with my Sony A7ii and got a can of "Cleaning Duster" from Office Depot and after 3-4 rounds of blow-shake-light bang, a broken piece of SD card came out. Everything works as usual now.

[@WaqasKhan]

This happened to me just now. Thanks. Card Slot is working now.

[@bradenpowell7203]

This actually just became my favorite video on KZbin. Thank you!

[@elisastamerra8892]

I cannot believe it! My Sony A73 was already into the box , this very moment, ready to be shipped for repair, when I watched this video and, I said, well, let's try this solution, anyway.... And it worked! 2 tiny pieces fell off and now the slot works again....Thank you so much sir !

[@TheGizmoGarage]

Great to hear!

[@Kidsonss]

May I ask if u were about to send off to a Sony service centre ? Did you get a quote for the repair? Did they have the replacement part in stocK ??

[@elisastamerra8892]

@@Kidsonss hi, the camera was brand new, the shop just told me to ship it, I didn't get any quote.

[@Kidsonss]

@@elisastamerra8892 Was the shop a Sony outlet? If not a Sony outlet would u mind telling me the name of the shop and where in the world you are located - thank you

[@alistaircurrie9794]

I had exactly the same problem. I was really annoyed but this video helped me fix it! I do find the SD card slots awkward on the A3

[@jetsewess]

The exact same thing just happened to me!! I did a bunch of trouble shooting and updates etc. I didn't think to look in my camera slot until I seen this video. And sure enough there was a broken piece of my SD card in the camera slot.... 🙃 I got it out and it's back to normal. Appreciate the video!!!!

[@Sarmor1985]

Thank you sir ! Exactly same problem here with one of my oldest SD cards. A very tiny piece was stuck in the very bottom corner of the slot. Removed it with a tiny screwdriver and it's good as new !

[@pawelgaul919]

another satisfied customer. thanks for helping, Li

[@GatsbyGu]

A quick advice is that try the oldest ritual blowing by your mouth to the slot. Often some tiny particle(s) will get out then.

[@NicolasAmelioOrtiz]

Thank you SO MUCH you saved me!!!

[@L_Hdev]

thanks thanks thanks, same here broken part of the SD card inside the slot

[@jennaloo]

Thank you for your video. I had the same issue. I could see a bit of black plastic from the SD card tab in the slot. After reading the comments, I puffed air into the slot, wiggled a toothpick around in it, and tapped the camera. I didn't see anything fall out, but the SD card reader is working again. The next time this happens I'm going to use the vacuum trick @Malte Hemhold's girlfriend tried.

[@weedbrownieproductions783]

What's the fix? I still don't see how you got that piece out.

[@Shootrx]

No need. Just use any tool to clean the slot, the problem would be fixed.

[@Afrosono]

@@Shootrx which tools

[@marciosilvadesign]

Happened to me too. I have an A77II and an A68.In the A68 suddenly I can't fit the card, doesn't lock. So after I saw your video I check all my SD cards and BAM... one regular SD card was totally wrecked. Not just a tiny piece like yours, but the entire top edge of the card! I can literally open the card and see the interior. Lucky its a small 16GB card. Will try to clear it up. Thanks!

[@aldermanswe392]

Ha! Thank you for sharing this!! I was on my way to handing my a7iii in for repair, had "just one more go at fixing it" and this video did the trick. I wish all problems could be solved by turning and shaking until something falls out :-D You´re a hero

[@calebvanvoorhis1140]

worked for me!!! such a simple fix and silly problem! I didn't see anything fall out but after about 30 seconds of shaking hard my card now stays in haha. I never wouldve tried that. i think theres a little piece in there but it works. thank you for this!

[@czarina0981]

Omg THANK YOU for this video!!! I shook my camera (bc i didnt have an air puffer & a piece of SD card fell off!! 🙏🏽 I was about to send it to the repair shop too!

[@jonathant1797]

I’m debating if which one to buy between the two camera that you have here. I mainly use it for in studio video. Which do you recommend?

[@TheGizmoGarage]

For video projects, definitely go with a7 iii

[@jonathant1797]

Li Fan thanks for the quick response!

[@markoedu3688]

Such a life saver! This happens on my Sony a7iii!

[@cosmosex3572]

Got enlightened. Had the same issue on my A7R3, and I had only put Lexar 2000X and Sony SF-M card in slot 1 before. I guess the Lexar one breaks since I use it the most.

[@cosmosex3572]

I watched this video and it happened on a Nikon body, so the problem really was the SD card: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJi3fGidlM-AoKs

[@cosmosex3572]

Update: couldn't find any damage on the Lexar and Sony SD cards, and nothing strange was stuck inside the card slot. It seemed what I encountered really was a camera issue.

[@nicktolentino8250]

I gave mine a hard shake with the slot facing down and it worked.

[@maltehelmhold132]

hahaha had the EXACT same thing today! Little edge of the sd card fell into it and thanks to your video I got the idea this could be the case. I did not even see the little guy in slot 2 because in my 7 iii there is a very strange big silver protection or something so I can't look so deep into slot 2. But guess what... after I had the Idea thanks to your video I noticed, that a tiny edge of my sd card was missing. haha and I was like: how to get it out, if you don't even see it. haha so first I shook the camera. Nothing happened. Than I was pissed until my girlfriend very naturally came the idea to get the vacuum cleaner (normally she is not so inventive about camera equipment😁) At first I thought holding the vacuum cleaner thight to the slot changed nothing (I didn't hear the familiar sound of cat cat litter getting sucked into the vc which I'm hearing twice every day). So I was sure it's still broken. But after trying again to get the SD card in again I was so happy... it was working again. Obviously the vacuum cleaner is supposed to get jobs done like this... so again: you video is worth my camera! (half my camera as I have 2 slots too). But you know how it is... you're always sad something is broken even if it's still working :) have a nice day! Malte

[@claudiorincon8620]

Thanks, worked for me

[@paulmandeno7900]

Had same problem, thanks your a legend. I think the Lexor SD cards have a problem ? seems to be a common theme?

[@VaheFilm]

Thank you for your video. I had the same issue.

[@TheGizmoGarage]

Glad it helped

[@yourownpics5690]

So I'm having the same problem in slot one but can't see any plastic inside or any damage to the memory cards I was using when this started to happen. It sometimes stays in if I push it in on one side (right side). Any suggestions.?

[@project42ndstudio]

thank you boy!!! exactly the same problem. you gave me very good inspiration!! the same bullshit inside. problem solved!! thank you!! people say its because of cheap cards. they can easily get broken.

[@96whitels]

Amazing, this worked for me!

[@ItsAidas]

same story for me, BUT, I bought this camera second hand, but it was only near 2k of shots done with the camera, almost brand new and after like 5 months of using it i picked up my sd card from my a6300 and wanted to get back in to the camera and i cant, it goes almost half, almost new camera and this happend, like how ? I was trying to see something in the card slot but there's nothing, no sd card piece or something else, what can be wrong?

[@macthegroomer2437]

Bro how did you fix the problem.

[@gmarroquin7]

Hi, I have the same problem on my A7III, I also need my camera for work.. I dont have anything in the slot, and weirdly one of my memory cards will hang in there but at leas 4 diff ones dont... I dont know what to do.. might take it into repair now..

[@yourownpics5690]

Having the same issue a few of my cards wont go inside but one will hold in place sometimes. Did you get it fixed? And what was the problem?

[@rockmusicvideoreviewer896]

So what is that scrap metal from? Did you get that out too?

[@TheGizmoGarage]

It's a piece of plastic that got broken off from a SD card.

[@rockmusicvideoreviewer896]

@@TheGizmoGarage Oh, so the piece you showed us that you thought was metal was actually plastic. Thanks for replying back! Wishing all goes well from now on!

[@centurysfinest]

just saved my life. Thank you G

[@SetrisTV]

This was in fact the problem, But Ironically I see a piece of my sd card chipped off, Yet I removed something entirely different from there. Not sure what it was or how it got in there.

[@JonRatzlaff]

Yep, same issue here. My a7riii lasted just past the warranty.

[@ivanmartorelli8550]

Hi Li Fan, I have the same problem during shutting after some photos, the camera tells me that it is writing on memo one. sometimes it inserts normally after a while it is expelled fortunately I cannot lose it thanks to the external closure.

[@theuned]

same problem. and I got the tiny plastic piece out but the card still does not work.

[@MaksAMD]

were you getting “images weren’t recorder and asking you to try to recover?

[@macthegroomer2437]

How did you get it iut

[@annas.697]

OMG!!! Thank you. Ready to leave for a trip, checking my SD cards and this happens! A small heart attack 😂 Thank you!!!!

[@steb0ne]

Well I think I have the same problem... But my question is how the hell did y'all get the piece out?!?

Same problem after 1 year buying the A7iii, a card broke and my Slot 1 wont stay the SD Card and i cant see anything inside the card slot. :(

[@KenDonaldsonLMHC]

How did you get the piece out?

[@TheGizmoGarage]

Shaked it out, Might have used a fine tweezer

[@Kiestaff85]

Same issue man, but A7Rii... Can't seem to find any debris in slot but my sd card has broken piece o it and same as previous, im now beggining to wonder is it actually the camera or possibly something inside my laptop that is causing this to happen? Or more so the SD Cards are not very good! Both SanDisk Ultra 80mb? i have now converted to using my micro SD Card in the adapter this morning and it works no issues!??

[@TheGizmoGarage]

If other card like the microsd adapter works then it's definitely your sd card broke to the point it won't trigger the locking mchanism in the camera, i would say get a new sd card.

[@Kiestaff85]

Li Fan nice one mate thank you I’ll get another anyhow and see how it goes, I’ll keep you updated! Thanks for the help 👍🏻

[@BorisZX6R]

The problem is most likely not the card but the sony design that is causing the cards to chip... Never heard of this issue until the sony a7iii... I'd maybe consider it if it was some low end sd card but certainly not lexar... Another guy blamed SanDisk cards... To me this is a design flaw somewhere in the card slot design.

[@tino_vernegen]

Thank you, fixed my problem

[@FabianoCoelho85]

Tks man!!!! Same problem, same Fix!

[@johnpiresphotography2146]

Thank you so much, that's fix mine also.

[@saadrabia]

What worked for me is to just put the SD card in and close the tray. It will work just fine.

[@TheGizmoGarage]

You don’t have to do this if all you need to do is clear the debris inside the slot, and avoid damaging the door mechanism too

[@laughingman4236]

I was having this exact issue, checked my Lexar SD card, and sure enough a piece of it had broken off. Tried getting it out with a paper clip and boom! Now I’ve fucked up all the card reader pins and I have to buy a new camera :)

[@sergioaguilar2908]

i have the same camera and the same problem, still cant see if something is there

[@Jitsover50]

I had the same problem in the same amount of time and had the same reaction. lol.

[@Caposenpai]

Dude this just happened to me 😭 I’m so pissed

[@mariosaliasi5563]

does sony warranty cover this?

[@figurefamous5305]

I had this problem, I solved it with a hickey in the slot, after I hit it, some card shrapnel fell, now working right

[@Craigory722]

What's a hickey?

[@slooowburnnn7702]

But how did you get the plastic piece out?

[@TheGizmoGarage]

I just flipped the card slot facing down and try to shake the object out of the camera. If not working I would try compressed air.

[@slooowburnnn7702]

@@TheGizmoGarage thank you!

[@MattGomezS]

You are the best!

[@johansakr7893]

hey man i have the same issue but nothing is inside the card slot i checked my cards no damage on them, so i think the slot is damaged, my question is do you think sony will fix this issue under the warranty (i had it for less than a year) ?? or do i have to pay tons of money for the repair

[@TheGizmoGarage]

If it's in warranty definitely!

[@digitalpursuit6763]

Less than a year the warranty should cover it... I have had my A7iii for 1 1/2 and I have the same issue. I will check and see if it's any plastic in my camera.. if not I think it's about 500 to send it off and get it fix with the company that Sony uses to fix the camera's

[@Acosta303]

Esto Jamas me paso con una cámara Canon. Y como es posible que esto le pase a tantas personas y en el mismo slot? para mi es un problema de fabrica. Ya me había pasado una vez y se soluciono después de varios intentos poniendo y sacando la tarjeta, ahora me a pasado de nuevo. La cámara tiene menos de un año de uso y con la pandemia no la e usado prácticamente nada. Estoy indignado con la marca.

[@reynaldohernandez1425]

That just happened to mine today.

[@ALWH1314]

My a7r iii has the same problem. I’m not a professional, only shoot once a week. So, I’m using slot 2 for now. Sucks

[@ThisGuyRocksLikeCrazy]

Mine doesn't get released.

[@johnnovotny5074]

The Sony Tough SD cards don't have plastic tabs on them.

[@gowrasagarvlogs]

Tqs a lot

[@BritishSterling92]

My SD card slot is stuck in the locked position with no card in it. Does anyone know how to get the slot out of the lock position?

[@jfdiv1985]

Yeah, but how did you get it out?

[@TheGizmoGarage]

Shake vigorously and blow air into the slot with opening facing down

[@vv-o-l-f9155]

My videos won’t play on my computer !!!! Do I need a certain kind of card reader for my computer ???? Please help !!

[@TheGizmoGarage]

Depending on what file format and your computer's processing power

[@vv-o-l-f9155]

@@TheGizmoGarage thanks for the reply . It’s a good computer i7 8900k , but what should I check and-or do to fix this ? or at least a place to start ? Thanks

[@MaksAMD]

happened to me every wedding for past month , almost swiched systems

[@toomworld]

Slot 2 will work for 4k.

[@alerajendra]

may be that is the main reason that sony made tough cards😂😂

[@TheGizmoGarage]

lol!

[@Kidsonss]

Reading how others managed to removed the culprit I banged the camera against my hand and then shook it and out popped the culprit - However in my case the card will still not click into position - guess I will still have to send it off to be repaired ????

[@Kidsonss]

My Sony A7C is Brand new approx 10 days old - Sony tell me the problem happened by a defective sd card so this is not a repair under warranty conditions - is this correct ? Without inspecting the memory card slot in the Camera how can they conclude with absolute certainty that the slot did not cause the damage to the card ? as tresemes says "I still think that Sony is at fault here, I've never heard about an SD card breaking inside a camera body so there's definitely something going on with the slot if it keeps circumcising user's cards" - I would like to hear from others what they think ? Sony will not even supply me with the part as they say its attached to the main PCB board and for that I must pay 231.64€ + IVA and a further 140€ + IVA for Labour plus transport fees -Totalling approx 500€ - incredulous

[@mrforce3091]

For me, just the same, and nr2 is always stuck...

[@arda_]

I have the opposite problem my lock is stuck in place. Also the only difference is UHS1 vs UHS2 speed supports between the two. No difference for video. Only for fast photo writes.

[@poloreacts27]

Did you ever fix this issue yourself or have to send it in?

[@Ade5]

I got same setup as you, and a small piece of plastic has broken off the card.. But i can not find it in the card slot, and the card wont click in.. Ironic that the card that dropped a piece of plastic is a Sony-card.

[@TheGizmoGarage]

Bummer... It might be a call to Sony for warranty service.

[@Ade5]

Yeah, i sent it for service today..

[@MrZombs123]

@@Ade5 did you get the camera back? what did they say?

[@Ade5]

@@MrZombs123 they seem to have replaced the entire "mainboard" according to the receipt i got back.. I guess real repair-men doesnt exist now days..

[@jilliedenna1179]

@@Ade5 how much was it

[@gagesmith133]

WWWWW VID FIXEDDD IT

[@LesHutt]

Same thing just happened to my camera 2 Years after purchase

[@DjuraFiskultura]

the same problem happened to me today. do you know the fix?

[@TheGizmoGarage]

I just flipped the card slot facing down and try to shake the object out of the camera. If not working I would try compressed air.

[@hrishabsahafilms]

It will easy record 4k 30 fps with uhs 1 cards..

[@jonsmith5409]

in other words, look inside for small plastic pieces

[@Qmirarvideos]

i have the same problem but i dont found solution

[@heyalenka19]

omg literally the same problem!!

[@DjBahrain]

I got the same issue with a6400

[@tristanagrechi]

I have the same problem with my A7RIII

[@memoriesnow5334]

the same thing happened to me my camera is in service center now

[@maltehelmhold132]

see my vacuum cleaner comment above. maybe next time you try this :D

[@memoriesnow5334]

@@maltehelmhold132 nice idea if I read your message earlier I had done that but now they are replacing. slot is not damage

[@ABM-mz5pb]

I currently have the same problem. I can't fix it, but you can just close the lid of the SD card enclosure and the card will work as normal. No need to assume that you can't use the camera. Of course I will try to get it fixed but simply closing the lid works great for me until I can get it fixed properly. See also kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJiQoKt4p8qBY7c.

[@DerrickLytlephoto]

tl;dr you probably broke your SD card and clean the slot.

[@monkeyshooter]

this is not a fix, just a cause

[@TheGizmoGarage]

The fix is to fish the stuck plastic pieces out of the camera using whatever you can!

[@zekirami]

I have same problem it is shit camera 📷

[@sagarkarale151]

happened to me as well.. and i was about to yell at sony.. :).. .so unfortunate!!