I read somewhere that the Inspire camera can accept FAT32 or exFAT formatted SD cards. Given the 4GB limit in file size on a FAT32 volume, a continuous recording of 19 minutes or so of 4K video can be spread over 3 files. In an effort to record to a single file I thought I would try formatting the SD in exFAT which allows larger file sizes. There does not appear to be a way of formatting exFAT volumes on the Inspire so I formatted the SD on a Windows 8.1 machine, copied over the DCIM and MISC folders and inserted it in the Inspire. Needless to say it didn't work - continuous status of 'Initializing'. I then formatted the SD in the Inspire and it formatted the SD in FAT32. Not a burning issue but it would be nice to have long videos in a single file and improved I/O performance. Any ideas how to format the SD in exFAT that the inspire understands?

I am using a SanDisk 64 gig Extreme plus 10U3 chip 4K  formatted using exFAT with no problems!

The chip can take anything you throw at it

Rich

Ive just formatted mine in the inspire. it was exFat before the format and still is after the format in the camera.
Format your SD card again on your putter and dont copy over the  DCIM and MISC folders, then format it in the camera.
The camera will make the required folders regardless.

I have also not working exFAT, DJI Pilot constantly shows-Initializing the sd card

Formatted in Win 7 connecting the camera directly to the computer inspair.

Similarly tried to format a micro SD adapter to USB

The original 16 GB SD-Card included inspair

Blademan Posted at 2015-5-3 04:35
I have also not working exFAT, DJI Pilot constantly shows-Initializing the sd card

Formatted in Win ...

Have you another SD card you could try ? Then you'll know if its the card or not

Unfortunately not.

I will try to buy it tomorrow but would like to know which model will work 100%.

Blademan Posted at 2015-5-3 05:04
Unfortunately not.

I will try to buy it tomorrow but would like to know which model will work 100%. ...

I use 64GB Micro SD Samsung PRO SDXC MicroSDXC TF Class10 90MB/s
Ive never used the included one.

Thank you!
I search tomorrow, Samsung PRO and SanDisk Extreme

I use the included one as well as SanDisk Ultra.  I have had no issues with either.  I have experimented with ExFat and Fat 32.  Right now all my discs are formatted to ExFat.

Tahoe_Ed Posted at 2015-5-3 07:42
I use the included one as well as SanDisk Ultra.  I have had no issues with either.  I have experime ...

Thanks ED for your comment. I have formatted the Lexar 16GB SD supplied with the Inspire and a separately purchased 32GB Lexar 633x SD to exFAT on a Windows 8.1 system. Both cards when inserted into the Inspire stay in the 'Initializing' state permanently with the record button greyed out. On Formatting the SD using the 'Format SD Card' option on the RC, 'Initializing' disappears and the record button comes to life and I can record but videos are segmented into 4GB chunks and the SD has reverted to FAT32. What am I doing wrong?

gdc2510 Posted at 2015-5-3 09:18
Thanks ED for your comment. I have formatted the Lexar 16GB SD supplied with the Inspire and a sep ...

You formatted the card in the P3.  It uses Fat32 not ExFat.  Both will work.

Tahoe_Ed Posted at 2015-5-3 09:45
You formatted the card in the P3.  It uses Fat32 not ExFat.  Both will work.

Agreed both FAT32 and exFAT will work but I was trying to avoid having long videos chopped up into multiple 4GB files when recording in 4K. I don't have a P3 or any other Phantom  by the way. Question still stands - why are some people using the Inspire 1 able to format in exFAT and some not!? I don't see any provision or switch on the Inspire that determines which format is chosen. I can't see what I am doing wrong. v1.2.1 / 1.0.3.

gdc2510 Posted at 2015-5-3 11:16
Agreed both FAT32 and exFAT will work but I was trying to avoid having long videos chopped up into ...

In the Inspire the format is not user choosable.  In your computer it is.  Just do not formate in the craft and you will be ok.

Tahoe_Ed Posted at 2015-5-3 11:29
In the Inspire the format is not user choosable.  In your computer it is.  Just do not formate in  ...

Sorry Ed, if I format the SD on my windows 8.1 machine to exFAT then insert the SD in the Inspire 1, I get the message 'SD card initializing...' on the RC and I can not record video. This is permanent until I format the SD in the Inspire at which point the message disappears and I can record video again!

gdc2510 Posted at 2015-5-3 11:46
Sorry Ed, if I format the SD on my windows 8.1 machine to exFAT then insert the SD in the Inspire  ...

I am on a MacBook Pro and I can do either and do not get a message.  It must be something that Windows is doing or the Mac is not doing.

Tahoe_Ed Posted at 2015-5-3 11:50
I am on a MacBook Pro and I can do either and do not get a message.  It must be something that Win ...

Went down to my local computer shop and got them to format the SD on a MacBook Pro laptop. (Except for the iPad I don't have any Apple gear here.) Inserted the SD into the Inspire and got the same error message - 'SD card initializing..' and the record button is dull red and I cant record video. Removed the card and inserted it into my Windows 8.1 laptop to check if it was exFAT. Indeed it was. Removed the SD from the Laptop and re-inserted it in the Inspire. Same error message so formatted the SD in the Inspire and the message went away and I was able to record again. Removing the SD from the inspire and re-inserting it in my Widows Laptop it now shows as FAT32. Are there differences between Inspire versions that could explain this. I received my Inspire late February 2015.

gdc2510 Posted at 2015-5-3 12:50
Went down to my local computer shop and got them to format the SD on a MacBook Pro laptop. (Except ...

I will report this to DJI.  I have not seen it but I do not doubt you are having the issue.  Thank you for your efforts.

Tahoe_Ed Posted at 2015-5-3 13:03
I will report this to DJI.  I have not seen it but I do not doubt you are having the issue.  Thank ...

Thankyou so much Ed for your efforts! Much appreciated!

gdc2510 Posted at 2015-5-3 13:22
Thankyou so much Ed for your efforts! Much appreciated!

No worries I have several folks working on this from US support to DJI HQ.  

Today I bought a Samsung PRO 64 GB, and exFat works wonderfully.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-l ... 30657683&sr=8-1

Blademan Posted at 2015-5-3 20:58
Today I bought a Samsung PRO 64 GB, and exFat works wonderfully.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list ...

Nice one

Blademan Posted at 2015-5-3 20:58
Today I bought a Samsung PRO 64 GB, and exFat works wonderfully.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list ...

That's great!! How did you format the SD in exFAT? Are you recording 4K material? If so what is the maximum file size you have for say a 15 minute 4K recording?

Have checked again, the 4GB limit in file size is to prevent file corrupted due to abnormal power cuts or other problems. It occurs on both FAT32 and exFAT volume.
If you format the SD card less than 64GB to exFAT, it may cause compatibility problem (for example: abnormally recognition).
So we suggest users to format your SD card via app or use the SD Formatter supported by SD Assocaition.

gdc2510 Posted at 2015-5-3 22:36
That's great!! How did you format the SD in exFAT? Are you recording 4K material? If so what is th ...

Unfortunately the video still stops at 4 GB.

Blademan Posted at 2015-5-4 22:31
Unfortunately the video still stops at 4 GB.

Thanks Blade and Autumn! I purchased a 64GB SDXC card and it plugs straight into the inspire without any error messages and it remains in exFAT mode! It would appear that the SD card has to be an SDXC model (not SDHC) with a size greater than 32GB for exFAT to be recognised/retained by the Inspire. Autumn as you say video files are still in 4GB chunks. If ever a newer camera with a higher bit rate is ever introduced, multiple 4GB chunks may become more of an issue. Case closed. Thankyou all.

Must be something in the Inspire. exFAT supports very large files on my other cameras or in my PC. I have 20GB and more video files.