IPhoto fails, removes device (memory card), images lost memory on card lost

Question

I've just recently began to experience problems with importing pics from my digital cameras' memory cards. I use a GE 24-in-1 USB Card Reader, and I have been using the delete after import feature on iPhone import, with no problems for a year, until just recently. I did browse and note some recommend not to use that feature.
I use 512MB and 2GB Sandisk, Toshiba, (and two new unused) Lexar SD memory cards. I remove the cards from digital cameras (several different models of Kodak, and in two Panasonic PV-GS500 camcorders in picture-taking mode) and use the card reader for importing. I've imported into iPhoto this way for a year, likely having done so 400 times or more with no problems. I've just been lucky?
But during import recently, iPhoto import stopped, and I got the device removed without being unloaded properly warning. The iMac hung, and I had to force quit iPhoto. Yep, I lost about all the images that had imported, both in the iPhoto library, as well as on the memory card--about 600 of the 900 images on the 2GB card. I started over, without the delete after import option selected, and was able to complete the download of the remaining images. I closed iPhoto, and used Finder to select and move to trash the images on the card, to clear the card and free up all the memory for the next use. But I noted that the memory available was incorrect, showing only 658.1MB instead of what I think a 2GB should show--1.87GB.
Something similar has happened again. During import (not having the delete after import option selected), import stopped, and I got the device remove warning again. No images were saved in Library, but all the images remained on the card, so I started over and did complete the import of all the images from the card, and they were properly saved in Library. I used Finder to move to trash to clear the card. But again noted that the memory card now only shows 704.7MB available, not the 1.87GB that it should.
Yes, I read today the recommendations evidently not to do the process in this manner, so I'm sure one suggestion will be for me not to use the delete after import option, and I guess I'm not supposed to use Finder to move to trash to delete the images from the card. But I note I've done it this way for a year, even using the delete after import option with no problems--until the past two weeks. And also I've allowed all the auto updates, one recently for iPhoto, as I recall, so maybe one of the updates is now part of the experience I'm having.
So is the recommended procedure to only import with the memory card in the device (camera or camcorder), and only to delete the images using the device? I can, of course, but the way I had been doing it was far more convenient, and seemed appropriate use of the software and options.
Also, is there anyway to format the cards so the complete memory is available? Related to that, I'm beginning to think I shouldn't randomly use the cards in the five devices I use (cameras and camcorders)? Until now this hasn't been a problem either. I've been randomly using the cards, devices, and card reader, again, for over a year....
To be fair, maybe I just haven't recognized the problem when it first started recently, as I just viewed the memory on all the cards, and now see that some of the 512MB cards are only showing like 179MB, 336.4MB, and 483.4MB--is the last volume what's normally available for a 512MB card?
I seldom use the 512MB cards in the camcorders, but haven't specifically avoided doing that, other than for the reason that when capturing images in the camcorders, I usually capture 500-900 images at a time, thus needing the 2GB cards to handle that. But I've often used the 2GB cards in the digital cameras randomly.....
Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated!
Dale

Answer 1

Hi, OC. In addition to Terence's fine suggestions, let me point out (in case it isn't obvious) that after dragging images from your cards to the Trash, you must empty the Trash to recover the space the pictures occupied on the card. If you don't empty the trash, the pictures are still on the card, taking up the same space they did before you moved them.
But I'll repeat the oft-repeated recommendation not to delete anything from a memory card using your Mac. There are too many ways doing that can go pear-shaped. Erase or reformat each card each time you reinsert it in any of your cameras or other devices. The commands are there, somewhere in the cameras' menu systems.
Message was edited by: eww