Camera photo recovery · Step by step

How to Recover Deleted Photos from a Sony Camera?

Deleted Sony camera photos may remain on the memory card until new data replaces them. Stop shooting, remove the card, then start with the least invasive recovery method.

By Finepix x100 Stories Editorial Team Published
Quick answer

Turn off the Sony camera plus remove the memory card immediately. Connect the card to a computer through a reader, scan it with Disk Drill, preview the missing photos, then recover them to a different drive.

!

Do not take more photos, format the card, run an in-camera repair, or save recovered files back to it. Each write can replace deleted image data. If the card disconnects, heats up, or has visible damage, stop software attempts.

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★ Editorial pick ★ 4.5 / 5

Scan the Sony Memory Card → Disk Drill

Scans removable camera storage · Previews recoverable photos · Runs on Windows plus macOS

✓ Windows plus macOS ✓ Photo previews ✓ Byte-to-byte backup option
Scan the camera card →

When Software Should Not Scan a Sony Memory Card

Skip home recovery if the card has broken plastic, bent contacts, liquid exposure, extreme heat, or repeated disconnects. Continued scanning can worsen an electrical or memory-chip fault.

A card that appears steadily with the correct capacity is a better software candidate. If it shows zero capacity or no device at all across two reliable readers, contact a flash-memory recovery lab.

Choose a Sony Camera Photo Recovery Method

Start with the card scan unless a safe copy already exists elsewhere.

Method Best for Time Success rate
1. Scan the Sony Memory Card With Disk Drill TRY FIRST Deleted, formatted, or missing camera photos ~15–60 min ● 85%
2. Check Earlier Photo Imports on the Computer Photos imported before deletion ~5–15 min ● 95%
3. Restore the Photos From a Backup or Cloud Library Previously synced or backed-up files ~10–30 min ● 98%
4. Recover Sony Photos With PhotoRec Free signature-based recovery ~30–120 min ● 70%
5. Send the Memory Card to a Recovery Lab Physical damage or irreplaceable shoots ~3–14 days ● 65%

Top 5 Ways to Recover Deleted Photos From a Sony Camera

01

Scan the Sony Memory Card With Disk Drill

Best first move when photos were deleted, the card was formatted, or folders vanished

~15–60 min
Difficulty Easy
You need Card reader plus Disk Drill
Works for Windows, Mac

Remove the card from your Sony camera, connect it through a card reader, then let Disk Drill search the storage without changing it. This route covers common Sony photo formats such as JPEG, HEIF, ARW, plus many video files.

  1. Turn off the Sony camera, remove its memory card, then slide the card's lock switch into the locked position if it has one.
  2. Connect the card directly to your computer with a reliable SD, microSD, CFexpress, or Memory Stick reader.
  3. Install Disk Drill on the computer's internal drive, not on the affected memory card.
  4. Open Disk Drill, select the physical memory card, then click Search for lost data. Use Advanced Camera Recovery if it is offered for your card.
  5. Filter the results by Pictures, search for extensions such as .jpg or .arw , then preview several files.
  6. Select the usable photos, click Recover, then save them to the computer or a separate external drive.
Disk Drill Review ↗
i A working preview is a useful sign, though no recovery app can promise that every listed image will open perfectly.
Visit the Disk Drill website
02

Check Earlier Photo Imports on the Computer

Quickest option if the Sony camera was connected or the card was imported before

~5–15 min
Difficulty Easy
You need The computer used for imports
Works for Windows, Mac

An earlier import may still exist outside the folder you usually open. Search photo libraries, import folders, the Recycle Bin or Trash, plus editing catalogs before scanning the card.

  1. Open the Recycle Bin on Windows or Trash on Mac, then search by the deletion date or file extension.
  2. Check the Pictures folder plus common subfolders such as Imports, Camera Roll, DCIM, Lightroom, Capture One, or Sony imaging folders.
  3. Open the Photos app or editing software previously used to import the camera, then inspect its library plus recently deleted area.
  4. Search the computer for *.ARW , *.JPG , or a known Sony filename such as DSC00001 .
  5. Restore or copy any matching photos into a new folder, then open several full-size files to confirm they are intact.
i Editing software may show catalog previews even when the original file is missing, so verify each recovered image at full resolution.
03

Restore the Photos From a Backup or Cloud Library

Safest route when copies reached another device before deletion

~10–30 min
Difficulty Easy
You need Backup drive or cloud account
Works for Windows, Mac, mobile

Photos transferred through a phone, tablet, computer, or wireless camera workflow may have reached cloud storage automatically. A backup preserves the original card because recovery work happens elsewhere.

  1. Check OneDrive, iCloud Photos, Google Photos, Dropbox, Adobe cloud storage, or any service active on the import device.
  2. Look in each service's Trash, Bin, or Recently Deleted section before browsing the main library.
  3. Connect your usual backup drive, then open File History on Windows or Time Machine on Mac.
  4. Navigate to the folder where Sony imports were stored, then move backward to a date before the photos disappeared.
  5. Restore the files to a new folder, then compare file sizes plus capture dates with the expected shoot.
i Cloud trash folders may clear themselves after a retention period, so check them early.
04

Recover Sony Photos With PhotoRec

Free fallback for a readable card when filenames plus folders are not essential

~30–120 min
Difficulty Moderate
You need Card reader plus free software
Works for Windows, Mac, Linux

PhotoRec searches raw card space for recognizable file signatures. It can locate images after deletion or a quick format, though recovered names and folder structure are usually generic.

  1. Download PhotoRec from the official CGSecurity website, then extract it to the computer's internal drive.
  2. Insert the Sony memory card through a card reader, then launch the QPhotoRec interface if it is included for your system.
  3. Select the physical card carefully by matching its storage capacity.
  4. Open File Formats, limit the scan to the photo or video types you need, then choose the affected partition.
  5. Set the recovery destination to a computer folder or separate external drive, never the Sony card.
  6. Start the search, wait for completion, then sort the recovered folders by file type, date, dimensions, or visual content.
i PhotoRec often sacrifices original filenames for broader file discovery, which can leave a large sorting job.
05

Send the Memory Card to a Recovery Lab

Right choice for physical damage, unstable cards, or irreplaceable professional work

~3–14 days
Difficulty Easy to request
You need A reputable recovery lab
Works for Damaged removable media

Software is the wrong tool when a card disconnects repeatedly, becomes unusually hot, has cracked contacts, or cannot be detected by any computer. A specialist may work with the memory components directly.

  1. Stop testing the card once physical damage or unstable detection becomes clear.
  2. Place an SD or Memory Stick card in a protective case. Keep a CFexpress card in its original case or an anti-static container.
  3. Write down the Sony camera model, card type, approximate photo count, file formats, plus what happened before the loss.
  4. Contact a lab that handles flash memory or camera cards, then ask about evaluation fees, privacy terms, return media, plus payment conditions.
  5. Ship the card with tracking in a padded box rather than a paper envelope.
  6. Review the lab's file list or sample previews before approving paid recovery, if that option is available.
i Do not open, bend, clean aggressively, freeze, or heat a damaged card.

Which Sony Photo Recovery Method Should You Try?

Scanning the removed memory card with Disk Drill is the practical first move when files were deleted or the card was formatted but still appears on the computer. Check earlier imports plus backups first if you suspect another copy exists. Use PhotoRec when you need a free fallback, while a recovery lab makes more sense for unstable or physically damaged media.

Top pick Disk Drill
Keep the Sony card unused until every recovered photo has been opened, copied to a second location, plus backed up.

Sony Camera Photo Recovery Questions

Can deleted photos really be recovered from a Sony camera?
Often, yes, if the photos were stored on removable media plus no new data has overwritten them. Recovery becomes less likely after continued shooting, formatting followed by reuse, or repeated repair attempts.
What should I do immediately after deleting Sony camera photos?
Stop using the camera, turn it off, then remove the memory card. Do not take a test photo because even one new file can overwrite part of a deleted image.
Should I format the card when my Sony camera asks me to?
No, not before recovery. Formatting changes card data structures, which may make the original folder layout harder to reconstruct.
Can Disk Drill recover Sony ARW files?
Disk Drill can search camera storage for RAW photo data, including many Sony ARW files. Preview the results where possible because a detected file may still be incomplete.
Can I recover photos from a formatted Sony memory card?
A quick-formatted card may still contain recoverable image data until new files replace it. A full overwrite or heavy reuse cuts the odds sharply.
Should I connect the Sony camera by USB or use a card reader?
A card reader is usually the cleaner option because the recovery app can access the storage device more directly. USB camera connections may expose only a limited media interface.
Where should I save recovered Sony photos?
Save them to the computer's internal drive or a separate external disk. Never recover files onto the same memory card being scanned.
Why do recovered photos have strange filenames?
Deep scans may find image contents without the original file-system record. The result can be names such as f123456.jpg rather than the Sony filename created by the camera.
Why is a recovered Sony photo partly gray or distorted?
Part of the file may have been overwritten or the image may have been fragmented across the card. A thumbnail can survive even when the full-resolution photo is damaged.
Can I recover photos from Sony internal camera memory?
Possibly, but recovery depends on whether the camera exposes its internal storage as a normal disk. Check for prior imports first, then consult Sony support or a recovery lab if software cannot see the storage.
Does locking an SD card restore deleted photos?
No. The lock switch only helps prevent compatible devices from writing new data, which is useful while you prepare a recovery attempt.
Can I recover photos after taking new pictures?
You can still scan the card, though some deleted files may have been overwritten. Stop shooting now to preserve whatever remains.
Will Sony camera repair functions bring deleted photos back?
Usually not. Database repair features target indexing or playback issues rather than deleted file recovery, plus they may write to the card.
Can PhotoRec preserve my original folders?
Usually not during a signature-based recovery. It often returns usable files in generated folders with generic names, so expect manual sorting.
How long does a Sony memory card scan take?
A small SD card may finish within minutes, while a large or slow card can take hours. Card condition, reader speed, capacity, plus scan depth all affect the time.
What if Windows says the Sony card is RAW or needs formatting?
Cancel the format prompt. If the card appears with the correct capacity plus remains connected, scan it without attempting file-system repair first.
When should I stop scanning the card myself?
Stop if it becomes hot, disappears repeatedly, reports changing capacity, or makes the computer freeze. Those symptoms may point to hardware trouble rather than ordinary deletion.
How can I prevent another Sony photo loss?
Use multiple cards rather than filling one huge card, import after each shoot, then keep at least two copies on separate storage. Format cards in the camera only after confirming both copies open correctly.