Original
Retain the original files and filenames.
Using your camera
How to preserve camera footage
Keep useful originals before the next ride.
Copy the files, check the copies and keep a backup before reusing the card.
Context
Keep the sequence around the moment, not just one frame.
Backup
Check playback and keep a second copy.
1. Save the surrounding sequence
Once safely stopped, follow your camera's instructions for stopping or protecting a recording. Do not assume a locked file is a permanent backup.
Keep the relevant recording segments before and after the moment you want to retain. For a dual-lens camera, copy both front and rear files, including adjacent segments where the sequence crosses a file boundary.
2. Copy the originals
Use your model's supported transfer method to copy the files to a computer or another suitable storage location. Keep the original filenames and format.
Avoid making a trimmed clip, screenshot or messaging-app upload your only copy. Make separate working copies if you want to edit or share something later.
3. Check, then back up
Open the copied files and check that they play. Confirm you have the correct date and sequence and both views where relevant.
Keep another copy in a separate location before formatting or reusing the camera card. A folder named with the date and a short factual label can make the files easier to find.
4. Keep your notes separate
Write down the date, time, location and what you remember while the details are fresh. If the camera clock was incorrect, note that separately rather than altering the original recording.
If you intend to report an incident, read the relevant authority's current instructions. Its requirements for files, context and statements may differ from this general storage routine.