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Welcome to Techsurvivors => Tech => Topic started by: Johanbgoot on October 01, 2010, 12:10:47 PM

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Johanbgoot on October 01, 2010, 12:10:47 PM

I connected my camera (Fujifilm Finepix S1000 fd) this morning by its usb wire. Usually in a couple of seconds iPhoto opens, not today. I checked the usb hub and it is working. I checked iPhoto's preferences and it is set: "connecting camera opens iPhoto". When I turn on the camera its usb icon appears on the camera's screen, but nothing happens. I restarted the computer to no avail. I opened TimeMachine and restored iPhoto to a couple of weeks ago, still nothing happens.

Any ideas as to what to do. Can I throw out the 2 .plist for iPhoto.?

Thanks,

Johan

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: jchuzi on October 01, 2010, 01:23:37 PM

Don't throw out the plists just yet. Instead (with iPhoto quit), move them to the desktop or other location. Launch iPhoto, reset your preferences, and see if the problem is solved. If so, trash the plists (actually, you may want to try them one at a time). If not, quit iPhoto and put them back.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Johanbgoot on October 01, 2010, 01:42:04 PM

jchuzi, I did as you suggested and nothing happened. I am beginning to wonder if it isn't the cable itself, I can think of no other logical conclusion.

Johan

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: jchuzi on October 01, 2010, 02:04:48 PM

It's probably easiest to try a different cable (or maybe a different USB port) but you can rule out a bad plist by logging into a test account and trying it there (set your preferences before testing). If the problem also occurs in the test account, a bad plist in the main account is not responsible.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: gunug on October 01, 2010, 06:25:05 PM

I have had this "very" problem with my older model Fuji Finepix (that the viewfinder busted) I think it was the version of the operating system (10.2 or 10.3) and perhaps something about the USB port or cable because it worked just fine when I took my eMAC up a couple of notches (10.4). There was, I think, software for it as well originally so you might haunt the Fuji website and see what you can learn there!

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Texas Mac Man on October 01, 2010, 07:42:21 PM

Your easiest & cheapest way to transfer the camera pictures is to buy (about $10 - $20) a USB memory card reader. Just plug your camera's memory card into it & copy the pic files to your Mac. Quicker & easier than interfacing the camera for pic transfer.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 01, 2010, 07:59:54 PM

Johan, you might even just change the preference to use Image Capture to download the images. If that works, you'll know the cable, the port and the camera are all OK. Then, switch back to having iPhoto do the downloading, it might even work this time!

BTW, what version of iPhoto are you using? And which Mac and OS, you seem to have several?

QUOTE

[A card reader is] Quicker & easier than interfacing the camera for pic transfer.

I can't imagine how. All I do is plug the cable into the camera, turn it on (if it's not already), and the pictures take about a second apiece (maybe faster!) to get sucked in by Image Capture. And that includes deleting them off the card!

Absolutely no wear and tear on the cards (and the camera's) contacts. And there is no added expense. Period.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: gunug on October 01, 2010, 09:35:27 PM

I've run into "real problems" with moving chips back and forth between a few different computers. I suspect some of it is the little "extra" files that Apple likes to put onto USB connected drive kind of a mess things up a little and sometimes the connections aren't as good and on the PC or the MAC I get files that aren't "securely seated". . .my camera and PC both have nice secure "snap" in type bays for the SD card. I'm sure the problem is in moving between the two!

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Johanbgoot on October 03, 2010, 04:57:37 PM

I tried Image Capture and it says that: "No camera or scanner connected". I removed the SD card and tried again, to no avail. I really do suspect that it is the cable. I'm going to investigate replacing the cable. I'll let you know any further developments or buying a card reader.

Thanks, Johan

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Paddy on October 03, 2010, 06:11:46 PM

I don't know about the transfer speed, Jim, but a card reader doesn't drain the camera batteries.

I guess it also depends on your usage patterns and workflow. I have multiple cards and tend to have more than one to offload at a time. I also have more than one type of card (CF and SDHC) because I have 4 cameras I commonly use - my card reader reads both types.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: gunug on October 03, 2010, 07:59:07 PM

I had another thought about the FUJI camera I had: it might need to be in a certain mode to get it to set up as a flash drive. You could also have a problem with the drivers. . .my "newest" telephone (a Verizon Barrage) doesn't set up properly on MAC or PC with the "charging" USB cable that came with it. . .and this could also be the cable as noted.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 03, 2010, 09:51:12 PM

I suspect the batteries lose more energy waiting around for me to take a picture than the <10 seconds connected to the powered usb cable.

Nor do I have more than one card/camera, anyway.

Surely with all those Macs/printers/scanners/external drives you have another USB cable. That's the fastest and simplest attack, anyway.

Hope that's all it is. I suppose yo've tried the other sockets on that hub? All of the cables I've had go bad, that is the cable that went bad had obvious damage right at the standard USB end where the cable exited the plug; no real strain relief at that point.

BTW, our cat ruined a USB cable for us...you wouldn't happen to have a feline in the house...

For some reason, ours liked the cable that only was used to the iPhone...she may have been trying to tell me she wanted one of her own?

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Johanbgoot on October 04, 2010, 01:50:06 PM

Today I purchased a new cable, and a card reader. One way or the other I am going to transfer my photos to iPhoto. I plan to try both of them.

Thanks for all the help/suggestions, I'll post my test results.

Johan

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Paddy on October 04, 2010, 02:47:39 PM

QUOTE

Surely with all those Macs/printers/scanners/external drives you have another USB cable.

Jim, every camera I've come across uses either a mini-A or micro A to Standard A USB cable (and there may be a few early cameras that use some proprietary cable), so printer cables, which are Standard B to Standard A, and external drive cables, which are also sometimes Standard B to Standard A or Standard A to Standard A, won't work.

New cell phones in Europe will all be using the same micro USB chargers[/url] as of next year and it's already happening here in North America as well since manufacturers obviously don't want to create two completely different charging systems for the same model of phone. Note: Apple is part of this EU agreement, so it will be interesting to see what they do about the iPhone.

http://arstechnica.com/telecom/news/2009/0...arger-in-eu.ars

http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/all-eu...iphone-2010085/

From Wikipedia, an explanation of the different ends for USB cables for printers and external drives:

QUOTE

The standard connectors were deliberately intended to enforce the directed topology of a USB network: type A connectors on host devices that supply power and type B connectors on target devices that receive power. This prevents users from accidentally connecting two USB power supplies to each other, which could lead to dangerously high currents, circuit failures, or even fire. USB does not support cyclical networks and the standard connectors from incompatible USB devices are themselves incompatible. Unlike other communications systems (e.g. RJ-45 cabling) gender changers make little sense with USB and are almost never used.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 04, 2010, 05:20:01 PM

QUOTE

Jim, every camera I've come across uses either a mini-A or micro A to Standard A USB cable (and there may be a few early cameras that use some proprietary cable), so printer cables,...won't work.

I know that!

Sory, furst msteak en 2010!

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: jcarter on October 06, 2010, 09:01:19 AM

I had to buy a new card reader too, I had a real cheap one to start. The new one accepts all sorts of cards, which is good, as our family has many many different kinds of cards and cameras.

Here is one solution, a friend just came back from a great barge trip thru Paris, and one of her cards would not recognize in her Mac. So I brought it home, it wouldnt open iPhoto like my own cards here do. But there is always a little icon on the desktop for the card, so I just dragged them out of it into a folder for her trip here on my desktop.
I suspect something might be awry with her card, so I will just put them on a DVD and she can import them that way.
Jane

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Johanbgoot on October 09, 2010, 07:09:52 AM

A new USB cable arrived yesreday. I attached it and turned on the camera, nothing happened so I think there is a problem with the camera. A card reader is on the way so that should solve the problem.

Johan

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Paddy on October 09, 2010, 10:18:20 AM

I'm guessing this camera is out of warranty, Johan? If it isn't, I'd get it in to be checked out ASAP. If it is, it might be worth a call to Fuji in case this is a known issue and fixable. If things like this start to go wrong, one can't help but wonder what's next. Unfortunately, the cost of repairing any point and shoot camera these days makes it pretty much a foregone conclusion that it's not worth it and applying the money towards a newer model is the more prudent route. Annoys the heck out of me as it's so environmentally unfriendly, but there you have it.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Frances144 on October 10, 2010, 11:23:04 AM

One things, I was told, never let the computer erase the photos on the memory card when you are given this option. ALways do it via the camera once it is disconnected from the computer.

You can wreck a memory card using the computer's erasing methods.

Also reformat every so often helps.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: daryl66 on October 10, 2010, 12:46:26 PM

QUOTE(Frances144 @ Oct 10 2010, 11:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well that is an interesting bit of advise. While I don't "erase" the photos off of the memory card, I simply dump the folder containing them into the trash before disconnecting from the computer. Been doing that for several years. First with with 2 different Olympus cameras and now with a Panasonic Lumix, and have never had a problem. I guess YMMV.

The very first Olympus camera came with a 8meg card (long time ago) which got corrupted and had to be reformatted but that is the only time I ever had to reformat.

Daryl

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: kimmer on October 10, 2010, 02:14:24 PM

I've done both (use computer and use camera) and never had a prob -- but that was with my 2 older digital cameras (and both were 2nd hand). My new Canon came with spiffy computer software that does it all for me (and per the instructions, that's the preferred method), but I can also use the camera itself in a pinch. Like Daryl, I've only reformatted when I've had a problem.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 10, 2010, 03:17:55 PM

Erasing has never been a problem for me. But the cards are usually Windows file systems, if not some variance of that. "Erasing" the card is, I suspect, exactly the same as "erasing" a file on any computer; one simply writes bits in the file systems directory telling the system that all sectors are available for writing. The data previously in each sector is simply over written with the next shot. Formatting, is completely different and it can easily make the card useless in any camera. Formatting a memory device changes much more than the file directory and it may not even put it where the camera expects it to be, thus it cannot even be used by the camera (until and if you can re-format it in the camera).

We are sometimes lulled into thinking the Mac can format anything since it can do that in so many different systems. I suspect you'd have to buy an app if you wanted to format a drive for use on a Mac with a Windows OS.

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: krissel on October 15, 2010, 04:26:16 AM

Late to this party...

ABD is right about the difference between 'erasing' and 'formatting' via computer/camera. Some cards will only be good as data holders if formatted by a Mac. They may no longer be recognized by the camera for photos. Erasing by trashing files is pretty safe. I've always done it that way and never had a problem. BTW, you need to empty the trash while the card is inserted to truly eliminate the photos.

Here's some info on cards/readers/cameras. A bit dated but still true.

http://www.integralmemory.com/faq.aspx

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Johanbgoot on October 18, 2010, 12:59:31 PM

So the card reader arrived today. Plugged it in and inserted the SD card. iPhoto opened immediately and imported the photos. Turned on external hard drive and ran Time Machine. I checked and the photos are backed up. I put the card back in the camera and used erase all.

Et voilà tout va bien, merveilleux!

Thanks for all the suggestions/comments

Johan

Title: iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb
Post by: Xairbusdriver on October 18, 2010, 07:58:04 PM

I don't use iPhoto but it may have a pref setting that will allow it to erase after downloading from your camera, just another detail the computer should be able to do for you.

I use that method with Image Capture, just not sure about iPhoto.