iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb

[jcarter]

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

[Johanbgoot]

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

[Paddy]

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.

[Frances144]

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.

[daryl66]

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

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.

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

[kimmer]

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.

[Xairbusdriver]

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.

[krissel]

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

[Johanbgoot]

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

[Xairbusdriver]

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.