iPhoto does not open when camera connected by usb

[Johanbgoot]

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

[jchuzi]

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.

[Johanbgoot]

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

[jchuzi]

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.

[gunug]

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!

[Texas Mac Man]

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.

[Xairbusdriver]

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.

[gunug]

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!

[Johanbgoot]

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

[Paddy]

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.

[gunug]

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.  

[Xairbusdriver]

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?

[Johanbgoot]

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

[Paddy]

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.

[Xairbusdriver]

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!