P: (Mac) Direct Camera Connect fails to show previews in Import Dialog

[touheyphoto]

My system has worked perfectly for many years, but I’m encountering strange issues on import in Lr Classic that have recently plagued me. 

When importing via a plugged in thunderbolt cable into my R5s:

- image previews no longer load into the thumbnails, or will load dramatically slower and one at a time. (Whereas they used to snap into each empty thumbnail cells immediately)

- sometimes it will show no photos to import (which was frightening the first few times to see). I’ll cancel and reopen the import prompt which usually works after the second or third try.

- sometimes import window will show photos from other shoot days but not my most recent images. I’ll cancel the import prompt and reopen. Often it’ll all load in after a few tries.

- If I get through these issues, the most difficult part is actually importing. Import can take 5 minutes before starting, if I’m lucky. (It used to start within 10 seconds.) Two out of three times the import completely fails to start. 

Other details: 

- This seems to happen with all three of my Canon R5s

- I’m encountering this issue on my Mac Studio running Ventura 13.3.1

- My Lr Classic (v. 12.3) catalogues and previews are stored on my internal HD

- My photos are stored on a 70TB OWC Thunderbay. (I switched from Drobo 8D fairly recently)

- The same R5 and imported photos load like normal on my MBP when imported. 

- This is happening with multiple LrC catalogues

- This issue started happening for a few weeks, prior to updating to the latest Lr Classic

Since this issue is happening with multiple catalogs and cameras, I was thinking it was either with my Mac Studio that stores the catalogues, or my OWC Thunderbay external since it stores the photos. However since this issue seems to happen before I technically need to select the destination drive, now I’m thinking the issue is my computer where Lr is running. 

Could this be a RAM problem? Has anyone encountered this issue before? 

Any ideas based are greatly appreciated since importing after a shoot has gone from taking 10 minutes of my times to 2 hrs. Hopefully this can help others too.

[johnrellis]

Moderators, @Rikk Flohr: Photography, please merge with this existing bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-mac-direct-camera-connect-fails-to-show-prev...

[Peterz6ii]

Dear All.

Newby to this community so hopefully will find support with this issue which is making my photography impossible to complete.

I am using the following equipment and software:

1. Nikon z6ii camera

2. Macbook Pro with Monterey 12.6 operating system

3. Adobe Lightroom Classic 12.4

I shoot in jpeg as a novice and its easier for the work I am producing. I cannot import my images into lightroom classic. The z6 camera is recognised and I can click on the button to import, however nothing happens. I find that I have to either physically disconnect the orange tether tools cable from the macbook and/or switch the camera on and off for there to be sort sort of communication between lightroom and the camera.

When it does work, I am having to wait several minutes for the preview images to populate and then I can finally select. Most of the time nothing happens after clicking the button to import from the camera.

What am I doing wrong and is there a solution? Surely such workflow should not be apparent?

Urgent help needed,

Kind Regards

Peter

[dj_paige]

There have been similar issues reported tethering the Z6ii (and maybe the Z7ii). Since I don't use tethering, I don't remember what the solution is, or even if there was a solution. I suggest you search this forum for similar posts.

[johnrellis]

Importing from a camera via a USB cable has stopped working in LR 12.4 on Mac OS.  See this post for workarounds:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-mac-direct-camera-connect-fails-to-show-prev...

[johnrellis]

Moderators, @Rikk Flohr: Photography, please merge with the existing bug:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-mac-direct-camera-connect-fails-to-show-prev...

[jcchuang]

Am experiencing the same bug (and have been for just under a month). No thumbnails show up when I try to import photos from either my iPhone connected via USB cables or memory cards (SD and CF cards belonging to Nikon Zs). Running LR 12.4 on Mac OS 13.4.1

[Kulturforum5FFD]

I have a new Nikon Z8 and when I start "Import" the jpg Previews are greyed. I import without seeing them and the import works as usual. The jpgs can be seen now.
The Software is up to date.

[johnrellis]

While waiting for this bug to be fixed, see this post for workarounds:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-mac-direct-camera-connect-fails-to-show-prev...

[greg14]

I am having a minor issue with the Z8 transfer of images to LR.

When I use a card reader the thumbnails (Previews) show.

If I transfer the images directly to LR from the camera the Thumbnails are blank (Gray).

I generally use the card reader for a large batch, if I only have a few pictures I transfer them directly.

No big deal, I am wondering if LR still needs to do a few updates to the Z8.
I have the current version of LR, 12.4

Thoughts

[johnrellis]

"I am wondering if LR still needs to do a few updates to the Z8."

As you can see from this merged thread, there's a general issue with importing via USB cable in LR 12.4 on Mac OS.

[BillB9811817]

When importing photos to LRC the thumbnails

are not visible until actually imported so I have to import all photos and cull when they are actually imported.

[F. McLion]

Please share the exact version you are using, the exact version of the OS, as well as the source and format of the photos.

[BillB9811817]

LRC 12.4. I am importing from Canon 6D MII via cable

[DdeGannes]

@BillB9811817 , and exact version of your Operating System?

[BillB9811817]

Macbook  Pro 20167 Monterey 12.6.7

[mominaustin]

I don't use the Adobe Support Community very much, but am having this exact problem trying to import photos from my iphone.  Read the workarounds, and they aren't really acceptable in my opinion.  Since Adobe has acknowledged this as a bug (pretty major if you ask me), I'm hoping my posting to this thread will keep me updated as to when this gets resolved.  This is why I was so hesitant and only just this month upgraded from LR 6, the last non-subscription version, to this latest subscription based model.  Not too shocking to me that I immediately encountered a problem.

[Biscut]

@mominaustin<>

Yes, this is something I'm sure there will be a fix for soon.

In the meantime, I have been getting some or most thumbnails by

1. Plug in iPhone and select Import; make sure your computer recognizes the phone and unlock if necessary
2. Note all the blank thumbnails
3. Cancel import
4. Hit Import button again
5. Some or all thumbnails appear
6. Repeat if necessary

Hope this helps.

[johnrellis]

"I'm hoping my posting to this thread will keep me updated as to when this gets resolved."

Yes, Adobe is very good about updating bug reports here when their status changes.

[Bobldoo]

I too have the problem and it affects all catalogs so, sadly, there's no benefit from deleting catalog related files.

[Bobldoo]

I have found that clicking away from a device and then back to it I get some of the preview images to appear. I also find no problem when trying to import from a hard-drive.

[Bobldoo]

Sorry All, 

I assumed that replies would be 'filed' under the specific comment I was replying to. I have the problem of import thumbnails being blank when importing from an external device (camera, i-phone). It affects all catalogs so is probably not related to individual catalogs. I have found a bit of a workaround by connecting two devices clicking between them seems to enable some images (not always all). 

Once again sorry for the confusion about my out of place replies.

Rob

[johnrellis]

@Bobldoo, while waiting for this acknowledged bug to be fixed, see this post for workarounds:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-bugs/p-mac-direct-camera-connect-fails-to-show-prev...

[grants43850880]

I'm having the exact same issue. I connect my Canon R5 directly to my macbook pro (M2 max, 16 inch, OS 13.4.1) and I get the same gray tiles with no preview. Which just like the OP says, is super frusterating because now you have to delete the non-keepers in the editing process. Also, I'm shooting uncompressed RAW, so it takes up a LOT of unncessecary hard drive space. 

I did read Sameer K's suggestion. The problem a lot of pro photographers will have is that they won't want to put their cards in a card reader. It sounds impossible, but entire wedding shoots have been lost because of static discharge risk between the camera and the reader. It's just safer to download from the camera. 

Anyone else?

[dw24154351]

I'm also on Canon with this Preview Failure. So can't rule out that it isn't a Canon / LrC interation.

@juhanio37042457 didn't mention which camera. But tagged Windows, not Mac / Apple Silicon.

Any Nikon, Sony, Fuji... shooters out there experiencing the same preview blank problem?

And it is only on LrC 12.4 right?

[dw24154351]

I've just downgraded to 12.3 and the previews are working. So this does appear to be specific to 12.4.