Recently started using CF Express cards (with USB card reader) and LR Classic seems to treat them differently from the CF and SD cards I've used previously: LRC no longer remembers my last-used Import Preset (please note: bottom of Import dialog, NOT "metadata preset"). Unlike CF or SD cards, I have to re-select this every time.It also doesn't pre-highlight the newly-inserted card on the left side (Source) panel of the Import dialog. I have to manually click on the drive letter for the CF Express card. Once highlighted, it doesn't see any subfolder of the CF Express card (unlike CF or SD). I have to manually click the "Select Subfolders" button every time.Finally, the option to Eject when finished is not available for CF Express cards. Besides just being annoying - these differences are making my import workflow slower and more error-prone. Basically, I think this is all due to Windows 10 seeing the CF Express card as a removable Hard Drive - NOT as a memory card. I will continue to research this issue on the Windows side. In the meantime - any workarounds on the LR Classic side? Thanks!

Known Participant

Question

CF Express Card treated like Hard Disk

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
September 29, 2020
12 replies
14519 views

Recently started using CF Express cards (with USB card reader) and LR Classic seems to treat them differently from the CF and SD cards I've used previously:

LRC no longer remembers my last-used Import Preset (please note: bottom of Import dialog, NOT "metadata preset"). Unlike CF or SD cards, I have to re-select this every time.
It also doesn't pre-highlight the newly-inserted card on the left side (Source) panel of the Import dialog. I have to manually click on the drive letter for the CF Express card.
Once highlighted, it doesn't see any subfolder of the CF Express card (unlike CF or SD). I have to manually click the "Select Subfolders" button every time.
Finally, the option to Eject when finished is not available for CF Express cards.

Besides just being annoying - these differences are making my import workflow slower and more error-prone.

Basically, I think this is all due to Windows 10 seeing the CF Express card as a removable Hard Drive - NOT as a memory card. I will continue to research this issue on the Windows side. In the meantime - any workarounds on the LR Classic side? Thanks!

B

bcalder33324

Participant

I did some research, and this worked. When importing, you will have to locate where the files are first (obviously). When importing, at the very top of the screen "add" will be highlighted. Change that from "add" to "copy". Here is the link to the article I found. I hope it helps. Lightroom Classic and CFexpress Cards - Lightroom Killer Tips

Akadingbat

Participant

I just get LR to convert all images to DNG on import and I have no problems importing direct from the card.

R

retpgmr05

Known Participant

The problem isn't importing. The problem is - after importing the CFexpress card WILL NOT eject from the system.

Africadunc

Known Participant

I'm having a similar issue. CF type B is appearing as an external drive so when I click "Import" it leave the files on the memory card and when I remove it the files are no longer available. I.e. the normal 'import' feature doesnt work. Did you ever find a work-around? I can plug in my camera, but I'd prefer not use the reader.

dj_paige

Legend

I'm having a similar issue. CF type B is appearing as an external drive so when I click "Import" it leave the files on the memory card and when I remove it the files are no longer available. I.e. the normal 'import' feature doesnt work. Did you ever find a work-around? I can plug in my camera, but I'd prefer not use the reader.

By @Africadunc

Workaround is to import using COPY.

Africadunc

Known Participant

Great, thanks. I will give that a try.

R

radman22

Participant

It has nothing to do with your Mac or Windows operating system—CFExpress cards have a chip that do not render them recognizable as a memory card, only as a drive. Connecting your camera directly with a cable should work around this issue. Hassle that it is.

P

Pugwash56

Participant

thanks for the info

R

retpgmr05

Known Participant

Add me to the list of people waiting for a solution. I'm running macOS Monterey 12.5.1 on Mac Studio and Macbook Pro. Just bought a Nikon Z7 II so this is my first experience with the CFexpress cards. Can't believe this has been going on for 2 years with no solution from Microsoft, Apple, or Adobe.

johnbilo

Participant

Hi.

I have the same problem except my memory card is a CFast 2.0 card and a SanDisk USB-reader.

For what it's worth, my workaround is to connect the camera to my mac and import directly from the camera. When doing this LRC works the way I want it to. It remembers my last used settings, chooses the correct import-folder and applies the correct settings. And I don't have to worry about DCIM and subfolders and all that stuff.

Given, it is not my preferred solution, but it works. And it is as fast as my card reader as my camera has a USB 3.0 connection.

GoldingD

Legend

As a fellow community member, I would ask you to post your own discussion. Normally I would point out that the original posting is a year old, so many might not notice your addition. Also, I would point out that many members see adding to another persons posting as bad behaviour (especially if old, and very specifically if not absolutely identical) (note: in thefeedback site, the opposit would be true, add add add, get attention) Now the above discussion does not yet have a solution, but had it so,then many members would not see your addition at all.

BUT

But, as of today, I will ask you to post your own discussion because as of recently, as in the last two week, actual Adobe Employee interaction in these community pages has picked up, it used to be very rare, and it used to be a canned reply (something like what version of LrC, what OS, have you tried resetting the preferences file)

As of today (or is that last night) a huge improvement occurred as an actual Adobe team leader got involved with the site and gave actual pro reply.

So, if you post your own discussion, you might actualy get a reply by Adobe.(cross fingers)

GoldingD

Legend

We want Lightroom to treat them like EVERY OTHER MEMORY CARD!  Which is difficult because Windows/Mac considers CF Express cards to be "removable hard disks" at the operating system level.

Remember that LrC, be it in the Import process, or the Folders Panel, uses the computers file management. LrC is not a file manager. So, if the OS forces these cards to be seen only as hard drives, then LrC is stuck to accept that, Nothing Adobe can do short of recreating a complete new product.

J

Jimre3Author

Known Participant

I'm not asking for LR to be a file manager, nor for Adobe to create "a completely new product".

Lightroom has long had special behavior for regular SD and CF cards in the Import module. Such as 1) automatically selecting the card as the default import location, 2) automatically selecting "Include Subfolders" so we don't have to screw with silly DCIM directories, 3) automatically remembering the Import Preset settings you used last time for this card, and 4) optionally auto-ejecting the card when import is finished.

Now with CF Express cards, all of those things have to be done manually (like external hard disks). Sure, it's only 4-5 extra mouse clicks - but that's each & each & every time you import from your camera. And if you skip or screw up just one of those steps - then either you'll miss importing some files, or LR will import the files into some undesired location.

Even though it appears the OS represents our current CF card readers as "external hard drives" by default - I'm betting there's still SOME way for Adobe to distinguish a CF Express card from a regular external hard drive. And if so - they can use the same code they already have for SD/CF cards to streamline our Import process.

G

Grafenauer

Inspiring

Photo Mechanic auto ejects the card so it is possible. Adobe just has to figure it out.

J

Jimre3Author

Known Participant

Looks like Adobe finally allows us to edit our posts here! To avoid confusion, I've changed the original title of my original post to better reflect the specific issue here: CF Express Card treated like Hard Disk

This is NOT a general "CF Express Card Issue" thread, sorry for any misunderstandings.

P

Pugwash56

Participant

Hi

FYI I've had the same problem.

I've got around it by directly connecting the camera to the computer via the USB and then selected the source on the import screen in lighroom.

I don't think it's as quick as a card reader but it becomes a normal import process in lightroom

Regards

ManiacJoe

Inspiring

Yes, directly connecting the camera will workaround this.

The workaround for the CFE card readers is to use Mac Finder or Windows Explorer to high-speed copy the images to a hard drive, then do the LRc import from the hard drive.

J

Jimre3Author

Known Participant

The workaround for the CFE card readers is to use Mac Finder or Windows Explorer to high-speed copy the images to a hard drive, then do the LRc import from the hard drive.

By @ManiacJoe

No, I think that's exactly backwards. The whole point of my thread here is that Windows/Mac are treating CF Express Cards EXACTLY LIKE A HARD DRIVE! That's the problem, not the solution.

We want Lightroom to treat them like EVERY OTHER MEMORY CARD! Which is difficult because Windows/Mac considers CF Express cards to be "removable hard disks" at the operating system level.

J

Jao vdL

Community Expert

Solution would be for Classic to treat what the operating system tells it is an external hard disk as a removable disk. Good item for a feature request at feedback.photoshop.com

J

Jonathan B

Participating Frequently

I eventually heard back from a senior Sandisk engineer who said:

"the way the mounting works for this unit (as disks) ensures full compatibility and full read/write performance…. this was a conscious decision made by the product team for this product”

So yes, I guess any solution may need to come from Adobe, if that’s even possible.

K

kevinv7618907

Participant

well that's a shame, the point of CFexpress is faster upload times, i'm a full time photographer so I do +- 15 uploads a month, there is also more room for ' human errors ' if you have to do the import manually.

Hope this gets fixed in the future

E

EarlHollywood

Participant

same issues. using prograde cfexpress card and prograde cfexpress card reader on macOS Big Sur 11.1. has anyone been able to find a fix for this yet?

J

Jimre3Author

Known Participant

Given this seems to be the same issue on both Mac and Windows - I'm guessing this will have to be addressed somewhere deep in the Intel chipset/controller driver. I'm starting to doubt if there's any app-level workaround for Adobe or others - I'm afraid it may take a system hardware driver/firmware update to recognize CF Express as a removable device.

K

kevinv7618907

Participant

Would there be a solution yet?

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