LrC does not recognize any files Canon R5 formatted cards

[ursuslaternix]

When I open the import dialogue in LrC (11.2) with either the R5 connected via USB cable to my iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014, running on macOS 11.6.2) or with the SD card inserted in the iMac's built-in SD card reader, LrC does not see any files on the storage cards.

The first picture above shows LrC in Library mode the R5 not mounted although the EOS Utility window on the right to the file locations proves that the camera is actually tethered. The second picture shows the LrC import dialogue. The German words "Keine Fotos gefunden" translate to "No photos found".

My current workaround is to use Canon's EOS Utility software to download the files to my SSD, where I store all my work-in-progress files. From there, I add them to the LrC catalogue.

Needless to say that this is cumbersome and I do expect LrC to be capable of importing directly from the camera, thethered via USB cable or WiFi or via card reader, which it did nicely until recently.

I can't exactly pinpoint when LrC started to behave this way and it may not only affect my R5 but also my previous 5D IV. Unfortunately I can't be sure with regard to the latter as the 5D IV is now packaged and ready to find a new owner.

I wonder if someone else experienced similar import issues and if yes, how these were fixed (if they were, that is).

Thanks for any hint that may point me in a suitable direction.

[Bob Somrak]

Try not running EOS utility and LrC at the same time when trying to import.  I think EOS Utility is taking over the import process.

[ursuslaternix]

Thanks, Bob.

Perhaps my description was too unspecific. The EOS Utility is just the workaround. I have the same problem if I don't run the EOS Utility at all but instead try to import from the iMac's built-in card reader.

Cheers,

Urs

[Todd Shaner]

From this forum: https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1685942/0

1. You are trying to copy files directly off of the camera via a USB cable. Canon R5 does not support USB Mass Storage Mode. To copy directly from the camera you will need to use Canon EOS Utility to first transfer the files to your computer, and then you can import them in to Lightroom.

2. The other problem is that due to the way that most CFExpress cards are mounted, Lightroom does not work like it does for SD cards. CFExpress readers end up getting mounted as an SSD, and in Lightroom when you click on the root of the drive it shows nothing. If you expand it, and click on DCIM, it will also show nothing. BUT if you then click up above on the checkbox that says "Include subfolders" then it should work.

[ursuslaternix]

Hi Todd,

Thanks for responding, but it appears you missed the point. I actually don't want to directly copy off camaera. That is just the current workaround (as you discribe it in 1.) because the method for copying off the SD card via card reader does not work.

Of course, I am aware that I need to expand, but even if I try to copy off the SD card via card reader, all I get is what is visible in the first screenshot to the left side of the picture (DCIM-DCIM?; 100EOSSD?)

I am not talking about CFexpress at all, because that card is used for video only, which I do not import into LrC anyway. This is purely about  SD cards which my LrC can't read from directly regardless of off camera or in camera.

Here is what it looks like when I run the import dialoge with the SD card inserted into the card reader (sorry, LrC is set up in German language, but I guess one can figure it out):

Note tha the SD card currently holds 81 raw (*.CR3) files.

[Todd Shaner]

Copy all of the files on the SD card to your HDD or SSD. Then  insert the card back into the Canon R5 and reformat the SD card with the 'Low level format' option checked. Shoot some new pictures and try importing again using LrC Import module.

[ursuslaternix]

Thanks for that one, Todd. I did not think of low level formatting before. Unfortunately, it did not help. Well, perhaps it did, but not more than halfway at best. I don't get any previews in the import dialogue.

Again, sorry for the German. "Vorschau für diese Datei nicht verfügbar" translates to "Preview for this file not available".

[Todd Shaner]

What exact memory card reader model are you using? It needs to be fully compatible with UHS-II SD cards.

[ursuslaternix]

Okay, then that may sadly be the culprit. The card is a Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-I U3 512 GB. As written above I use the iMac's built-in card reader. That combo with reader and same type of card worked with the 5D IV.

If that is Canon's or Adobe's understanding of backwards compatibility, I would find this really annoying.

Unfortunately, I have no way to test, as I will not run off to buy another SD card just because an I may be missing from the spec of my card. That in turn implies that I have to stick with my cumbersome workaround until such time as I get seriously enough pieved with it and may then buy another card if more evidence builds that this is indeed the problem.

 

[ursuslaternix]

Just had a look into the R5's manual. Nothing mentioned there about exclusive use of UHS-II, on the contrary UHS-I is explicitly listed as well as UHS-II. If that is indeed the problem, then it aapears to be rather on Adobe's side.

[Todd Shaner]

Go to menu File> Optimize catalog. Once completed close all applications and restart your iMac. Try the import again. Also how much free space do you have on the system drive?

[ursuslaternix]

Catalogue optimsation was performed yesterday. Did not help.

Free space on system volume is 178 GB, which is indeed a bit on the slim side but I would thing this to be sufficient for the current purpose.

Nevertheless, my previous assumption that the problem ist with LrC may have been premature. Strangely, the finder does not see any files at all on the SD card. It doesn't even see any of the folders on the card.

[ursuslaternix · Accepted solution]

Now, this is embarrassing. The culprit was the iMac's built-in card reader. I had almost forgotten that I own an old multipurpose card reader that could handle all sorts of cards including CF. In fact I used to read the CF cards of my 5D IV from this reader but for SD always used the iMac's internal card reader. I wasn't even actively remembering that this card reader also has a slot for SD cards.

Well, long story short, this reader did the trick. I can see the previews in LrC and also see the files in the Finder. All hunky-dory singing and dancing. Except of course the internal card reader.

Sorry for bothering you wih this, Todd, and, thanks for your patience with me.

My imagination did simply not go as far as suspecting the iMac's internal card reader.

[Todd Shaner]

Glad you got it resolved. Trying another card reader was going to be my next suggestion. The below link would seem to indicate yout iMac Late 2014 model is compatible with UHS-I SD cards, but not UHS-II SD cards. Perhaps the built-in card reader is defective or an update corrupted the firmware. At least you have a workaround.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204384