Scan Disk SD HC card

[AMac]

Hi,
I wonder if anyone might be able to help me.

I have just bought a Scandisk Extrem 111 8 GB SD HC card.

My Lacie reader will not read the card, in fact if I go to - my computer - then click the removable disc, it will just sit there with the timer running, locked up until I remove the card.

As it is a new card in a new camera, I have formatted the card in the new camera.

If I connect directly with the camera it will read the card then.

If I use an older Panasonic SD card in the reader it will read that card.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[ap4a]

You need an SDHC card reader to be able to read the new card, an SD card reader won't recognise it. However an SDHC card reader will generally recognise SD cards due to backwards compatibility.

[AMac]

Hi thanks for that, I half thought that. I had hoped the answer might just be down load the latest drivers!

No such luck!

Could I please ask one more question.

I have be using a Canon 20D for a good few years, today I have just bought a 550D.

I am just playing around with it, when I try to open an image I get the message Canon has found a new CR2 file that is not supported, click the link to go to the Canon site to down load new software.

When I go there there is a list of cameras but the 550D is not one of them.

I guess the site is not up to date but do you think I should just download it anyway?

Thanks for your prompt reply.

[AMac]

Well, I have now down loaded the update, but I still can not open the images, unless it is with the canon software.

I tried to loo around the Canon site but there is no more information. So I have sent an email to Canon.

I have to say I am a little disappointed, you would have thought all the software you needed would come with the camera, it has taken the shine of it all.

[ap4a]

Did you update your software with the version that came with the new camera? The 20D is an old model and the software won't maybe support newer versions of the format, whereas the 550D is a very new model and its UK release is actually scheduled for next month which suggests you have bought an imported version and possibly are being linked to a non-UK version of their site. For the UK go here: http://software.canon-europe.com/products/0010834.asp but check the software CDs with the new camera, you should have what you need already.

[Forseti]

Originally Posted by AMac

Well, I have now down loaded the update, but I still can not open the images, unless it is with the canon software.

Sorry but I'm a bit confused here by your inclusion of the word unless in your post. Could you please indicate what the other software is that you are presumably referring to that cannot open the CR2 files?

For info, latest versions of Canon software are Zoombrowser v6.4.1, DPP v3.8 and EOS Utility v2.8.1

Also, if a Windows XP user (not sure about Vista/W7 but in all probability the same) the chances are you won't be able to view CR2 thumbnail images in Explorer e.g. when you want to view the contents of a file. This is due to XP, Vista and W7(?) missing the necessary Codecs. A free download of the necessary Codecs (FastPictureViewer Codecs v1.67) can be had from here http://www.fastpictureviewer.com/codecs/

[AMac]

Hi everyone,
thank you for taking the time to reply.

I can not open the CR2 flie with windows(Vista) or with Lightroom or Paintshop pro. When I try with windows I get a message to down load a new codec file from Canon via a link supplied.

I have done this but it would still not open. Today I tried at work with windows 7 but it did not open and I got the same message.

I have loaded the software with the camera and can open the file with the Digital Photo professional.

I have contacted Canon, they said the camera has not been released yet and I might have a non UK camera, but I bought it from Jessops on Sun, so I think it will be a UK camera. Canon at the moment say as it has not been released they can not support the camera, but I have gone back to them and explained where I have bought it from, so I hope they will change their mind.

[Forseti]

Ah, got it now Amac. I've never been quite sure what these Canon codecs actutally do and in fact have never actually installed them. Perhaps they are required so that Canons Zoombrowser can show thumbnails but as I haven't got ZB installed either I'm only guessing here. Either way, both Lightroom and Photoshop work for me even without these Codecs in addition to Canons own software.

Your problem however is not related to the lack of these codecs but more to lack of support from Adobe. Canon for obvious reasons update their own software, DPP and EOS utility etc as soon as any new model is released but this isn't the case with Adobe who first need to get their hands on any new camera. In short, the current version of Lightroom (2.6) which uses the same Camera RAW pipeline as Photoshop which in turn uses the latest version of Camera RAW (5.6) do not at this time support the 550D. I also don't think that the current beta release of LR v3 offers support for this camera although it's fairly certain that the final release due approximately at the beginning of April will do.

Unfortunately, until the DNG converter gets an update that option isn't open to you either. However, one work round is to use DPP and convert your files to the TIFF format which your current version of Lightroom will be able to read. This is always one of the drawbacks of buying new model cameras as soon as they hit the streets - waiting for software upgrades from various suppliers.

[AMac]

Hi Forseti,
Thanks for the detailed reply, what you have said seems to make sense. It was one of those impulse buys, I should be old enough to know better lol.

I had an event to go to on Sat, and had been reading all the information about the 550D and thought it would fun to try with my new camera

I tried on a friends Lightroom 2.6 but still no luck.

In your experience, how long does it take for everyone to catch up?

Why do Canon have to change the file format and why is it still called CR2, as it is with my 20D?

Well I am away working for a few days, I might come back and there might be an answer. Or I will have to use your Tiff work around.

Would I be better off converting them to DNG, if I have got that correct?

Thanks again for your help and advice.

[Forseti]

Unfortunately not. As I intimated to in my previous post, the DNG converter usually gets an update at about the same time as Camera Raw. This update includes support for newly released cameras as indeed does Camera Raw.

Adobe first need to get their hands on these cameras in order to write their own code and this is only because Nikon, Canon and Co. don't, for obvious commercial reasons, release/give away their own proprietary code. As to why Canon change the CR2 format - well that's a question you'll have to ask Canon themselves, and whilst you're asking, asking them why they don't give unique format names e.g. CR3 so that everyone would know a change had taken place.

With regard to your question 'how long does it usually take for everyone to catch up. Well Adobe usually release updates to Camera Raw every 3 months or so and as Lightroom v3 is due for release at the beginning of April I image so to will Camera Raw if for no other reason than to maximize upon compatibility between Lightroom and Photoshop it's best if both applications are using the same version of Camera Raw. In Photoshop it's a plug-in of course whereas with Lightroom it's built into the engine.

That said, CS5 is also due for release shortly so whether or not the next Camera Raw update will apply both to CS5 and CS4 is anybodies guess.

Glad to have been of some help. :-)