Preparing to copy photos from memory card takes very long

[tadziak]

Hi Guys,

This issue has been driving my nuts for over 2 years now. Very often, when I try to copy 1000-2000 photos from my memory card, by simply dragging & dropping the files or CMD + C / CMD + V - system takes many, many minutes on "preparing to copy". It's super annoying, because in my work (sports photography) - time is money. Most often it needs at least 5 minutes just to "prepare" the files, before it actually starts the copying procedure.


It makes no difference which card I use or even which card reader (built-in/3rd party). What's even stranger - the same operation takes a second when I just drag the whole folder containing all the files. In practice it's much faster then to copy entire folders from memory card and then move files, when they are already copied on the Macbook's SSD.

I've noticed it already around year 2021, had 2 Macbook Pros upgrades since then, many Mac OS updates - still same issues.

Can anyone help or at least explain my this phenomenon? I ended up using some scripts created in automator to copy files, because copying via Finder is unacceptably slow and I was way behind all of my colleagues using Windows machines...Wasting precious time watching the message "preparing to copy" is not what I expect from super expensive Apple product.


Thank you in advance!

 

[Fishrrman]

Time for a new memory card (or 2), seems to me...

 

[chown33]

What is the exact model and capacity of the cards?

What is the format: FAT32, ExFAT, etc.?

When did you last format the card, and in what device, camera or Mac?

FAT32 can take increasing amounts of time to walk the directory catalog (which is what the "Preparing" stage is doing), or to create new files, after many repeated file creations and deletions. This is due to how FAT32 structures its directories. Reformatting can reduce or eliminate this slowdown, but it has no effect if the card itself is inherently slow.

I'm not certain, but I think ExFAT has similar directory structure slowdowns.

 

[NoBoMac]

^This. Moving data to/from a flash drive/card gets slow when moving lots of data. Been like that for ages for me on Macs, to the point I will zip up things and then move to the drive to speed things up if many files involved.

Something to try: Image Capture to import off the card?

 

[tadziak]

What is the exact model and capacity of the cards?

What is the format: FAT32, ExFAT, etc.?

It's the default format from Canon R6 and R5 cameras, so FAT32.

When did you last format the card, and in what device, camera or Mac?

I always format the card in the camera, after I download the photos that I took.

FAT32 can take increasing amounts of time to walk the directory catalog (which is what the "Preparing" stage is doing), or to create new files, after many repeated file creations and deletions. This is due to how FAT32 structures its directories. Reformatting can reduce or eliminate this slowdown, but it has no effect if the card itself is inherently slow.

I'm not certain, but I think ExFAT has similar directory structure slowdowns.

That could be the reason, sounds possible, but still quite annoying.

Time for a new memory card (or 2), seems to me...

It really can't be the case. I'm using fast CF Express cards (Sandisk and Lexar Professional). I bought the later one - especially to rule out that the issue is with the card. Additionally I also use some classic SD card (also from the fast ones, Sandisk).

Another issue that I notice is that very often the built in memory card reader doesn't detect the card at all. Often they need to be taken out and re-insterted a few times before it's detected. Again - tested on different cards and throughout 2-3 machines (I update Macbook Pro 16' every time a new one comes out)...

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Are you sure the cards you bought are genuine, and not "counterfeits" ??

 

[tadziak]

OP:

Are you sure the cards you bought are genuine, and not "counterfeits" ??

Totally sure, always buy from authorized dealers of Sandisk and Amazon. Maybe I will rephrase question and ask:

Is there anybody who has a memory card with 2000-3000 photos (CF Express/ SD) and can try copying the files (without folder that contains them) to their Mac? Will there be the "preparing to copy" stage for a few minutes before the actual copying process starts? For me even copying 300 photos takes first around 30 seconds to "prepare".

 

[Slartibart]

Copying via Finder drag&drop is the culprit here - this comes with a "time penalty". Depending on the destination (SSD/HD, file system, destination folder which incorporates already images, etc.) this can take quite a bit time "preparing" - the Finder calculates for example the total size of the images to transfer and then checks wether the destination has sufficient space (and more).

As already mentioned, using Image Capture will accelerate the whole thing - this gives you the ability to define the destination and the copy starts immediately. This is the same for probably almost all other programs which allow for importing or copying of images.

Overall the fastest way to copy lots of images would be using rsync in the terminal:

rsync -av /source/folder/ /destination/folder

You basically open a terminal window, type rsync -av , then drag&drop the image folder on the SD card onto this terminal window, press space, and then drag&drop the destination folder on it too. Press return, done. 🤓

 

[UserD]

Totally sure, always buy from authorized dealers of Sandisk and Amazon. Maybe I will rephrase question and ask:

Is there anybody who has a memory card with 2000-3000 photos (CF Express/ SD) and can try copying the files (without folder that contains them) to their Mac? Will there be the "preparing to copy" stage for a few minutes before the actual copying process starts? For me even copying 300 photos takes first around 30 seconds to "prepare".

I have been having exactly the same issue! And yes nothing to do with memory card speed etc that others have suggested.
I have used finder copying in the past and don't remember it being such an issue as it is now?
Thanks to helpful comment from Slartibartfast above it definitely takes the issue away when you copy the actual folder rather than just the contents!