Uploading Pictures from Camera to Mac - Slow

[ziwi]

Has anyone else experienced an extremely long wait when uploading pictures directly from the camera to the Mac? I remember it used to be faster before and now it takes forever to upload the pictures.
I typically upload from the Canon XT to the Mac by utilizing the Canon software and then importing what I want into iPhoto. The upload process of the pictures to the Mac has me set it up and walk away for hours.
Am I better off getting a card reader or is there something wrong with either the camera or Mac USB? I am wanting to blame the Canon software, but I do remember this being a much quicker process at one point.

What are your typical upload workflows? or do most folks just go right to iPhoto?

 

[66217]

I normally only use Aperture.

But here are a few things you can try:
-Restart the computer. (If you haven't already)
-Try using Image Capture to download the photos. Or iPhoto.
-If you have an external drive with you, try and see if you get good transfer speeds. To rule out a possible damage to your Mac.

If these things don't work. Try a different cable. Try in a different computer. Try a card reader and connect that to your Mac. If this doesn't works, the flash card might be damaged, so try a new card.

If all fails, it might be your camera. Tho I really doubt this.

 

[termina3]

Use a card reader.

 

[miles01110]

Image capture is very fast if you just want to get the pictures directly from the camera.

 

[Fuzzy14]

Might be something to do with the USB port.

My old iMac G3 slowed down too, when I plugged my iPod into it iTunes gave me a warning that I had plugged it into a USB1.1 port (despite plugging it into the built-in 2.0 port - the 1.1s are on the keyboard.)

If it's your USB port then a card reader won't help. So try an iPod or Roco's suggestions.

 

[Raid]

I am wanting to blame the Canon software, but I do remember this being a much quicker process at one point.

I recently purchase a Canon XSi and installed all the software (mainly to see what it's all about), and it is S---L------O-------------W! I'm probably going to uninstall it all as it auto launches for all my cameras now.

I still want to try their photo manipulation software so I've been putting off the uninstall by killing the canon app as soon as it appears on my dock after connecting my camera. That might work for you too and allow you to upload the pictures via iPhoto.

 

[GT41]

I have an XTi and I use the Canon software to download the pictures. I find the biggest impact is the CF card I use. I have a super cheap 8GB card and that takes about 3 seconds per RAW image. That is the slowest I have seen to date. Yeah its slower than I'd want but its definitely not terrible. Definitely if you are using a USB 1.1 port its going to be much slower. I'm not convinced USB ever had a good management for information flow.

 

[ChrisA]

Has anyone else experienced an extremely long wait when uploading pictures directly from the camera to the Mac? I remember it used to be faster before and now it takes forever to upload the pictures.
I typically upload from the Canon XT to the Mac by utilizing the Canon software and then importing what I want into iPhoto. The upload process of the pictures to the Mac has me set it up and walk away for hours.
Am I better off getting a card reader or is there something wrong with either the camera or Mac USB? I am wanting to blame the Canon software, but I do remember this being a much quicker process at one point.

What are your typical upload workflows? or do most folks just go right to iPhoto?

Are you sure you are using a USB 2 port and not a USB 1.1 port? Also some older USB 2 hubs will revert to 1.1 if any 1.1 device is plugged in. Apple keyborads and mice are USB 1.1 as is the hub built into the Apple keyboard. Plug ther USB cable directly in to the Mac to be sure.

I doubt the problem is a slow memory card, none are that slow. same with the cable. Cable either work or they are broken.

One final question: Why not import directly to iPhoto? Seems to me that you are just adding an extra step. Maybe you want to delete the worst images but you can do thatin iPhoto too. At least try going direct to iPhoto as a test to see if the problem is not with the Canon software

 

[Le Big Mac]

My old iMac G3 slowed down too, when I plugged my iPod into it iTunes gave me a warning that I had plugged it into a USB1.1 port (despite plugging it into the built-in 2.0 port - the 1.1s are on the keyboard.)

I thought USB2 wasn't introduced on macs until some later generation G4s.

 

[ziwi]

Are you sure you are using a USB 2 port and not a USB 1.1 port? Also some older USB 2 hubs will revert to 1.1 if any 1.1 device is plugged in. Apple keyborads and mice are USB 1.1 as is the hub built into the Apple keyboard. Plug ther USB cable directly in to the Mac to be sure.

I doubt the problem is a slow memory card, none are that slow. same with the cable. Cable either work or they are broken.

One final question: Why not import directly to iPhoto? Seems to me that you are just adding an extra step. Maybe you want to delete the worst images but you can do thatin iPhoto too. At least try going direct to iPhoto as a test to see if the problem is not with the Canon software

They are all USB 2.0 on the Mac Mini Intel C2D. I am utilizing the image capture to download. THe reason I do not go directly to iPhoto is due to the fact that I shoot in RAW + jpeg. I am only using 2GB cards in a rotating fashion. It may be the Mini USB ports are affected by something. I will have to try to diagnose that.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

I have not such problem with my older Mac (PPC 1.8Ghz iMac). In fact, it's quite fast. However it's the fastest when I use PSE6's "Bridge" to download the photos from the camera (or card) to my iMac. It beats iPhoto by a wide margin.