Pure Frustration! Patient people help me!

[stephanie_w]

<p>Happy Thanksgiving night everyone...</p>

<p>I am a beginner and I'm so frusterated! I just don't understand why, whyyy these things keep happening. I want to be thankful on this day, but it's so hard. My photography experience was always in film, and I had about 6 years education in the lost art of negatives and darkroom processing. Buut.... I got my Canon 20D 2 weeks ago, and I have a Lexar Professional UDMA 2GB memory card. The first day I had my 50mm F1.8 lens, I took about 200 photos of my nephew's birthday party, so many of which turned out just amazing. The lighting was perfect in the house, he got so many cute presents such as a shiny Red Flyer with streamers attached that just made so many cute portrait moments with nice bokeh and such (well, as nice as that lens can put out). It seemed the lens was fast, and got everything I wanted. At the time, I had to learn the hard way. I didn't have a CF card reader, but I was anxious to upload my photos and I tried to upload them straight from the camera. I will state again - All my previous education was in FILM. I'm a totally newbie with digital stuff... Canon's crap software of course couldn't "recognize" it's own camera, and in searching the net briefly on help, my impatience eventally led to me erasing the memory card on accident. I apologized deeply to my sister-in-law, and promised I would make it up to her today, on Thanksgiving, and half my photos today were of her son.</p>

<p>Sigh... ok. Lesson learned the hard way. Last time I shot photos, I bought a $30 CF card reader from Comp USA a couple days ago and uploaded them on the computer, no problems at all. After they were uploaded, I re-formatted the card in the camera and took about another 200 photos today on Thanksgiving. I felt a little off, because the lens didn't seem as fast as the other day. What? The lighting elements feel the same. The same settings. Ok, adjust to lighting. Still not fast. Still not as nice. It's like a vacuum that loses power the more rooms you go through. Does that happen to a cheap lens after a few sessions? The other lens I have is the 18-55mm, but I barely like to use it, it feels like I can only use it in taking landscape or group photos (which I did a couple today alright) but I looooovvvee natural portrature of my family so I kept the 50 on most of the day.</p>

<p>So I get home, plug it into the CF card reader... nothing. I can't get my computer to download the photos. Did I put it in wrong? Upside down? Inside out? No, no, no, I try again and again, just take it out and put it back, but the CF card reader lights are on but I might as well have plugged in my hair dryer for all my computer cared.</p>

<p>"What in the world?" I say.. I peer into the CF card reader, and it appears 2 of the little prongs seem bent. Oh my! Ok, I can fix that, but did I damage my memory card trying to plug it in? Let me put it back in my camera, which I reviewed a lot of photos before I came home. "Error - CF Card" it tells me. "No Image". Why camera? Why can't you read my card? Do you want to break my heart too??? Please please please stop breaking my heart. Don't do this to me! After inspection of the memory card, it seems where the 2 progs were bent on the reader put little scratches next to the corresponding holes (ok, I'm not scientific here with the digital stuff... sorry!)</p>

<p>Please, someone tell me. What do I need to do 1.) Get my photos!!!! 2.) GET MY FREAKIN PHOTOS and 3.) prevent this from happening again! Did I get a cheapo CF card reader? All the other ones in the store cost like $5-$15 and I was just trying to get a quality one so I just asked the guy to get a professional grade one. It's "ULTRA" brand.</p>

<p>I am incredibly discouraged right now. Everything in my burning heart and soul wants to do photography, but it seems that either my sheer stupidity or the cosmos are preventing me from doing so. So, this post is mostly meant for those with a little enourgaging help or can share their own stories of beginner's horror. Please share!</p>

<p>Forgive any typos, I've had my share of wine tonight. Other than my frustration over my photography, I had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I hope you all had the same.</p>

 

[JDMvW]

<p>Take a deep breath and try to approach your problems one at a time. Altogether, they're just overwhelming, as you have found out.<br /> CF cards can go bad, and there are, unfortunately counterfeit ones out there that "claim" to have more capacity than they really do. I think a card problem is probably more likely than the reader being bad, tho' that's not impossible.<br /> You did right to format the card in the camera. Try <strong>another</strong> card and see if there is the same or any problem.</p>

<p>Don't reformat the card in question, just set it aside. You might try hooking up the camera directly to the computer with the USB cable, and see if that works. There is software available to try to recover info on damaged cards, and some places provide this service for a price. Again, don't lose hope. Just deal with one variable at a time and see if you can isolate the problem to the card, reader, or whatever.</p>

<p>Others will probably have more ideas.</p>

<p>I have to say, you did a very nice job of presenting your problem: it is clear and cogent. I wish everybody who posts here would be so literate.</p>

<p>Happy Thanksgiving. Tomorrow will be soon enough to struggle with this. Have more wine.</p>

[stephanie_w]

<p>I am drinking more wine at the moment :) Wine is great.</p>

<p>If anyone can suggest a knockout memory card/card reader combo, that would be super. I don't have much money, but when I feel down on my luck like this, any amount I could spend that prevents from having this feeling again could help. What I'm thinking is, tomorrow I should march into Comp USA and tell them I need to exchange my reader for something less bendy and idiot-proof. Well, maybe not in those words. I did do a little googling on the services that can help a corrupted memory card, but I assume you need a non-corrupted CF card reader to perform the scan.</p>

<p>Also, if someone could recommend the best service for corrupted memory cards, that would be helpful also! Some of their websites just look fraudulent.</p>

[william l. palminteri]

<p>Bent pins, huh ?<br>

I never ever EVER remove cards because I'm terrified of bending pins.<br>

I've seen people use those cards as frisbees, etc. with no problems.<br>

Those pins never bend.<br>

Yeah, right.<br>

Best of luck sorting this out.<br>

Happy Thanksgiving,</p>

<p>Bill P.</p>

[stephanie_w]

<p>Yes William, you caught me. I spent like 25 minutes of my holiday writing out that heartful message about my frustration just to lie about bendy pins. I hate to tell you this, but I'm a pretty good looking 24 year old woman, and at most times I have about 10 options to do something else. But instead I chose to write to intelligent photographers who can share information that I need. Isn't that the point of this forum?</p>

<p>If I were to use my CF card, or memory card, as a frisbee, I wouldn't expect the pins to bend at awkward angles, no. I admit I must have done something to mess it the hell up, but I'm not sure what I did, and if that isn't clear then there is something wrong with the quality of my reader and card. So I just need a little direction. Thanks!</p>

[johnw63]

<p>Stephanie,</p>

<p>In regards to your lens not seeming as fast, the answer is ...NO. The lens is just glass, just like your film lenses. It doesn't change. However, I don't know how many threads I've read, where the photographer unknowingly changed a setting on the camera, as they were trying to navigate the menus, within other menus, etc. Check the obvious stuff like ISO settings and what mode you are in. Worst case, do a factory reset and get it back to the same settings it had when you started.<br>

( I just thought of something... when you mean the lens was not as fast, do you mean you had to use a different shutter speed or aperture, or were you not able to take PICTURES as quickly ? If you mean the latter, I suspect the camera was not writing to your card properly and it was slowing down to re-try. You'd think it would start flashing an error, if this was the case, but .... )<br>

I see you have run head long in the real issue with digital cameras. The data. Getting it to save and then transfer to your computer and then get it saved to CDs or something can run into bumps in the road. It's just computer data. Just like your hard drive.</p>

<p>Now, I do not yet have a DSLR, but I do work with computers all day long, so my advice would be this... don't go cheap on cards or readers or cables or backup hard drives. Make sure the card type is correct for your camera. Make sure you use the best brand cards you can get. Always have a backup card. Don't shoot a whole event on ONE card. That way if one gives you trouble, you have half the pictures on the other card. Make sure you have the process down pat before you start taking real keepers. Make sure you have the NEWEST version of any Canon software. Just because it was packaged with your camera, doesn't mean something newer, with bugs fixed, isn't available on the web site.</p>

<p>Lastly, make sure you understand where the data is going and where the software is looking. I say this because I run into users all the time who have NO idea where there files are saved. All they know is they choose "Open" from the file menu and they are there. They don't know how to find them, without opening Word or Excel or what ever, so they don't know how to move them, copy them, save them to other drives.</p>

<p> </p>

[luis_g]

<p> I am GENTLE with the CF cards, and after changing cards, and using them on my Lexar card readers have yet to bend a pin (I know, this is asking for it). I sold an ELPH camera to a friend a few years ago. It was one I'd used quite a bit, and never had a problem, but my friend managed to bend pins in the camera with the same card I had used a zillion times. Agh.</p>

<p> Take your card to a camera store and see if it can be read. Happy Thanksgiving, and good luck!</p>

<p> </p>

[parv]

Get another card reader. In the mean time, gingerly try straightening the pins, and see if it can read a(n) (expendable) card.

 

A coworker has purposely avoided choosing a camera with CompactFlash card slot in case the pins get bent out of shape. (Other reason was to use same card format with other devices.) A SD(HC) female card socket with flat, wide contacts, similar to a female USB port, does look more robust in comparison.

 

I & my sister personally have not yet experienced problems with card reader or camera socket pins in about 4 years of use between us. It could be that we are not taking enough of photos to induce human error.

[Jeff Lear]

<p>Stephanie, go easy on Mr. Palminteri, he was sympathizing with you, not making the fun out of you, your situation, or calling you a liar.</p>

<p>Alright, did you check the pin-HOLES on your CF card to make sure there wasn't a detached pin lodged in one of the ports? I would NOT try to install that card in your camera again until you've determined that the card is not damaged. The card is cheap, replacing the CF module in your 20D is not. I would maybe wait until the wine wears off before critically examining your card, lots of wine tends to make them move around a lot. If all of the pins in your 20D were not making contact with the card you would get a CF Card Err. The shots you took today are most likely still on the card, perfectly safe.</p>

<p>Go about this systematically. You've determined there are bent pins in your CF Card reader, what about the camera? Any missing or bent pins?</p>

<p>Regarding the speed of your lens/camera. Having come from film, you may not be familiar with the EC dial on the back of your 20D. I know that I destroyed may photographs and incurred many hours of frustration before realizing I had inadvertently dialed in 2 stops of over exposure with the stupid thumb wheel on my 20D. Setting the power switch to the <em>first</em> detent disables the EC dial. I'm not saying this is the source of your problems, but there are many possible reasons not related to defective equipment. Once you retrieve the images you can examine the EXIF data and determine the issue.</p>

<p>And finally, Canon's software is not crap. I've been using it (EOS Utility and DPP, not so much Zoom Browser) for years and have never accidentally deleted a single image as a result of anything other than my own mistake. Every image in my gallery started life in Canon software, without exception.</p>

<p>I'm sorry for your frustrations and hope that tomorrow brings clarity and resolution without a hangover. Happy Thanksgiving.</p>

[hjoseph7]

First of all are you a regular on Photo.net. I hate to sound frustrating...

[william l. palminteri]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=4260569"><em>Jeff Lear</em></a><em> </em><a href="../member-status-icons"><em><img title="Subscriber" src="http://static.photo.net/v3graphics/member-status-icons/sub2.gif" alt="" /></em></a><em>, Nov 27, 2009; 12:36 a.m.</em><br>

<em>Stephanie, go easy on Mr. Palminteri, he was sympathizing with you, not making the fun out of you, your situation, or calling you a liar.</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>Thanks, Jeff, you're right, I'm sympathizing with Stephanie.<br>

When I got my Nikon E950 a decade ago, I took one look at those pins and said to myself "That's a disaster just waiting to happen."<br>

When I got my D70s, the same thing applied. The card went in and hasn't seen daylight since.<br>

Friends who know about this stuff were kinda smiling at my "naivete" regarding this issue, but common sense told me otherwise.<br>

It seems like I'm not alone.<br>

Once again, best of luck sorting this out.</p>

<p>Bill P.</p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>This sounded like a power problem to me at first. How old is that camera? How old are the batteries? What kind are in there (by material type, lithium, alkaline, ni-cad, what's in there)?The model came out in 2004; if it's a little older, might be time for a battery change.</p>

<p>Battery power can affect cameras and cause them to behave unusually because the camera circuits have a lot of semiconductors in them. This means that the camera circuit can have so much resistance as to outweigh the internal resistance of some kinds of batteries. The memories are essentially magnetic; more electricity sucked into there. For example, alkaline batteries that would seem to be still good on a meter might begin to fail very early in a digicam, because of the resistance balance.</p>

<p>Point is, for beginner answers, check or change battery in the camera. This might help out the lens problem some, and might reduce the quirkiness of the camera's behavior.</p>

<p>For the downloading: when you put the card into the computer, do you see any evidence of recorded images in a dialog box?</p>

<p>So, is it like you could see evidence of images on the digicam LCD, but nothing when you moved the card onto another system? If so, I suspect the receiving system's ability to identify the presence of a file type by suffix.</p>

<p>You mentioned that the computer was not recognizing the camera. There's a software conflict of some kind in there. What's the type and date of the application that you're using to see the images?</p>

<p>All the switches have to line up with computers. Once you get that thing going smoothly one time, this will be a lot easier to sort out.</p>

<p>Don't worry too much about bent pins; I have used computers that were directly sitting in the dirt and getting rained on. Sometimes the stuff is tougher than people make it out to be (alas, sometimes weaker). A bent pin problem is not good for the long run; idea being that it can only get bent and pushed back so many times before part breaks. Yet, in the immediate, if the connection is there; then, it's there.</p>

<p>So, I think what you're describing is a minor power problem with the camera (slower performance of automatic lens as an indicator), and a software communication problem (maybe aggravated by an incomplete connection with a bent pin, maybe). </p>

<p>Now, the camera was originally designed for sale around 2004. It's 2009. Computer and camera sales places will aim for the latest. Could be that something in the chain can't talk to another part because it is looking for something newer. Often, just a simple change can get parts talking to each other again. We'll have to hunt down that change with a little feedback and methodical checking.</p>

[Wouter Willemse]

<p>- Get another cardreader. Bent pins in the cardreader do not have to mean the card itself is failing.<br>

- Try software like Recuva (freeware) or Rescue Pro (shipped with high-end sandisks). Often you can recover a lot of photos from a seemingly empty memory card.<br>

- Try a another CF card in your camera. Make sure that all works.</p>

<p>Only once you managed to do that (earlier could mean you loose a chance of finding the pictures back!), try the "broken" CF card in the camera again. Format it in camera prior to use, if it fails again then, it's pretty a lost cause, assuming the other CF card works in you camera.</p>

<p>And yeah, as for the pins in CF... indeed accidentts waiting to happen. I once read somewhere that SD card were worse than CF (and hence not the "pro choice") because you might be able to bend the card itself and snap it in half.... like that was more likely than some 40 thin metal pins... It's a flawed design, period. So, unfortunately, CF cards need some TLC when inserting.</p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>Once you get this system working right one time, your life with it will be easier, because then you will know <strong>what right looks like</strong>. Have you seen this camera and that computer work to send an image all the way through, one time, before?</p>

<p>If no, then you may just need some setup checks with the computer to make sure those parts can talk to each other. It sounds like, so far, you haven't seen them talk.</p>

<p>You need to get them talking right one time before you try 200 images at a pop. Trust me on this. If you try the 200 images on the first pass, when things aren't working; it just compounds the problems for you by about 201X.</p>

<p>Once they're talking, you'll know what it takes. It'll go a lot better in the future once you've achieved that. You can do it. I have confidence in you. I know you can make it! If you can do a film camera, you can do this! </p>

<p>Write back and tell us some stuff about your equipment. Batteries, computer type and OS receiving the info, applications used, and have you seen it work before (image files in dialog box from card at all)?</p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>I am willing to bet blind that what Stephanie needs is one set of fresh batteries and a driver script from the manufacturer.</p>

<p>This past June, Canon issued a driver script (firmware update) for that camera type.</p>

<p>The website specifically says that update "improves communication with some types of CF cards."</p>

<p>It may be what you need to get the software to understand the files from the camera. Especially so if you are using a new computer.</p>

<p>Try going over to this website run by Canon, and then click on that driver file and install it. There will be directions around the link to that file, but usually you just click on it, download it, click on it on your computer to start installing it; then, when it's done, usually you will have to restart your computer. When that's done, hook everything back up again, turn it all on, and see if you can detect the image files.</p>

<p>Here's the link to the website: http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&tabact=DownloadDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=314&modelid=10464</p>

[jpo3136b]

<p>The search terms I used for getting that link were "Canon 20D driver". I bet that will sort a big part of this out.</p>

[jim mucklin]

<p>I feel your pain, coming from a guy who tried to get 46 shots of a roll of porta 36, before he realized there wasn't any film in the camera.<br>

I have had much better luck with digital, the menu reminds me that I forgot to put in the card. I drew arrows on my cards so that in a hurry or dim light, I couldn't destroy the pins in the camera, knock on plastic I'm batting 100.<br>

The safe way is to plug the camera into the computor. If it's any help my $20 card reader works just as well as the one I have built into my computer. I guess I'm just lucky when it comes to bending, because ususally I can destroy anything, I have two left thumbs, they are on my right hand.<br>

Keep the faith and remember every set back is a learning experience. My other horror stories will be in a book called"What not to do" coming out soon.<br>

Could you post a picture of the good looking 24 year old wine?</p>

[mark_loader]

<p>These guys seem to have sorted the technical problems out, Steph....for your frustration issues can I suggest a short video? Go to www.zarias.com. Then click on Archives - February 2009. Then find a wonderful little thing called "Transform; a short film for Scott Kelby". You may wish to pour yourself a glass of vino first...love from Downunder...a very handsome and charismatic 53 year old Mark ;)</p>

[Jeff Lear]

<p>Yeah, I forgot to mention that I'm very good looking, too. Especially after a few glasses of wine. That is a great short, Mark... I've got a link to it for whenever I get discouraged or frustrated.</p>

[stephanie_w]

<p>Ok, so far I have bought a new CF card reader and new memory card, both of which work fine. So, luckily nothing is wrong in the camera itself. I did try to use the old memory card on the new CF card reader, it did not detect anything. So I guess I need to try that new Canon driver, like you suggested John. I'm trying not to lose my cool, but I NEED these images! Also will try some recovery software, does anyone know if a free version that works? If I have to pay for a good one, I will, I NEED these images back!!</p>

[stephanie_w]

<p>also, sorry about that William, I was a little tipsy and beyond frustrated which is not a good combo for picking up internet sarcasm... hehe...</p>

 

[william l. palminteri]

<blockquote>

<p ><a href="/photodb/user?user_id=5770510"><em>Stephanie West</em></a><em> </em><a href="/member-status-icons"></a><em>, Nov 30, 2009; 12:28 p.m.</em><br>

<em>also, sorry about that William, I was a little tipsy and beyond frustrated which is not a good combo for picking up internet sarcasm... hehe...</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p>I know the feeling !</p>

<p>Bill P.</p>

[Wouter Willemse]

<p>Stephanie, you can give Recuva a try; it is free and it worked for me once: <a href="http://www.piriform.com/recuva">http://www.piriform.com/recuva</a>. Not the fanciest looking (or most professional looking) piece of software ever, but it may do the trick.</p>

[Jeff Lear]

<p>It sounds to me like there is something physically wrong with the card as opposed to a data issue. I don't know about Lexar, but when I had a similar problem with my SanDisk 2GB card, they were able to recover the images by disassembling the card and drawing the data directly off the chips inside. At the time, they did this for free because the reason for the issue was a manufacturing defect.</p>

<p>Lexar's support page is <a href="http://www.lexar.com/support/support.html">here</a>.</p>

<p>Also, for updating the firmware on your 20D, the process usually involves burning the new firmware to a CF card and installing that card in the camera where it is either automatically or manually downloaded by the camera. Updates for Canon's image processing and utility apps like DPP, Image Browser, and EOS Utility are downloaded and installed just like any other software update.</p>

<p>Glad to hear you're up and running again.</p>

[stephanie_w]

<p>Hey all! I tried Recuva... didn't work. So I then I tried Lexar's Image Recovery 4 - had to pay for it though - (I don't know if I would have had to if I had called them and explained the problem, since it was their card, but obviously I'm pretty impatient about this and wasn't willing to wait) and it worked like a charm! Almost all my photos came back, and I now I have 30something very happy family members. Woo hoo! Highly recommend Lexar's software. Thanks for all your help!</p>