Posted by Tony Winton on August 12, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Hi everyone! I have a Canon 5D which I can download very easy. However, my husband recently got a 40D which we always have trouble downloading. I am now trying to download his camera and my computer is telling me that there is an error in the connection and that it doesn't have the right software loaded. But the CDs that came with his camera appear to be the same as what came with my camera. Are there different softwares for each camera? Thanks everyone!
Sandi Winton
Redbud Photography
Posted by Steve Foss on August 12, 2008 at 3:32 PM
Sandi, not sure on the software issue. It sounds like you're using the USB cable that came with the camera to upload images. If that's true, it's far faster and simpler to get a USB card reader and pull the card from the camera, plug it into the card reader, and transfer images to a folder on your desktop.
If you run a PC, the card reader will come with a driver to install. If you have a Mac, you don't need a driver but can just plug it in and go.
Card readers are cheap, too, with $20 or $30 getting you a good one.
Posted by David Bostedo on August 12, 2008 at 3:57 PM
If you run a PC you can probably just plug it in an go as well. Most of them will use the standard Windows drivers. (In fact most plug and play things will these days.) Otherwise, install the driver.
Either way, you don't have to use the software that came with your camera. Simply copying in Windows Explorer, or using the built-in Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard will probably work as well (in addition to some other programs, like PS Elements, Lightroom, or I think, Bridge). It's up to you.
Posted by Steve Sieren on August 13, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Hi Tony, I have a 5D and just bought a Canon G9 point & shoot for snapshots but the software is the same too because the g9 captures in RAW too. I didn't install the software because it was the same. The G9 would not upload.
So I installed the software and now it's all fine. It even updated one of the RAW converters that came w/ the 5D.
I upload from camera but should use a card reader instead.
Hi Tony!
Whenever you buy a new camera, although name of the software remains same but there are changes in the software programmes. So one must download the new software, which can also open the previous files but old version of software cannot manage files of the new camera.
Posted by John Mumaw on August 13, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Another vote for using a card reader.
They provide much faster downloads, and it doesn't put the camera in a position where it could be damaged.
One last vote for the card reader approach! And, if you have a Mac, try to get a Firewire card reader rather than USB. Firewire is considerably faster than USB. Sandisk makes one:
I don't know if you are on a Mac or Windows, but one of my biggest irritations with Canon Software for Windows (and maybe the Mac, I don't know) is that the solutions disk includes very limited driver support for previous models. For instance my solutions disk for the 1Ds Mark II includes drivers for that camera, the 1D Mark II and the 20 D. Not included, for instance, is the 10D, 1D, 1Ds. So you have to use the solutions disk for the older camera and make sure it is recognized. Then install the software for the newer camera. Then all will be recognized.
You may be able to install the new software and then when you plug in the older camera and you get the "found new hardware" window, migrate to the folder that contains the drivers.
The camera drivers are in the "WIA" folder. So, open your newest solutions disk, go to the WIA folder and there will be a folder for each camera that the solutions disk will support.
But, as the others have said, if you just want to get the files off your card, use a USB or Firewire reader.
Discussion
8 repliesSandi Winton
Redbud Photography
If you run a PC, the card reader will come with a driver to install. If you have a Mac, you don't need a driver but can just plug it in and go.
Card readers are cheap, too, with $20 or $30 getting you a good one.
Either way, you don't have to use the software that came with your camera. Simply copying in Windows Explorer, or using the built-in Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard will probably work as well (in addition to some other programs, like PS Elements, Lightroom, or I think, Bridge). It's up to you.
So I installed the software and now it's all fine. It even updated one of the RAW converters that came w/ the 5D.
I upload from camera but should use a card reader instead.
Whenever you buy a new camera, although name of the software remains same but there are changes in the software programmes. So one must download the new software, which can also open the previous files but old version of software cannot manage files of the new camera.
They provide much faster downloads, and it doesn't put the camera in a position where it could be damaged.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/446772-REG/Sandisk_SDDRX4_CFR_Extreme_FireWire_CompactFlash_Card.html
You may be able to install the new software and then when you plug in the older camera and you get the "found new hardware" window, migrate to the folder that contains the drivers.
The camera drivers are in the "WIA" folder. So, open your newest solutions disk, go to the WIA folder and there will be a folder for each camera that the solutions disk will support.
But, as the others have said, if you just want to get the files off your card, use a USB or Firewire reader.
Cheers,
Duane