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User profile for user: brandall484
brandall484 Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

iPhoto will not import from iPhone4 or Camera

I have been unable to import from my camera into iPhoto for almost 2 years now... I always thought it was my camera so I just ignored the issue. But now, my Iphone 4 wont import either. I guess the problem was not my camera. I get 2 errors, one says "iPhoto cannot import your photos because there was a problem downloading an image." and the other tells me that .JPG is not an authorized file format. I am able to import to other computers, so I know the files are fine...Stay tuned for the end of the post and I will give another reason that I am sure the files are fine!

I have tried many things to fix this, but I will break it out into pre iPhone4 and post iPhone4. Also, all software is up to date... I have the latest versions of all programs and OS.

Post iPhone4: I have created a new user account incase I had corrupt user preferences, I have run Repair Disk Permissions, and I even purchased Aperture which gives me the same errors... I was sure mad to spend all that money and have it not work either!

Pre iPhone4, I have reinstalled iPhoto, reinstalled the OS, and then later upgraded to snow leopard. None of this fixes the problem.

The strangest thing of all is that sometimes... After a reboot for example, I can get ONE video or picture to import. but then, the gates close and it is broken again. The file that imported is the same one that earlier said that it was not supported.

I have exhausted the software fixes that I am aware of... Could this be a hardware issue?

MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 9, 2010 6:55 PM

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31 replies
User profile for user: KEANDAU
KEANDAU
User level: Level 1
28 points

Aug 10, 2010 9:16 AM in response to brandall484

I am having the same issue.

I have a kodak camera - always worked great to import. Then one day I starting getting the same message "Cannot import - unrecognized format"

I have a laptop and I can import to that. The laptop is 2 years old and the desktop is 3. I have the identical software loaded on both and updated. Last Time I had the issue I had to erase all data on the camera and restart it. Since then I was able to import just fine - until today - now it is back....

here is my previous visit and the suggestions with it.. http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=11809960#11809960

I guess I'll run the gauntlet again...

Importing just selected "grayed out" pics does not help me.


Thanks to all
Kevin
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User profile for user: KEANDAU
KEANDAU
User level: Level 1
28 points

Aug 10, 2010 10:06 AM in response to KEANDAU

It may actually worth pointing out that the one difference in software between my two computers is that I have Safari 5.0 on the desktop (which has the issues with importing) and still have Safari 4.XX on the laptop.

I say may be worth pointing out because I occasionally have 'playback' issues with Safari 5.0 - where movies (youtube or MSN) will not play - also some interactive weather maps do not load. This problem is fixed when I quit (Command + Q) Safari and all other applications that are running in the background. Upon restarting Safari - everything is fine.

I do not have this issue with the laptop and version 4.0. (although it is a work computer and I really do not use the internet that much on the laptop.)

So perhaps, the two issues are related since they began to occur at the same time - with the loading of Safari 5.0?

Kevin
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User profile for user: TallmanG
TallmanG
User level: Level 1
0 points

Aug 10, 2010 7:27 PM in response to brandall484

I'm having similar difficulties. My iPhone transferred photos fine. But my Kodak v603 won't transfer. We get this message:
"iPhoto cannot import your photos because there was a problem downloading an image."
We just upgraded to a brand new MacBook, so the software is all up to date. My wife is going to visit the Genius Bar, so if she gets a solution I'll try to post it here.
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User profile for user: Randolfski
Randolfski
User level: Level 1
4 points

Aug 10, 2010 8:56 PM in response to brandall484

I'm still having the same issues and tried some of the suggestions on different post. The funny thing is that I was able to import my photos from my iPhone 4 onto my piece of crap Dell work pc. Sheesh! If the IT guys at my work got word that I was having issues with my iMac and the work around was saving my photos on a Dell pc, I'd never hear the end of it!
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User profile for user: Yer_Man
Yer_Man
User level: Level 10
163,698 points

Aug 11, 2010 8:40 AM in response to brandall484

So a thumb drive works but the camera and the phone don't? Try reformat the card in your camera with the camera and see of that helps. Try posting on the iPhone forum for help with that.

Aren't these forums moderated by apple support staff?


Not quite. They are Moderated by the Apple Doscussions Staff and that means they try and keep the Discussions running on track according to the Terms of Use we all agreed to when we signed up. But they don't Audit the forums. The forums are for users to talk to other users. Apple does not promise to read anything here.

iPhoto menu -> Provide iPhoto Feedback is the route to the developers

Regards

TD
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User profile for user: ABRAND
ABRAND
User level: Level 1
0 points

Aug 11, 2010 12:25 PM in response to Yer_Man

I have a brand new Kodak EasyShare M341, and also a 7 month old MacBook. I've uploaded my pictures using iphoto once before, and everything imported perfectly fine. This time, however, it brings up blank grey squares in my iphoto (instead of the pictures themselves), and when I go to import them, iphoto says that all of the images could not be imported as the files are "in an unrecognizable format". The files are all in a .jpg format, just the same as the first time I uploaded all my images.

One of the things recommended was to reformat the SD card in my camera. I have some very important pictures on there right now and reformatting would delete them all. Is there anything else I can try to at least get these images off the card first before reformatting?
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User profile for user: MDoorkeeper
MDoorkeeper
User level: Level 1
5 points

Aug 11, 2010 8:53 PM in response to brandall484

I'm having much the same problem, only it's not an iPhone. iPhoto had no problem importing .jpg files from my previous mobile phone, a Sanyo Katana II, but when I try to import from my new Samsung Reclaim, I get a dialog reading "Unreadable Files: The following file(s) could not be imported. (The file is in an unrecognized format.)" Since when is .jpg an "unrecognized" image format? I also tried removing the micro SD from the phone and plugging it directly into the computer via a USB reader...no joy, same result.
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User profile for user: mmmgoood
mmmgoood
User level: Level 1
0 points

Aug 28, 2010 12:30 AM in response to brandall484

i've got the same deal. just took about 20 new photos on my iphone 4 and went to upload them onto iphoto, and i get the error message that says "error downloading image" there was a problem downloading an image. if i select one single image to import, a window pops up and says "unreadable file" and says (unrecognized format). not sure what i can do to fix this
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iPhoto will not import from iPhone4 or Camera

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