CF Express files invisible

Has this Mac ever been able to access files on this particular CF Express card?

If so, then what has changed since the last time you could access files on this card? This includes any changes to the computer, macOS (update, upgrade), and even how the CF Express Card has been used since then.

Try disconnecting all other external devices from the computer to see if that makes any difference. Connect the card reader adapter directly to the Mac. I would also try connecting it to a powered USB3/4 hub as well if a direct connection doesn't work.

Try booting into Safe Mode which will prevent some third party software from running automatically at startup to see if you can no access those files.

Launch Disk Utility and click "View" so that the physical drives appear on the left pane of Disk Utility. Can you see the physical CF Express card on the left pane of Disk Utility? Or perhaps the CF Card Adapter name/brand? If you don't see the physical device, then you have a hardware issue of some sort, or some software configuration preventing access to that device.

Also check in the System Profiler under the USB section (could be under Thunderbolt/USB4 section as well). See if you can see the CF Card Reader adapter shows up. Without this showing, there will not be any CF Express Card. You can launch the System Profiler by Option-clicking the Apple menu and selecting the first item.

After all this, you will likely need to try using another CF card reader adapter, or finding another computer to try accessing your CF Express Card with your current adapter (any computer or OS should theoretically work).

Does anything show if you use Image Capture, included with macOS? Because of varying card formats, sometimes the Finder does not see what on a card without translator help. Image Capture acts as a translator.

Image Capture User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Example from my Nikon DSLR

SandinAustin wrote:

Canon r5ii, not Sony

I move images after each shoot, always

I do not have a different computer, nor do I have a different reader

Good info, thank you.

Test your existing card reader plugged into different ports (rear & front) of the M4 Mac mini.

Reach out to ProMaster for support with that card and reader.

https://promaster.com/products/velocity-cine-dual-card-reader-cfexpress-type-b-sd?

Test a different USB-C CF Express card reader or Multi card reader that supports Type-B CF Express cards.

Have you tried connecting the camera directly to the computer with the USB cable and opening Image Capture on the Mac? Do you see the images and able to transfer?

If that works, there can be very well an issue with the card itself or the card reader. Just because it works in camera does not rule out hardware issues when connecting the card to something else.

That kind of narrows down the fact that there isn't anything in the files themselves at issue.

At this point, my guess would be that the card reader went belly up.

a quick look at Amazon shows that there a a large number of inexpensive CF Express card readers and might be worth a shot at picking one up.

Or, keep the card in the camera and just transfer via USB. If concerned about connecting and disconnecting, the USB specs call for an insertion reliability that is much greater than that of any memory card.

Not enough info. Pls. tell us details ...

• What CF Express card (make, model & capacity)?
• What card reader are you using and how is it connected to your Mac, and which USB port on the mini?
• Is the CF Express card usable in your camera ... and what make/model camera is it?
• Have you set Finder to show external disks?

Are you using that CF Express Card to move images from your Sony Camera to your Mac...?

Or are you using that CF Express Card as an archival storage device for your images...?

Are other CF Express Cards working in the Card Reader plugged into the Mac..?

Test your CF Express Card Reader and Express Card plugged into a different computer.

Test that CF Express Card plugged into a different CF Express Card Reader.

Test a different CF Express Card plugged into the Card Reader.

Test that CF Express Card plugged into your Camera.

SandinAustin wrote:

I do a low level format in camera - usually after each shoot; I could try doing it on my mac; I could certainly give APFS a go. I used a USB C and downloaded the images so I can experiment.

APFS was only a hint to test if the card is still any good to start with. I guess no 3rd party camera supports APFS anyway. So continue to format it in the camera.

How (FAT, exFAT -- MBR, GUID etc) and where (camera, Mac) is the card formatted? I always format the card on the camera after importing (and verifying and backupping the import) because it best knows what format it wants.

But as a test you could format the card on the Mac with the format the camera recommends. Or, as APFS (GUID) to test how it behaves with Mac's proprietary format.