jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

You're doing something wrong but couldn't tell you what unless I was sitting in the chair. Non of this work-around stuff should be necessary.

WNYShooter Loc: WNY

The reason you want to copy your files off of the card onto your hardrive, and then import into Lightroom, is because, in doing so, you eliminate a possible failure point. By first copying to the hard drive, you are just relying on the OS, which is native to the system in question, to perform the task of physically moving the files from one storage medium to another--one of the the main things they are specifically designed to do.

If you use LR, or any other software to do it, you now are depending on the software itself, which is not native to the system in question, and it's interaction with the OS, to perform the task correctly. In the event of a power outage, drive crash, software glitch/crash, and etc., you are now dependent on the software handling the parameters of your system and the physical transfer from different storage mediums without corrupting them.

By putting the files first on the hard drive, and then importing them into LR, you are not moving the files physically on the drive, only in the directory structure, so, in the event of a failure/crash/glitch possible corruption/damage of the actual file by the software is minimal.

The main point here is that the majority of files corrupted/damaged on computers, happens from third party software, not the OS. So use the OS to physically move your files, then LR to sort/index them into directories. I should add that it is also dangerous to do a direct download from the camera via cable and for not only the the same reason, but also because, in the event of a system failure, it can take your camera out with it.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Look at this program on Lightroom scroll down. It's free and Hal Schmitt is excellent. http://en.elephorm.com/tuto-lightroom-4-complete-training.html I never connect a camera directly to a computer. I use a card reader.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Thanks for the link, but there's too much! Where am I supposed to find the time?! :D

EDIT: It seems like this isn't being offered any longer. When I clicked on Buy, it didn't show me a price. Probably because it's for LR4, rather than LR5.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Each tutorial is 5min. I haven't watched the whole 17 hours.I watch the sections I need.

jhud202 Loc: Prineville, OR

This would be correct by brucewells. If the box for "into sub-folder's" is checked then the drop-down menu gives you a choice of by date or into a single folder. If you choose by date, then it will add a sub-folder with the date creating an additional date folder for you. If you are using a Windows based machine, you can use the Windows Explorer to move the files into your storage device prior to importing (probably the same with Mac's Finder). It is a good idea to save your original files (particularly if they are RAW format) in a separate protected location. Then you can import into LR.

A good thing to do is to set up your file structure in your storage drive prior to moving your captured files. LR will see that on the left panel.

Once you have the original "2014" folder set up in LR and everything is going where you want it, then make that a preset for import (Named something like 2014 Import Preset) and the only thing you will need to do when importing is rename and choose the location. The basic premise for LR is that of an organizational software for photographers, so the better organized you are, the easier it will be to keep track of your photos. Of course we all know that LR is a wonderful editor too.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

You showed what I was going to do :thumbup:

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Thank you. That seems to be working.

I do have a follow-up question, for you or anyone who uses dng files... I am trying it out, since I don't want to have to mess with 2 files per photo.

The CR2 files are 1600x1200, but the DNG file of the same image is 1024x768 in size (this is viewing in Irfanview since LR is still busy importing).

Does this mean that I actually have a smaller original image, if processed in this way? The file size is a bit smaller than the CR2, but that is not really an issue. If this conversion is shrinking my 'original negative', then it is not something I want to mess with...

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

They are still just files. You can import them through LR, as I am trying to do here, or else you can open the camera's memory card using windows explorer (or whatever the Mac uses), and copy them across just as you would any other file.

One thing I found at first was that windows explorer cannot read or display .CR2 files. Irfanview has no trouble with them, so I assume other edit/view programs should be able to cope too. There *is* a file/program/thingy that you can download from microsoft which will allow explore to display the files just like any other. I can't remember the name of it, but I probably got the tip from on here somewhere, so it should be in the archives.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Yes, it is there in LR5. On mine, it's at the bottom of the 'stack' of sections there.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Bruce had the answer to the main problem. It is just not terribly intuitive, since I *am* storing my images by date, that seemed the logical choice. I believe it was the default since I didn't select it.

The camera is only 3 or 4 months old, so I shouldn't think the firmware would be an issue. There are enough SX50 users on here that I am sure there would have been discussions if there was a problem - there certainly has been about the recall on the rubber eyepiece!

My LR is also up to date, with the 5.3 upgrade applied as soon as it came down the line.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I convert my Nikon files to DNG and have no problems all the info is there just in a smaller file size

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Ok, like I said in my original message, there is so much conflicting advice... I see the logic in your point, and until yesterday that is always how I have done it - copied from camera to PC and then import. I do keep it in 2 places, either importing from my "RAW vault" to my LR space, or else copying manually and then just importing in place.

Both of these are automatically backed up to another harddrive every day, and once a week I back up to a large external drive.

As to your second point, about connecting the camera or not, I am not sure that I agree. By using the cable, it removes any danger of mishandling or damaging the memory card during a physical transfer. I never have to touch my card once it is installed. I use 32 and 64 Gig cards, so I don't have to change a card to keep on shooting unless I really go crazy with the camera!

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Yes, I have had a pretty stable structure for my photos for a long time, since way before LR. I am still trying to get used to trusting it to do a lot of the stuff which I always just took care of without even thinking about.

I have been learning the program for a couple of months, I guess, and I just got hold of Kelby's book, so I am reading that, and learning some of the 'ins&outs' of it a bit better.

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Yeah, I knew that the file would be smaller, but I am confused as to why it would show the image smaller too...