Hammer Loc: London UK

Its the idiot again.

I cannot import some photos into Lightroom , The import screen shows the images greyed out with the message that it it unable to import the image .

The camera is aNikon D850, using an xqd card and created, in camera, sub folders. I copied a couple of the images onto my desktop, right clicked them and they opened in Photoshop! so the image are there. Just cut get my head round this. The import dialogue box shows the sub folders, appears to crate the import screen but cant read them .

The import dialogue box shows sources :

Nikon
DCIM

The Nikon option shows nothing but the DCIM option opens the list of subfolders , select the subfolder to import and , not a lot happens.

HELP !

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Given we're not familiar with all the details of any previous problems, a few more details would be useful. A D850 is a relatively new model. Have you successfully imported images into your installed LR software prior to this problem starting? Are the image files JPEG or RAW? What version of Lightroom are you using? What type of computer and operating system?

Assuming you can see a thumbnail of the images when you navigate to the folder in the Import dialog, is it possible these images have already been imported? In the File Handling options on the right side of the Import dialog, have you selected Don't Import Suspected Duplicates? If you change this parameter, does it change your ability to import the images?

When running the import and your reference to the DCIM folder, is this information coming from reading the card? You said you copied some of the files onto your desktop. If you navigate to your desktop instead, as the source location for the import, what happens?

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

As a D850 user, I have not experienced this issue. Several questions:

1) Are you connecting to your camera via a USB cable or inserting the XQD card into a reader that is connected to your system?
2) Have you tried importing from the SD card instead of XQD?
3) When importing onto Desktop, do you drag and drop or copy and paste? It makes a difference.
4) I found that the NEF files in the D850 were sufficiently LARGE as to S L O W down the import/convert to DNG process that I now copy the NEFs into LR. Have you tried that?
5) CHG_CANON has a good point, is there any way you previously imported the images which is why LR is having issues?

columbine1111

What is your Lightroom version? I had this problem this week using Lightroom 5, and after online research and chats with Adobe reps, found that that version will not support the newer cameras. I have a new Nikon D500, and have 3 SD cards filled to download (after a 2-week vacation). I had to update to Lightroom Classic (will run on Windows 7 & 8). The Cloud version is only supported on Windows 10, but both are offered in a single download at $9.95 plus tax per month (or an annual charge).

ncshutterbug

I've had this problem a couple of times and tried everything to resolve it EXCEPT shutting down computer and restarting. Worked for me.

spraguead Loc: Boston, MA

Only the latest updates to Lightroom will be able to open the D850 Raw files. If they're jpegs, there may be a file issue. You say you can open them in photoshop, try saving them as psd files and try to open those in Lightroom. Just note, that you should put the files from the card onto your system, in a way you can find them, and you will not move them, as Lightroom doesn't import the image so much as it connects to the image, processes a variation of the file and outputs that.

via the lens Loc: Northern California, near Yosemite NP

Have you used this card before and failed to erase the past photos? In LR if the images are grayed out that means they have already been loaded into the computer via LR. This occurs if you have the Don't Import Duplicates box checked. Also is the include subfolders box checked?

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Copy the photos from your card to a folder on your computer, then do the import. Maybe LR doesn't like the subfolders. I use Elements but the data base is essentially the same as LR's. If I import from a card, then I have to have the card in the computer to call up the photos so I put them on the HD first.

thegrover Loc: Yorba Linda, CA

Check this setting: Don't Import Suspected Duplicates

CaptainEd

I just had a similar "Moment". When import showed me all of the images on the card, they were all grayed out...at least the thumbnails that were visible....scrolled down to find the images that had not yet been imported from the card were not. Normally, I format my card right after an import, but hadn't for some reason on this one. Threw me off for a second....

Hammer Loc: London UK

Hi,

Many thanks to you all for your great help here . Don't really know what I would do without this forum . Learn so much and great help and expertise readily available. Also pick up some great jokes in the chit-chat section.

Went through all your replies and getting ready to post when I had one last go with the copy images on my desktop and then I found the problem. The images imported perfectly . I then realised that I had been opening the wrong version of Lightroom. Have the "cloud" subscription. I was opening Lightroom CC not Lightroom Classic.

Beginning to think that I am too stupid to own a computer . Told you all that I was an idiot.

Once again, many thanks for all your help, very much appreciated.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Hammer - if you're prone to confusion (we all are), identify the software you don't want to be using and rename / remove the launch icon so you don't get confused.