Import from digital camera question
 

I am using Debian Lenny and have a Canon Powershot SX10 IS digital camera which can take still images and movies. I can import the images via gThumb with no problem as the camera is detected when I plug it in. However, their are some movies on the camera that I would like to transfer which are obviously not detected by gThumb.

Although the camera is detected when it is plugged in I don't get any desktop icon or folder appear in the /media directory so I can't access the movie files on the camera. I imagine their must be a way to mount the camera somehow and access the files?

Thanks for any help.

I guess that gThumb accesses the camera through PTP ("Picture Transfer Protocol"), and not as a USB mass storage device---this way you don't get the icon on the desktop nor a directory where the camera's memory card gets mounted, but the program communicates with the camera in a different fashion. If this is the case, you have roughly three options:

1) take the memory card out of the camera and use a card reader to access it as a regular mass storage device
2) if the camera allows you to, change (from an options menu of some sort) the connection type it uses from PTP to USB mass storage device; the names may be different in the camera, but there are two options if you can switch them---or then you can't, it depends on the model
3) try using a PTP file system to access the files inside the memory card of the camera over the PTP. Like it says on the site, it's far from perfect, but might allow you to access the files without using a card reader..

My personal opinion is that you'd be easiest off with a card reader. But if you don't have one or dislike taking the card in and out all the time, see if the camera allows you to change the protocol; I'm not sure how Powershots deal with that, but hope for the best :)

before, i think you should first have digikam and gphoto in your distro in order to enable the digicam-usb accepted in your distro. . now, i just used my digicam's memory card and insert it in a card reader so it can be read as a usb device :)

Thanks for the replies. I now have it sorted. I can access transfer the movies via gtkam which I downloaded. The camera uses PTP and cannot be configured as a USB mass storage. But all is now well using gtkam.

Many thanks.