Why do some photos on my Nikon D5100 SD card not appear when importing with a card reader?
Asked 6/16/2013
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2 answers
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I shot about 35 photos on a Nikon D5100. When I removed the SD card and inserted it into my computer’s card reader, only about three-quarters of the images appeared in my import software. But when I put the card back in the camera and connected the camera directly, all of the photos were visible.
Why would some images be missing when reading the card directly? Is there something about the folder structure or file types on the card that import software might be ignoring? I’d like to use separate SD cards so different people can import their own photos without needing to connect the camera.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
13y ago
2 Answers
1
Use Windows Explorer or Finder to browse the SD card contents. Things to look for:
Is there more than one folder containing images? If so, perhaps your importer is browsing only one (default) folder. Some cameras will use file numbers up to a certain number, then cycle through the file numbers again, but in a new folder.
Per Jack's comment - are some images in different format to others (eg. JPEG versus RAW/NEF, etc)? If so, your importer may be selecting only certain file types.
Originally by user34203. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user34203
9y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Most likely, the photos are all on the card, but your import software isn’t showing every file.
Two common causes were suggested:
- Multiple folders on the card: Cameras can store images in more than one folder. Some importers only look at the default folder, so photos in another folder may be skipped.
- Different file types: Some images may be JPEG while others are RAW/NEF. If the importer is filtering for only one format, it won’t show the others.
A good check is to open the SD card directly in Finder or Windows Explorer and look through the card’s folders yourself. Confirm whether the missing images are in a different folder or have a different extension.
So yes, using separate SD cards with a card reader should still work fine. The issue is more likely with the importer’s folder selection or supported file types than with the Nikon D5100 or the card itself.
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