Problems with Canon PowerShot SD450 movies and iPhoto (6.0.2)

Question

I recently got a Canon PowerShot SD450 and got a 2GB memory stick for it. I took some movies with the SD450 but am having a **** of a time getting iPhoto to pull movies off the camera that are > 500MB, give or take. Small movies are fine. I've downloaded movies that are 10MB, 50MB, 200MB, all fine.
When I have a > 500MB movie in the camera, iPhoto will try to download it; The hard drive will spin and grind for a few minutes as it, from what I can gather, downloads the movie and then iPhoto will say import complete, but the movie doesn't show up in the library.
Anyone aware of any limitations with iPhoto in that regard? Clip size or something?

Answer 1

Hi Jason,
When iPhoto 5 first came out I really think it was programmed to import the smaller 30 sec video clips that cameras were taking at the time. Since then, digital cameras, at least my Canon S2 can take clips as large as your memory card can hold. The first time I tried to download my images and movie clips with my new camera, iPhoto stalled at the movie clips. I wasn't going to take any chances messing up my iPhoto Library so I started using Image Capture to download all my images and Movie clips. I actually like doing it this way a lot better. My movie clips are downloaded into my Movies folder where I then put them in a dated folder.
My photos are downloaded into my Pictures folder, where I then put them in a dated folder. I import the dated folder into iPhoto. I also keep all dated folders from photo downloads in the Pictures folder till I get enough Movie folders and Photo folders to fill a DVD. I burn them and then delete them from the hard drive.
This way I have the photos in iPhoto and I also have just the photos backed up to DVD.
The Movies I keep on the hard drive in their dated folders until I use all the clips for my iMovie projects for the Year. I then make sure they are all burned to DVD, then I delete those from my hard drive.
Using Image Capture to download images and video clips:
Open up Image Capture which is found in the Applications folder.
When it is opened, go to Image Capture/Preferences
Under the General button choose
Camera: When a camera is connected, open Image Capture.
The next time you connect your camera Image Capture will open.
In the window that opens you will see an Options button. Click on that button to set your options.
To find out more about Image Capture (it can do a lot more) Click on Help in the menu bar when Image Capture is open.
iPhoto: How to Change the "Open Automatically" Preference
If you find you can't change any of Image Captures preferences or can't access any drop down menus or they are greyed out, check to make sure Image Capture is loose in the Applications folder and not within a sub folder.