Using iPhoto or Image Capture to download photos

Question

I'm looking at a new Canon camera and under the Mac compatibility section, the manual says that you can download images from the camera using 1) Image Capture, 2) PTP, or 3) Canon's proprietary software. Does that appear to be saying that you can't just plug in the camera and import photos directly into iPhoto like I can do with my current camera? Or does Image Capture just work as a bridge between the camera and iPhoto more or less transparently? If I do have to use Image Capture for the downloads, then can I take photos from wherever Image Capture puts them and import them into iPhoto using Import to Library?

Answer 1

William:
Which Canon camera are your looking at? All of the Canons that that shoot RAW formate and are compatible are listed here. All the other Canons are compatible.
IMO it's best to use a card reader and manually import to a folder on the desktop first and then import the folder into iPhoto. You can name the folder with identification of the photos inside and the resulting Event will have the same name. The delete the folder from the desktop and have the camera reformat the card for the next shoot. This saves wear and tear on the camera's port and battery and will avoid the potential upload cancellation due to low battery which can damage the library.
You can do the same thing without a card reader with Image Capture. Whatever you do, DO NOT let iPhoto delete the photos from the memory cards. Too many incomplete or aborted imports and complete deletions reported.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.