Can't import from Canon digital cameras

[tyrell_turing]

Hi all,

I own two digital cameras, a Canon EOS Mark III and a Canon Ixus 860IS. I've been using Ubuntu 12.04 for a while now, and everything's been working pretty smoothly. Until recently, I was able to import images and movies from both cameras via the A/V->USB connection using a variety of methods (including Shotwell, etc.) When I plugged the cameras in they would be recognized by the system, and although error messages would come up they didn't seem to prevent me from doing anything.

However a few days ago importing stopped working altogether. When I connect the cameras nothing seems to happen, no messages appear at all. The camera does seem to be recognized, at least based on my lsusb output:

$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 005: ID 04a9:323a Canon, Inc. 
Bus 002 Device 010: ID 046d:c52b Logitech, Inc. Unifying Receiver

And gphoto2 is able to auto-detect:

$ gphoto2 --auto-detect
Model                          Port                                            
----------------------------------------------------------
Canon EOS 5D Mark III          usb:002,005

Yet, any time I try to import anything (Using Shotwell, Darktable, gtkam, or command-line gphoto2) the system freezes or I get an error message, and nothing happens.

When I try to simply list files with gphoto2 the following happens:

$ env LANG=C gphoto2 --debug --debug-logfile=my-logfile.txt --list-files

*** Error ***              
PTP I/O error

*** Error ***              
An error occurred in the io-library ('Unspecified error'): No error description available
*** Error (-1: 'Unspecified error') ***

And in the logfile:

...
82.001080 context(0): PTP I/O error
82.001156 gphoto2-port(2): Closing port...
82.001242 context(0): An error occurred in the io-library ('Unspecified error'): No error description available
82.001874 gp-camera(2): Freeing camera...
82.001895 gphoto2-port(2): Freeing port...
82.001910 gphoto2-port(2): Closing port...

All of this is completely mysterious to me, especially since it stopped working seemingly randomly (the only thing I changed around that time was that I got a new wireless keyboard). I am completely stumped! Any help would be appreciated.

[eddier]

POssibly a corrupt memory card?

Have you thought of using a stand alone memory card reader?

eddie

[tyrell_turing]

I'm quite sure it's not the memory card, as importing from both cameras stopped simultaneously. But, I'll check with a friend's card reader.

I have thought about a memory card reader for myself, but I'd prefer not to have to purchase one.

Thanks for your reply. Any other thoughts about how to diagnose the problem?

[eric-yorba]

Since you're already digging into GPhoto, it'd be worth taking the time to report the issue on their Sourceforge bug tracker:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gphoto/

[jarednielsen]

I'm having the same issue with gphoto2 and a Canon 600D. Any update on this?

[szr4321]

I ran into the same issue after upgrading to Ubuntu 12.10, using a Canon 5D Mk II. It worked flawlessly before, but I was always getting the "unspecified error" PTP I/O error since the upgrade (even though interestingly it didn't appear using the Live CD).

My current workaround is to use another USB port on my laptop. I have no idea why this makes a difference, but it's consistently not working on the one port, but without problems on the other. So maybe worth a try for those with the same problem.

For what it's worth, I even recompiled a new version of (lib)gphoto (libgphoto2-2.5.0), to no avail.

[PhartSmellah]

I'd like to shed some more light on this:

I've encountered the same exact problem, same error messages and all. After seeing the workaround by @szr4321 decided to give it a shot and it also worked for me.
I can perhaps narrow the problem by stating that the first (non-functioning) USB port I used is USB 3.0, while the second is USB 2.0 - maybe that has something to do with the problem?

Another issue that arose - I can now get to the import phase in shotwell, however there are no thumbnails. I can confirm I have gphoto2 and dcraw installed.
Can someone confirm the thumbnails are working for them, and say which relevant packages are installed on their machine?

My machine: Ubuntu 12.10 64-bit + Unity, Intel i5 8GB RAM.

[phthano]

I've got a Canon EOS Rebel T3 and I'm having similar problems. Is there a workaround for this in the mean time? Does anyone know the root cause?

[Zburatorul]

As reported above, on 12.10 on a thinkpad x1 carbon, I can mount the camera and import pictures while on one of my USB ports, but not the other.
I think the one that doesn't work is USB 3.

[thekennedy]

As reported above, on 12.10 on a thinkpad x1 carbon, I can mount the camera and import pictures while on one of my USB ports, but not the other.
I think the one that doesn't work is USB 3.

Same problem with my XTi/400D, same "fix" worked for me. I just chose another USB port, thanks for the pointer!