Ricoh GR and Mac

[Aldimandola]

Hello everybody,

I´m a new GR owner and I´m very delighted with it, which is no surprise, since I used the film GR1 for years.
But unfortunately I already have my first problem. Everything works great so far except one thing. When I plug the GR into my Macbook everything works as long as there is some activity. But when downloading the files is done the GR will be dismounted after about five minutes and it won´t charge the battery then. The Mac tells me that I´ve disconnected the Volume without logging off. This happens always after the same lapse of time. When I plug it to a Windows PC it stays connected as long as the cable is connected.
So I thought maybe somebody here in this forum has experienced this, too. Unfortunately the Ricoh support could not tell me anything about this problem.

 

[4orbit]

Hi!
Can not stick the whole GR, and limited only to the memory card?
I use Linux - zero problems.

 

[mguffin]

Sounds like, maybe, what ever you are using to grab the photos is ejecting the camera after completion, and thereby terminating the USB connection... I would try to disable that option, and see if it stays mounted, and charging.

 

[HawkeyX]

Just to get some more info;
what version of OSX are you running?
What age/model is the macbook
Also, i assume you have tested on different usb ports on it?

 

[Aldimandola]

Thanks for the hint. I let iphoto grab my photos. But it makes no difference with out it. The Ricoh will be disconnected nonetheless. And its not ejected properly, it´s like when you pull out the cable without ejecting first.

 

[Aldimandola]

I´m running OSX 10.6.8 and its a Macbook pro 13" from 2009. Yes, I´ve tested both of the usb ports.

 

[HawkeyX]

Although I wouldn't expect it to be different than on Windows, how long is your GR set to before it powers off? - e.g. if you just turn on the camera (not connected to computer) how long until it goes to standby/recoils the lens?
Mac's can be a little more picky about things not being ejected by them - just worth ruling out its not the GR powering off. My IV powers off after 5 minutes with its default setting.
edit: just to add. Too many variables with my testing (GRD IV and OSX 10.9) but doing the same as you, I am not getting an eject at all unless I manually eject. My 5min power off wont power off as the Ricoh constantly blinks connecting to PC. Tried this with both Mass storage and PTP connection setting on the Ricoh.(First use of the cable for me, I always transfer via sd card reader)

Would be good to know if anyone with GR on OSX can replicate your issue

 

[Aldimandola]

I was thinking this, too, at first. So I disabled the auto-off in the Ricoh. But it made no difference. The camera is turned off anyway when its connected with the cable, only the green lights are on. Nonetheless it seems that the camera is powering off, since the macbook is thinking that someone pulled off the cable. When I push the power button of the camera it reconnects again.

 

[polutropos]

I run OS 10.6.8 and LR3

If I connect the GR for the purpose of uploading photo's via LR then the GR is automatically disconnected once the upload is complete.

I then switch on the GR again and LR picks it up and asks to import (again) only this time I cancel the import. The GR remains connected and continues to charge the battery.

Don't know if this helps at all ...

 

[Aldimandola]

Thanks for the suggestion. But at least with iphoto there´s no difference, regardless how I use it. The camera is always disconnected after a few minutes and it seems impossible to say if it comes from the camera or the Mac. I think I will acquire either Lightroom or Aperture in the next time to handle my digital photos. Maybe this will change this behavior, but I doubt it. I can use a external charger, but it´s nonetheless a bit strange that my Ricoh will not be charged, when I leave the cable on the Mac and I´m not sitting beside it to press the power-button every five minutes.

 

[MichaelStano]

As a way to narrow the variables, have you tried a different Mac? (Maybe that's a silly, simplistic suggestion....)

Mike

 

[2tigers]

Try using a different USB cable. I find that macs are particularly sensitive about tolerances in manufacturing parameters.

 

[derivative666]

Having the same issues with my Mac. Won't charge my GR longer than 5 min. Seems like Ricoh and Apple don't play nice in the sandbox. I wasn't able to update the firmware on my GR via the Mac I had to use a PC :-(

 

[MichaelStano]

Will try to charge the GR on my old Mac (10.6.8, Intel Core Duo) tomorrow (worked OK the only time I tried it--bought a charger). It updated OK.

 

[Aldimandola]

Thanks very much for your answers so far. At least I´m not the only one having this problem. Unfortunately I don´t have a second cable of the same kind. Would make sense to give this a try.

Will be interesting to see what your Mac is doing, Michael.

 

[MichaelStano]

Still planning to see if I have the same problem on either of my Macs. Sorry to be slow!

 

[odklizec]

I will check it on my old Macbook (late 2008 OSX 10.6.8) and tomorrow I will try colleagues Macbook with Mavericks. Stay tuned

 

[odklizec]

Aldimandola, I've tested your problem and indeed, I experienced the same disconnection after 5 minutes. I did some investigation of the problem and it seems it's the OSX energy saving management that causes this issue. There is one particular option, which needs to be unchecked in System Preferences >> Energy Saver >> "Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible".
Unchecking this option disables any attempt of the OSX to put the disks (both internal and external) to sleep. I would recommend to uncheck this option only in Power Adapter section, which means the disks will still go to sleep if the notebook is running on battery. Hope this helps?

The downside of disabling this option is that it affects both internal and external disks. This means that the internal HDD will never be put to sleep. So instead of unchecking the HDD power saving option, you can set a different HDD sleep time using this simple terminal command:
sudo pmset -c disksleep 60

where:
sudo runs the pmset with root priviledges
pmset power management command
-c adjust settings used while connected to a charger
disksleep changes disk sleep time
60 is sleep timer in minutes (you can change this number with anything you like).

 

[HawkeyX]

Good find!

 

[Aldimandola]

Thanks very much for the effort, Pavel. It´s working. I can´t believe how blind I was. I already fiddled around with the energy options and overlooked this one nonetheless.
Also thanks for the explanation of the terminal command.