[Leica] M8 and Macintosh

[hlritter at bex.net (Howard Ritter)]

Greetings all--

Anyone on LUG using a Mac with their M8? I got my M8 last week and  
have been very frustrated with trying to download and view photos  
from it on my Macs (MacBook and MacPro).

To begin with, when I connect the camera to the computer, the usual  
icon for an external storage device does not appear on the desktop,  
although the USB connection message appears on the M8's LCD.

Second, Aperture (which I had configured to launch upon connection of  
a digital camera) nevertheless tries to launch (meaning the computer  
has detected the camera), but hangs up most of the time and I have to  
Force Quit to get out. Once every 8 or 10 launches, Aperture does  
start up successfully and the M8 appears in the program's "Import"  
list. From there I am able to download the images, although still no  
icon for the camera appears on the desktop.

Third, when I stop Aperture from launching automatically upon  
detection, instead manually launching it after connecting the camera  
(still no desktop icon), it starts up successfully but does not  
recognize the camera. When I try to quit Aperture, it hangs and will  
not quit, even if I disconnect the camera.

Fourth, much the same as above occurs when I try to use Capture One  
or Digital Capture. Sometimes the camera is detected, usually not,  
and Force Quit may be required.

Finally, the instruction manual, in the section on downloading images  
with a Mac, states: "Use the program 'Digital Pictures' to transfer  
pictures from the card to the computer." There IS no such program on  
the CDs supplied with the camera. This might have been a misprint for  
the supplied program "Digital Capture", but as far as I can tell (it  
comes with NO instructions), this program only functions to remotely  
operate an attached M8, not offering any capability of uploading  
images already in the camera. (Capture One also, as far as I can  
tell, offers no provision for uploading images from a camera, only  
dealing with images already on the computer.)

Anyone else having similar experiences--or hopefully, better ones?  
Any suggestions? Or do I have to call Leica USA or buy a USB card  
reader to try?

Thanks,

--howard