Canon Powershot G7 "Unidentified image"

On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:36:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:

Funny that it also happened to my G7 just a few days ago. After over
4000 shots and never missed one. Then, suddenly this "unidentified
image" message came up when viewing the photos. Sometimes, the shot
came up (small size), but then disappear. Sometimes, instead of
"unidentified image", it comes with a "question mark" symbol.
I also noticed that my SD card is being "depleted" slowly. After
cycles of cut and paste into the computer, the number of left over
photos to shoot decreasing.

Try reformatting the card _in_the_camera_ _with_the_camera_

But this is perhaps a different problem.
Going back to the "unidentified image", I found the images are still
available ( 3 MB per photo), but I could not open in any photo viewer
software, I am trying to get specialist to try to open the file (if it
si possible).
About the unidentified image, I replace my G7 with a completely NEW SD
card, and so far it looks OK (but have not tried it many times, just a
few). I am assuming that the SD card that is broken, not the camera
(Crossing my finger ). Try if you can get a brand new SD card and if
it is working.
I hope mine is solved, although I am still not 100% until I started to
use it again. Next time I may need to bring 2 cameras, just in case
the G7 is busted.
Yes, I also noticed when I view some of the saved pictures, there are
block of the photo areas which are mixed up with other shots. So,
Perhaps the formatting of the photo is not complete, or mixed between
photos ---- don't know if this is the camera;s fault... or the SD
card. I hope it is the card and nothing to do with the camera. Perhaps
contacts with the SD terminals (worn out after SD card is inserted in
and out many times. Unfortunately, I never download photos using a
cable connection. It is just too cumbersome. It is faster just to pull
out the card and insert into my computer. Perhaps this may be the root
of the problem. Connections or contact are getting loose?

I like to hear from others who experience the same problem.
I wonder whether it is time to trade in with the new G10. They will
pay me for $200 for a new G10 and pay the difference (another $250).
Mine was over 1 year old and so far, never have any problems.

On a different topic, I saw some photos taken in Lumix LX3 and they
are just perfect. I saw that the quality of the photo is better than
Canon DSLR 50D! ( Quality comparison - LX3 , Lumix G1 and Canon 50D -
in that order) I also saw someone taking panoramic photo at night and
it is spectacular, sharps and no grains. Should I start thinking of
Lumix LX3? DPreview just came out with their review of LX3. It has
9/10 for optics. Perhaps it is in the lens!. But I was surprised on
how excellent the photos taken by LX3. I wonder if others experience
the same thing with their new LX3.

Bengt T wrote:
With C1 program setting I have programed the camera to take 3 pictures
(normal, under- and overexposure). Sometimes, mostly from picture no
257 in the used SD card, I get the information "Unidentified image"
when trying to look at pictures on the display of the camera. Viewing
the pictures on a PC some areas are distorted or with areas blank.

It seems to me as the camera has problems in writing information to
the SD card in certain memory areas. I have tried reformating,
different SD card manufacturers etc. with the same result.

Does anyone else experience the same problem?



Eric Stevens

On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:10:51 -0800 (PST), Bengt T
wrote:

On 25 Nov, 09:45, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:36:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:
Funny that it also happened to my G7 just a few days ago. After over
4000 shots and never missed one. Then, suddenly this "unidentified
image" message came up when viewing the photos. Sometimes, the shot
came up (small size), but then disappear. Sometimes, instead of
"unidentified image", it comes with a "question mark" symbol.
I also noticed that my SD card is being "depleted" slowly. After
cycles of cut and paste into the computer, the number of left over
photos to shoot decreasing.

Try reformatting the card _in_the_camera_ _with_the_camera_



But this is perhaps a different problem.
Going back to the "unidentified image", I found the images are still
available ( 3 MB per photo), but I could not open in any photo viewer
software, I am trying to get specialist to try to open the file (if it
si possible).
About the unidentified image, I replace my G7 with a completely NEW SD
card, and so far it looks OK (but have not tried it many times, just a
few). I am assuming that the SD card that is broken, not the camera
(Crossing my finger ). Try if you can get a brand new SD card and if
it is working.
I hope mine is solved, although I am still not 100% until I started to
use it again. Next time I may need to bring 2 cameras, just in case
the G7 is busted.
Yes, I also noticed when I view some of the saved pictures, there are
block of the photo areas which are mixed up with other shots. So,
Perhaps the formatting of the photo is not complete, or mixed between
photos ---- don't know if this is the camera;s fault... or the SD
card. I hope it is the card and nothing to do with the camera. Perhaps
contacts with the SD terminals (worn out after SD card is inserted in
and out many times. Unfortunately, I never download photos using a
cable connection. It is just too cumbersome. It is faster just to pull
out the card and insert into my computer. Perhaps this may be the root
of the problem. Connections or contact are getting loose?

I like to hear from others who experience the same problem.
I wonder whether it is time to trade in with the new G10. They will
pay me for $200 for a new G10 and pay the difference (another $250).
Mine was over 1 year old and so far, never have any problems.

On a different topic, I saw some photos taken in Lumix LX3 and they
are just perfect. I saw that the quality of the photo is better than
Canon DSLR 50D! ( Quality comparison - LX3 , Lumix G1 and Canon 50D -
in that order) I also saw someone taking panoramic photo at night and
it is spectacular, sharps and no grains. Should I start thinking of
Lumix LX3? DPreview just came out with their review of LX3. It has
9/10 for optics. Perhaps it is in the lens!. But I was surprised on
how excellent the photos taken by LX3. I wonder if others experience
the same thing with their new LX3.

Bengt T wrote:
With C1 program setting I have programed the camera to take 3 pictures
(normal, under- and overexposure). Sometimes, mostly from picture no
257 in the used SD card, I get the information "Unidentified image"
when trying to look at pictures on the display of the camera. Viewing
the pictures on a PC some areas are distorted or with areas blank.

It seems to me as the camera has problems in writing information to
the SD card in certain memory areas. I have tried reformating,
different SD card manufacturers etc. with the same result.

Does anyone else experience the same problem?

Eric Stevens

I have tried reformating. The problem remains.

OK. You can cross that one off then.



Eric Stevens

On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:38:32 -0800 (PST), wrote:


Anyone knows how to extract a JPG file that is not recognized by major
photo viewer softwares? I tried photoshop, paintshop, MS photo viewer,
and others (Corel draw, adobe illustrator). But they did not
recognized it. Any other suggestion? A software that can open a
'corrupt" JPG photos?

ACDSee seems to do a pretty good job reconstructing an image up until the damage
point. Even the near-freeware earlier versions.

wrote:
On Nov 25, 3:08 pm, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:10:51 -0800 (PST), Bengt T



wrote:
On 25 Nov, 09:45, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:36:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:
Funny that it also happened to my G7 just a few days ago. After over
4000 shots and never missed one. Then, suddenly this "unidentified
image" message came up when viewing the photos. Sometimes, the shot
came up (small size), but then disappear. Sometimes, instead of
"unidentified image", it comes with a "question mark" symbol.
I also noticed that my SD card is being "depleted" slowly. After
cycles of cut and paste into the computer, the number of left over
photos to shoot decreasing.
Try reformatting the card _in_the_camera_ _with_the_camera_
But this is perhaps a different problem.
Going back to the "unidentified image", I found the images are still
available ( 3 MB per photo), but I could not open in any photo viewer
software, I am trying to get specialist to try to open the file (if it
si possible).
About the unidentified image, I replace my G7 with a completely NEW SD
card, and so far it looks OK (but have not tried it many times, just a
few). I am assuming that the SD card that is broken, not the camera
(Crossing my finger ). Try if you can get a brand new SD card and if
it is working.
I hope mine is solved, although I am still not 100% until I started to
use it again. Next time I may need to bring 2 cameras, just in case
the G7 is busted.
Yes, I also noticed when I view some of the saved pictures, there are
block of the photo areas which are mixed up with other shots. So,
Perhaps the formatting of the photo is not complete, or mixed between
photos ---- don't know if this is the camera;s fault... or the SD
card. I hope it is the card and nothing to do with the camera. Perhaps
contacts with the SD terminals (worn out after SD card is inserted in
and out many times. Unfortunately, I never download photos using a
cable connection. It is just too cumbersome. It is faster just to pull
out the card and insert into my computer. Perhaps this may be the root
of the problem. Connections or contact are getting loose?
I like to hear from others who experience the same problem.
I wonder whether it is time to trade in with the new G10. They will
pay me for $200 for a new G10 and pay the difference (another $250).
Mine was over 1 year old and so far, never have any problems.
On a different topic, I saw some photos taken in Lumix LX3 and they
are just perfect. I saw that the quality of the photo is better than
Canon DSLR 50D! ( Quality comparison - LX3 , Lumix G1 and Canon 50D -
in that order) I also saw someone taking panoramic photo at night and
it is spectacular, sharps and no grains. Should I start thinking of
Lumix LX3? DPreview just came out with their review of LX3. It has
9/10 for optics. Perhaps it is in the lens!. But I was surprised on
how excellent the photos taken by LX3. I wonder if others experience
the same thing with their new LX3.
Bengt T wrote:
With C1 program setting I have programed the camera to take 3 pictures
(normal, under- and overexposure). Sometimes, mostly from picture no
257 in the used SD card, I get the information "Unidentified image"
when trying to look at pictures on the display of the camera. Viewing
the pictures on a PC some areas are distorted or with areas blank.
It seems to me as the camera has problems in writing information to
the SD card in certain memory areas. I have tried reformating,
different SD card manufacturers etc. with the same result.
Does anyone else experience the same problem?
Eric Stevens
I have tried reformating. The problem remains.
OK. You can cross that one off then.

Eric Stevens

Just another note about my G7. After I install a new SD card, it does
not seem to have any problem. I tried 4-5 shots and they are all OK.
So, I actually never know what happened, except that it is likely due
to the SD card.
One of my friend indicated that because I used the cheap card from
Walmart ( not a good brand name), it is slow process. Therefore, when
I shot the camera consequtively ( within tens second each), I found
out that only the last one registered. The preceeding photos did not
make it, although the file with JPG name is already created.

Anyone knows how to extract a JPG file that is not recognized by major
photo viewer softwares? I tried photoshop, paintshop, MS photo viewer,
and others (Corel draw, adobe illustrator). But they did not
recognized it. Any other suggestion? A software that can open a
'corrupt" JPG photos?

I still did not get it that when the SD card is used many times and
deleted, the number of available photo from the empty card seems to
decrease with time. Just like when you are using MS windows software,
that there is some file that I don;t know are being filled in with
basic data, which accumulated with time. They never tell us on how to
clean sweep the software. In the past such windows software appears to
slow down the system, by taking the internal RAM or memory bit by bit.
I wonder if this is also the case when you fill and withdraw the photo
files in an SD card. With time, the card will be full, although it is
always emptied all the time. I even wonder if deleting using in-camera
feature is better than using your computer.I also wonder if
reformating the card will clean the data and empty all unnecessary or
"residual" files in the card.

Another related question is whether deleting files in an SC card just
merely take the JPG extension so it cannot be read. Then the data file
will only be erased when new photo images is taken and replace the old
one. Just similar to how the hard drive of a computer is working. To
erase and clean, you need a special software or reformat?

Thanks for the discussion.

Files are not physically deleted on any media. The space the file
occupies is marked as free in the fat table and is available to be
overwritten. Photo recovery software is able to retrieve files so marked
if they haven't been overwritten.
Dave Cohen

On Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:55:41 -0800 (PST), wrote:

The problem appears to be wide spread among the A series, and
perhaps the G and S series.... practically all of the P&S camera?
Unfortunately, I don't seem to hear any constructive solutions.... all
questions and no solid answers.

Yes, don't buy anymore P&S cameras. Buy a DSLR. Then when you have problems with
that, and google for posts about all the troubles they have with DSLRs, you can
give all those cameras a bad name too. At least then you'll be justified in your
frustration after how much money you'll have spent to find out the truth about
those cameras too.

You deserve a very very expensive lesson.

Maybe you should take up a hobby of watching a cue-ball that's firmly affixed to
a concrete block with a stainless-steal rod through the center of both. Then
nothing will ever go wrong in your hobby until you are dead. But on the odd
chance that something does happen to your cue-ball you'll be glad to know that
you're the only one that it probably ever happened to. At least you'll give it a
high score for reliability and I doubt you'll be able to google for many "cue
ball" AND "cement block" AND failure posts.

hint #1 stop buying cheap-assed cards off of e-bay or bargain cards from
dollar-stores and then blaming it on cameras #2 remember to wipe that
peanut-butter off of your face and grubby fist before handling them #3 don't
handle them at all if your body is holding a static charge #4 have enough
common sense in order to use a camera and its storage media properly (this one
may be impossible for you)

wrote:
On Nov 25, 10:17 pm, Dave Cohen wrote:
wrote:
On Nov 25, 3:08 pm, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:10:51 -0800 (PST), Bengt T
wrote:
On 25 Nov, 09:45, Eric Stevens wrote:
On Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:36:14 -0800 (PST), wrote:
Funny that it also happened to my G7 just a few days ago. After over
4000 shots and never missed one. Then, suddenly this "unidentified
image" message came up when viewing the photos. Sometimes, the shot
came up (small size), but then disappear. Sometimes, instead of
"unidentified image", it comes with a "question mark" symbol.
I also noticed that my SD card is being "depleted" slowly. After
cycles of cut and paste into the computer, the number of left over
photos to shoot decreasing.
Try reformatting the card _in_the_camera_ _with_the_camera_
But this is perhaps a different problem.
Going back to the "unidentified image", I found the images are still
available ( 3 MB per photo), but I could not open in any photo viewer
software, I am trying to get specialist to try to open the file (if it
si possible).
About the unidentified image, I replace my G7 with a completely NEW SD
card, and so far it looks OK (but have not tried it many times, just a
few). I am assuming that the SD card that is broken, not the camera
(Crossing my finger ). Try if you can get a brand new SD card and if
it is working.
I hope mine is solved, although I am still not 100% until I started to
use it again. Next time I may need to bring 2 cameras, just in case
the G7 is busted.
Yes, I also noticed when I view some of the saved pictures, there are
block of the photo areas which are mixed up with other shots. So,
Perhaps the formatting of the photo is not complete, or mixed between
photos ---- don't know if this is the camera;s fault... or the SD
card. I hope it is the card and nothing to do with the camera. Perhaps
contacts with the SD terminals (worn out after SD card is inserted in
and out many times. Unfortunately, I never download photos using a
cable connection. It is just too cumbersome. It is faster just to pull
out the card and insert into my computer. Perhaps this may be the root
of the problem. Connections or contact are getting loose?
I like to hear from others who experience the same problem.
I wonder whether it is time to trade in with the new G10. They will
pay me for $200 for a new G10 and pay the difference (another $250).
Mine was over 1 year old and so far, never have any problems.
On a different topic, I saw some photos taken in Lumix LX3 and they
are just perfect. I saw that the quality of the photo is better than
Canon DSLR 50D! ( Quality comparison - LX3 , Lumix G1 and Canon 50D -
in that order) I also saw someone taking panoramic photo at night and
it is spectacular, sharps and no grains. Should I start thinking of
Lumix LX3? DPreview just came out with their review of LX3. It has
9/10 for optics. Perhaps it is in the lens!. But I was surprised on
how excellent the photos taken by LX3. I wonder if others experience
the same thing with their new LX3.
Bengt T wrote:
With C1 program setting I have programed the camera to take 3 pictures
(normal, under- and overexposure). Sometimes, mostly from picture no
257 in the used SD card, I get the information "Unidentified image"
when trying to look at pictures on the display of the camera. Viewing
the pictures on a PC some areas are distorted or with areas blank.
It seems to me as the camera has problems in writing information to
the SD card in certain memory areas. I have tried reformating,
different SD card manufacturers etc. with the same result.
Does anyone else experience the same problem?
Eric Stevens
I have tried reformating. The problem remains.
OK. You can cross that one off then.
Eric Stevens
Just another note about my G7. After I install a new SD card, it does
not seem to have any problem. I tried 4-5 shots and they are all OK.
So, I actually never know what happened, except that it is likely due
to the SD card.
One of my friend indicated that because I used the cheap card from
Walmart ( not a good brand name), it is slow process. Therefore, when
I shot the camera consequtively ( within tens second each), I found
out that only the last one registered. The preceeding photos did not
make it, although the file with JPG name is already created.
Anyone knows how to extract a JPG file that is not recognized by major
photo viewer softwares? I tried photoshop, paintshop, MS photo viewer,
and others (Corel draw, adobe illustrator). But they did not
recognized it. Any other suggestion? A software that can open a
'corrupt" JPG photos?
I still did not get it that when the SD card is used many times and
deleted, the number of available photo from the empty card seems to
decrease with time. Just like when you are using MS windows software,
that there is some file that I don;t know are being filled in with
basic data, which accumulated with time. They never tell us on how to
clean sweep the software. In the past such windows software appears to
slow down the system, by taking the internal RAM or memory bit by bit.
I wonder if this is also the case when you fill and withdraw the photo
files in an SD card. With time, the card will be full, although it is
always emptied all the time. I even wonder if deleting using in-camera
feature is better than using your computer.I also wonder if
reformating the card will clean the data and empty all unnecessary or
"residual" files in the card.
Another related question is whether deleting files in an SC card just
merely take the JPG extension so it cannot be read. Then the data file
will only be erased when new photo images is taken and replace the old
one. Just similar to how the hard drive of a computer is working. To
erase and clean, you need a special software or reformat?
Thanks for the discussion.
Files are not physically deleted on any media. The space the file
occupies is marked as free in the fat table and is available to be
overwritten. Photo recovery software is able to retrieve files so marked
if they haven't been overwritten.
Dave Cohen

Any particular photo software that can retrive corrupted JPG files?
Any of the freeware?
I checked by googling "unidentified image for Canon ", and I am very
surprised (or shocked) that there have been dozens of others who
experienced similar problem. I start to have uneasy feeling about my
camera. It is working OK now with the new SD card. However, I start
have a sinking feeling that this is not just merely an SD card
problem. The problem appears to be wide spread among the A series, and
perhaps the G and S series.... practically all of the P&S camera?
Unfortunately, I don't seem to hear any constructive solutions.... all
questions and no solid answers.
I had so much confident before that my camera would always deliver. I
had over 4000 photos and it never failed..... until just a few days
ago. Now, I wonder whether I should bring a second camera around, or a
spare SD card..... uncomfortable feeling!. My cheap basic Lumix P&S
(only 3 MP) is over 6 years old and with 10,000+ shots... and it is
still working!


I just did as you did and 'googled' same search string. However, reading
a selection of complaints and replies it would appear to be a card
related problem by vendor. People seem to have better luck with Sandisk.
Since Sandisk is an excellent vendor (they make their own memory), just
stick with them.
I would have thought a slower card would simply just do that, slow the
shooting down rather than cause errors, however, I never do sequence
shooting where that would matter so it's just a guess.
There is always a potential problem when any one and their brother make
an accessory for a propriety product. Hopefully, good specs and industry
standards are sufficient to avoid problems, but life isn't perfect and
maybe this one has slipped through.
Dave Cohen