Canon 40D memory card - can't be read by card reader?

[dantastic]

I've a Canon 40D, been a true champion for years.

I have 2 memory cards for it and to date I've always used the camera to transfer photos over to my computer. I figured it was time to pick up a memory card reader. The 40D uses compact flash cards.

But I connect the reader to my computer and then a card but nothing happens. It's like the computer isn't even detecting there's a card in the reader. The reader is working with SD cards from another camera.

Is the 40D formatting the card in some funky way or what is going on here? The memory card doesn't show up as a removable disk when connecting the camera to the computer either but the computer is connecting to the camera is a device instead.

 

[r.j.s]

What size is the memory card? How old is the card reader?

There were issues before with older card readers not recognizing newer/larger memory cards, but I don't know if that is the issue here.

 

[chrfr]

The memory card doesn't show up as a removable disk when connecting the camera to the computer either but the computer is connecting to the camera is a device instead.

That's not unusual behavior for Canons, but the card should of course show up when used in a card reader.

Check your card reader (and camera) for bent or damaged pins in the CF slot. Does the reader show up at all as a USB device in System Profiler?

 

[dantastic]

So I've 2 cards, one 8GB which could be a problem but I've one at 2GB so I don't think size is the problem.

the card reader is new but how old the model is I've no idea! it's a cheap-o 5 in 1 jobby.

The card readier is showing up as:

Composite Device:

  Product ID:	0x1336
  Vendor ID:	0x15a4  (Afa Technologies, Inc.)
  Version:	 1.00
  Speed:	Up to 480 Mb/sec
  Location ID:	0xfa410000
  Current Available (mA):	100
  Current Required (mA):	100

there are no bent pins or anything.
Thing is, the memory cards never show up as usb disks, even with the camera connected but with the camera connected Aperture is able to import photos from the camera.

 

[brimoon]

I have a similar problem with SD cards used in a Canon camera. I put a card in the reader (tried two different readers) and nothing shows up in Finder or on the desktop. When I take the card out, I get the warning message about removing a drive without ejecting it first. So, the OS knows the card is there, but I can't find it using Spotlight or snooping in likely places. That's what happens on my desktop Mac. If I put a card in the SD slot on my Macbook Pro, it shows up properly in Finder.

Any help on this will be much appreciated - thanks in advance! - Brian