XQD VS CFexpress import issues

I've been using a 64GB XQD without issues until I ran out of space on a photo shoot, (thankfully at the end of the day- literally the second to last shot I wanted to take). Not wanting to have this happen again, I went memory card shopping. I could have gotten a second 64GB XQD but found a used 128GB CFexpress (type B) card for the same price instead. My workflow is to pop the XQD into the Sony Card Reader and Adobe Bridge auto starts the import process. Bridge does not recognize the CFexpress card in the same way when clicked into the card reader, even though I bought the card reader that is XQD & CFexpress type B compliant, (the expensive one of course). I've found that Bridge will start the import process if I leave the card in the camera (Z6) and plug the camera into the computer but its slower than using the card reader. I dont know if this is caused by format; XQD vs. CFexpress, size; 64GB vs. 128GB or brand; Sony vs. Sandisk Extreme Pro.
I'd like to get back into importing the photos using the card reader. Has anyone else ran into this? Is there a better way?

Have you looked at the manufacturer of the card reader's website for possible different set of drivers?

Yup, its Sony MRW-G1 but says there's no downloads available. I honestly think its just a Bridge issue because I can import the CFexpress card using Lightroom Classic.

That's called Auto-Play... It's a Windows setting... NOT a Nikon or memory card setting...

I've provided a link below, that may not be specific for your version of Windows, but the feature has be extant for many years... and may be slightly different on your flavor of OS...

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-configure-autoplay-windows-10

FredKingston said:

That's called Auto-Play... It's a Windows setting... NOT a Nikon or memory card setting...

I've provided a link below, that may not be specific for your version of Windows, but the feature has be extant for many years... and may be slightly different on your flavor of OS...

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-configure-autoplay-windows-10

Click to expand...

I don't think this is too far off, but this is not the issue. My autoplay is set to download images via Bridge when a memory card is detected. When any other memory card is used, (SD, Compact Flash or XQD) bridge pops up and starts doing its thing because thats what I have autoplay set to do. When the CFexpress card is used, nothing happens. The only way around this that I have found is to leave the memory card in the Z6 and plug the camera in via USB C to the computer OR have Lightroom Classic open when I pop the CFexpress card into the card reader and LrC "sees" the card and starts the import process. The only thing I can think of is there is some other format used for the CFexpress cards that are not used on all other cards thereby tricking the autoplay or bridge into not seeing the CFexpress memory card as a memory card. It's the only CFexpress card I have, otherwise I'd test with multiple cards and sizes to troubleshoot. I am going to play with Bridge Workflow later to see if that will work.

I see that you say the only way is to leave the card in the camera... Is the reader NOT seeing the card and you don't see the reader/card as a USB drive when you plug the card into the reader????? If it sees the 2 as a USB drive when you plug the card in the reader, you should be able to navigate to the drive in Bridge and directly import the files from there... IF it isn't seeing the reader/card as a USB drive...then it is most likely the reader...

The reader is being picked up by autoplay as long as I dont use this CFexpress card. The Sony card reader I have is compatible with XQD and CFexpress B cards and does autoplay if a XQD card is used. Navigating through Bridge telling it to, "get photos from camera" from the file menu still doesnt "see" the CFexpress card in the reader but does if I leave it in the camera and also does if there's a XQD in the card reader instead of CFexpress. Is there another way to get the photos from the card and keep the same format I've been doing for years? If it's the card reader, I wouldnt be able to pull the images off the card in the reader trough LrC, would I? It'd be weird if Sony would sell a XQD card reader for $$ and an upgraded XQD + CFexpress type B for $$$ but not be compatible with all CFexpress type B cards, thats why I lean towards an issue with Bridge.

Thanks for your help on this! It helps discussing possibilities plus maybe someone someday will need to trouble shoot this same thing.

I never connect my cameras to the computer. I always use a card reader. LR should see the card/reader as a drive, and then import the files from there...

FredKingston said:

I never connect my cameras to the computer. I always use a card reader. LR should see the card/reader as a drive, and then import the files from there...

Click to expand...

Lightroom does, Bridge doesn't. Bridge is an option in autoplay, Lightroom isn't. Hence my dilemma. I hate hooking my camera up to the computer too, I don't want the port to get damaged from overuse (15-20 times per month) and its slower to import as well. For now, I guess the best way is to have Lightroom open so it detects the CFexpress card when its popped into the reader but I need to make some changes to get the format to align with what I've been doing for years.

Okay... Just so you know... Lightroom has its own auto-import feature... In LR, goto "File", "Auto Import", and then "Auto Import Settings" and set it up...

Can you drag and drop the folder using Windows then see if it is readable with Bridge?

I knew there must be something I'm missing. Thanks for discussing this issue with me @FredKingston

hark said:

Can you drag and drop the folder using Windows then see if it is readable with Bridge?

Click to expand...

I only use(d) Bridge to import, LR for almost everything else. I wanted to KISS (Keep It Super Simple) the issue and find an auto import option. I will keep this in mind if I need to manually do the import though. Thanks!

TwistedThrottle said:

I only use(d) Bridge to import, LR for almost everything else. I wanted to KISS (Keep It Super Simple) the issue and find an auto import option. I will keep this in mind if I need to manually do the import though. Thanks!

Click to expand...

I'm just wondering if you can do it in a 2-step process if you don't find a solution. Drag and put the file somewhere then import into Bridge. OR can you import into Bridge from Lightroom?

hark said:

I'm just wondering if you can do it in a 2-step process if you don't find a solution. Drag and put the file somewhere then import into Bridge. OR can you import into Bridge from Lightroom?

Click to expand...

Yes and no.
My previous workflow was simply to pop the card into the reader and click go. It would import via Bridge, convert to DNG and create a copy all with the click of the button. I cant do that in a click or two in file explorer, in fact it's not worth the extra work to do this through explorer- there's too many steps and too many possibilities for things to go wrong plus it takes a long time to do all those steps. If it becomes too complex, I wont want to do that every. single. day. I'd rather throw away the CFexpress card and just go back to XQD. It shouldn't be this difficult though and I would imagine there is some way to force bridge to do what it's supposed to do.

My workflow...

I create a folder on my desktop

I insert the SD card in the reader and copy all the relevant files to the temp folder I just created.

I open LR... And import the files... as part of the Import process, I have LR copy the files to a Date hierarchy on a separate photo drive... That drive becomes my primary photo repository and catalogue... <--in a separate action that runs at night that entire drive is mirrored to another drive as a backup.

All processing gets initiated from LR... ALL other specialized programs get initiated as plugins in LR... IOW, LR is Control Central... No Bridge, No Nikon programs...

edited to add: When finished importing to LR... and after the temp folder has gelled for a week or so, and everything appears to be okay, I delete the temp folder with its files from the desktop

Thanks for this Fred!
I've done things the same way so long, I never really explored other ways to achieve the same results, so this helps tremendously!