Kai Mallari's Notes'

EC - Card Import Fallback

4 min read

Card Import Fallback

Universal last resort when tethering has completely failed and cannot be restored.

Symptom: Camera will not tether. All troubleshooting has been exhausted. Root Cause: Various — camera port damage, firmware incompatibility, cable failure with no spare, license issue, or unknown. Referred from: DIT Triage - Tether Dead, DIT Triage - C1 Crashed, EC - Camera Port Damage, EC - License Deactivation

Diagnosis

If you’ve reached this note, tethering is confirmed dead. No further diagnosis is needed — this is the fallback workflow.

Fix

The Workflow

When tethering is dead, switch to shoot to card, import between setups.

Step 1: Configure the camera

  1. Switch the camera to shoot to card only (disable any “tethered capture” or “simultaneous” mode)
  2. Confirm the card has sufficient space
  3. Set the file naming convention to match what was planned for the session (if possible)
  4. Inform the photographer: “We’ve lost tethering. You’re shooting to card. Between setups I’ll pull the card and import so we can still review.”

Step 2: Between setups (during lighting changes, wardrobe changes, etc.)

  1. Ask the photographer for the card (or use a second card if dual-slot)
  2. Insert the card into a card reader connected to the laptop
  3. In Capture One: File > Import Images > select the card > import to the current session’s capture folder
  4. As images import, the client can begin reviewing on the wired monitor, Capture Pilot, or Live for Studio (network features still work — it’s only tethering that’s dead)

Step 3: Rating protocol adjustment

Without real-time tethering, the client can’t rate images as they’re captured. Options:

  • Verbal callouts during shooting: “I like that one” / “skip that” — the DIT notes the frame numbers
  • Notepad and pen: Client writes down frame numbers they want to keep
  • Review during import breaks: Client reviews the batch on iPad or monitor and rates there
  • Post-import rating: After import, the client can use Capture Pilot or the wired monitor to rate normally

Step 4: Inform the client

Be transparent: “We’ve had a technical issue with the direct camera connection. Your images are safe — they’re recording to the camera’s memory card. We’ll import them between setups so you can still review and rate. There will be a 2-3 minute delay between shooting and reviewing.”

Do not let the client think images are being lost. Emphasize that the card is the most reliable storage — it’s actually safer than tethering.

Step 5: Card handling protocol

  • NEVER format a card until the images are verified on the laptop AND backed up to a second location
  • If using dual-slot cameras: shoot to both slots. Use one card for import, keep the other as backup.
  • Between imports: confirm the file count on the card matches the file count in the session
  • At wrap: do a final import of any remaining un-imported images

Communication to Production

If the production coordinator or producer asks what happened:

“The direct camera-to-computer connection had a hardware issue. We switched to a card-based workflow — same images, same quality, just a slight delay in review. All images are safe.”

Don’t get into technical details with non-technical stakeholders. They want to know: are the images safe (yes), can the client still review (yes, with a delay), will this slow down the shoot (minimally).

Prevention

  • Always carry a card reader in the DIT kit — even when you expect to tether
  • Always carry spare memory cards — if the photographer’s card fills up, have a backup
  • Test tethering before the shoot day (chain test in SOP_Photographer_Handoff)
  • Know the fallback workflow before you need it — practice the import routine so it’s second nature

Documentation

Graph View

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