Leica, Apple working to fix Monochrom DNG bug that could erase Photos app library
German optics firm Leica has informed buyers of its new Monochrom Typ 246 digital camera that DNG files generated from the black-and-white shooter are incompatible with Apple's Photos app for OS X, and that using Photos to import Monochrom shots could result in corruption of the Photos library.
"With the new Apple 'Photos' App, when loading Monochrom DNG files from the new Monochrom, the library will crash continuously on loading," Leica wrote in a service advisory published by Red Dot Forum. "This may cause the Apple Photos library to be destroyed. This means that pictures previously taken with any other camera will be lost."
"As such, Leica Camera does not recommend using the Apple 'Photos' App for DNG files from the new Monochrom (Typ 246) until further notice."
Leica says they are working with Apple to resolve the issue, a fix for which will likely be included in the next Photos update. Leica recommends using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC/6 to process Monochrom DNG files until that patch is released.
The $7,500 Monochrom Typ 246 is the second revision of Leica's digital black-and-white Monochrom camera. Released late last month, it has begun shipping to buyers this week, though it's unclear whether a customer or Leica themselves discovered the DNG bug.
"With the new Apple 'Photos' App, when loading Monochrom DNG files from the new Monochrom, the library will crash continuously on loading," Leica wrote in a service advisory published by Red Dot Forum. "This may cause the Apple Photos library to be destroyed. This means that pictures previously taken with any other camera will be lost."
"As such, Leica Camera does not recommend using the Apple 'Photos' App for DNG files from the new Monochrom (Typ 246) until further notice."
Leica says they are working with Apple to resolve the issue, a fix for which will likely be included in the next Photos update. Leica recommends using Adobe Photoshop Lightroom CC/6 to process Monochrom DNG files until that patch is released.
The $7,500 Monochrom Typ 246 is the second revision of Leica's digital black-and-white Monochrom camera. Released late last month, it has begun shipping to buyers this week, though it's unclear whether a customer or Leica themselves discovered the DNG bug.
Comments
Wow, an update that will actually address the problems faced by pros. Not that this will change Apple's stance towards this group of customers, but who knows, they might actually be trying.
More importantly, why don't they fix the bug with large JPEG images in Preview and QuickLook? I'm still on 10.9 for this reason as the conditions under which the system hangs up or crashes are not that well understood (or publicized, for that matter). Hopefully this will come with 10.10.4. At this rate, I'd expect point updates for both OS X and iOS at WWDC.
That should NEVER happen - ever. That's why I don't like the idea of Photo Library. An error can cause the entire DB to get corrupted. It's insane.
Indeed, Leica has really gone downhill. Maybe they should have stuck to film?
That should NEVER happen - ever. That's why I don't like the idea of Photo Library. An error can cause the entire DB to get corrupted. It's insane.
To really fix this, we need a new filesystem (ding).
sorry, but bugs happen. not having a backup is insane.
files get screwed up. thats why every enterprise has nightly backups. you can too, with Time Machine or similar.
sorry, but bugs happen. not having a backup is insane.
files get screwed up. thats why every enterprise has nightly backups. you can too, with Time Machine or similar.
But here we are talking about import of a DNG file will render your entire photos collection corrupt.
sorry, but bugs happen. not having a backup is insane.
files get screwed up. thats why every enterprise has nightly backups. you can too, with Time Machine or similar.
No third party should have he ability to corrupt a database. This is an Apple problem.
I have never liked or used iPhoto precisely because I found the whole database idea to be both stupid and a pain. Thank goodness iTunes was never saddled with this nonsense. I was rather hoping Photos wouldn't follow the same paradigm.
Yeah, like you have a clue what you're talking about.
I don't trust my photos to a single location anymore because of past crashes. I use Picasa, Flickr and iPhoto (plus Time Machine).
Sorry, I disagree. iPhoto library is supposed to solve the whole photos backup thing. Also, how the hell do I do a full library backup when the Mac is set to show optimized versions only, which downloads the full copies only on demand? Shit happens, but the trust is the majority of users are not going to have backup solutions for their cloud photos.
Apple has an aim to hide the filesystem from users, which is understandable but it leads to problems like this because the application is then left to do the file management behind the scenes. iTunes is an example of doing this where if you change a song's details inside iTunes, it will rename the file and move it to an appropriate folder. When it comes to a single point of failure against a huge collection of important files, it opens up the possibility for a lot of damage to be done from minor bugs.
I don't know why there has to be a library that manages the files at all. When you look at Spotlight, it is a database that indexes files as soon as they arrive on a drive but Spotlight itself never does anything to the files. SSDs are fast enough that you should be able to put files anywhere, even on externals and any app can know about the file but any metadata changes and edits go into the app's own space. When a bug like this arises, the app's own data could be renamed and reinitialized but the original photos left untouched and the app data can potentially be repaired to get back edits or other metadata.
every bug has its origin.
hahahaha. good one.
after you've spent a decade and a half in Microsoft enterprise, come back and tell me what should never be able to corrupt data.
if you're using locally-optimized images, then your full-res items are backed up on the cloud.
but if ultra paranoid, id still recommend backing up your entire mac, which includes Photos. not backing up your system is the only insane thing in this thread. yep, even mac users need a backup plan...which is why apple gave us TM -- to make it stone-stupid simple.
I don't know why there has to be a library that manages the files at all. When you look at Spotlight, it is a database that indexes files as soon as they arrive on a drive but Spotlight itself never does anything to the files. SSDs are fast enough that you should be able to put files anywhere, even on externals and any app can know about the file but any metadata changes and edits go into the app's own space. When a bug like this arises, the app's own data could be renamed and reinitialized but the original photos left untouched and the app data can potentially be repaired to get back edits or other metadata.
Just taking a quick, look at the preferences in the Photos app. I looks to me like you make a choice of either importing the image files into the library, and allowing "photos" to manage them. Or you can chose to leave them wherever you put them and just have photos index the image files and keep a reference to them. The decision is yours.
$7500 for a black and white camera! Holy sh......
A good SLR and Photoshop, job done.
People must be buying these for the name or as a show off.