SCSI connection

[Martynz]

I have a digital camera which only has a SCSI output. It works OK with my
computer accessing and reading its memory card but it doesn't show up in
Explorer as an external drive. Is this an intrinsic feature of SCSI or is
there some way to directly access the memory card for programming purposes.
There are some interesting developments of the Digita system I would like to
try.
Apologies if this isn't the best forum for my query.

Martynz

 

[Guest]

As with SATA hds and the controlers,one must install the software/drivers
for the controller,have you tried installing the SCSI drivers...W/o the
drivers,
it might not be active.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Martynz" <[email protected]>

| I have a digital camera which only has a SCSI output. It works OK with my
| computer accessing and reading its memory card but it doesn't show up in
| Explorer as an external drive. Is this an intrinsic feature of SCSI or is
| there some way to directly access the memory card for programming purposes.
| There are some interesting developments of the Digita system I would like to
| try.
| Apologies if this isn't the best forum for my query.
|
| Martynz
|

SCSI on a Digital Camera ? /* I doubt that severely ! */

What camera make and model ?

Digital cameras use USB as a standard connection. Older models used serial ports.

The *best* way to download the pictures off a digital camera is NOT to connect the camera to
the PC. Get a USB or FireWire memory card reader capable of using the memory cards found in
your camera. Then you just remove the memory card from the camera na dinsert it into the
memory card reader. The memory card reader appears as a drive letter such as "K:". One of
the reasons this is better is that you don't waste the batteries of the camera where most
camera need to be turned on to access the pictures on the camera. Another advantage is that
you will find that a USB v2.0 or FireWire Memory Card Reader will download the pictures
faster than when the mermory card is in the camera.

I personally use a SanDisk 6-in-1 USB 2.0 Memory Card Reader for the Compact Flash cards of
my Canon Digital Rebel and the SmartMedia of my parents Olympus.

 

[Martynz]

There seems to be some misunderstanding about my query.
The camera is a Minolta Dimage RD 3000, the only output is a 50 pin SCSI.
I can access the recorded images via the proprietary software - Digita
Desktop on my laptop.
But I want to try modifying DigitaDesktop by using some additional programs
and the route seems to be not available through the SCSI connection. It
involves treating the memory record like a disk drive and dropping the
program there.
Please, no more advice about using a card reader or saving battery power (I
have a mains unit).
So I'll ask the question again. Is there any way to use Explorer to "see"
the camera's memory card as an external drive via a SCSI connection?

Martynz

 

[Mistoffolees]

There seems to be some misunderstanding about my query.
The camera is a Minolta Dimage RD 3000, the only output is a 50 pin SCSI.
I can access the recorded images via the proprietary software - Digita
Desktop on my laptop.
But I want to try modifying DigitaDesktop by using some additional programs
and the route seems to be not available through the SCSI connection. It
involves treating the memory record like a disk drive and dropping the
program there.
Please, no more advice about using a card reader or saving battery power (I
have a mains unit).
So I'll ask the question again. Is there any way to use Explorer to "see"
the camera's memory card as an external drive via a SCSI connection?

The camera does need a SCSI-2 host adapter, presumably when
the 340 MB micro-drive is being used. What are you planning
to do? Write/adapt your own programs to write to the micro-
drive? Such an adaptation might be beyond the design of the
camera's electronics and philosophy since most of the work
with images is really done on a desktop or laptop system with
applications such as from Adobe. I'd leave the camera system
alone and treat it like the fine, professional system that it
already is.

 

[Mistoffolees]

The camera does need a SCSI-2 host adapter, presumably when
the 340 MB micro-drive is being used. What are you planning
to do? Write/adapt your own programs to write to the micro-
drive? Such an adaptation might be beyond the design of the
camera's electronics and philosophy since most of the work
with images is really done on a desktop or laptop system with
applications such as from Adobe. I'd leave the camera system
alone and treat it like the fine, professional system that it
already is.

And, BTW, the stored image is in TIFF format. Also the micro-
drive is removable and, preumably, there should be a reader
for it. Sorry but don't have time to dig deeper into Minolta's
literature and pro camera reviews for you. Besides, I shoot
only Nikons.

 

[Martynz]

Thanks for that.
Minolta adopted the DigitaDesktop program for handling the images and camera
for the RD3000. This included a program for the remote control of the camera
from the PC with timed exposures with a minimum interval of 10 mins. Since
then Digita has been released for development and a number of programs have
been written that include some that allow for different time intervals.
Unfortunately none of them allow for access via SCSI only serial, USB and
Firewire. Thats why I'm looking for SCSI access.

Martynz

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Mistoffolees" <[email protected]>



| And, BTW, the stored image is in TIFF format. Also the micro-
| drive is removable and, preumably, there should be a reader
| for it. Sorry but don't have time to dig deeper into Minolta's
| literature and pro camera reviews for you. Besides, I shoot
| only Nikons.

TIFF and JPEG.
http://ca.konicaminolta.com/products/consumer/digital_camera/dimage/dimage-rd3000/specification.html

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Martynz" <[email protected]>

| There seems to be some misunderstanding about my query.
| The camera is a Minolta Dimage RD 3000, the only output is a 50 pin SCSI.
| I can access the recorded images via the proprietary software - Digita
| Desktop on my laptop.
| But I want to try modifying DigitaDesktop by using some additional programs
| and the route seems to be not available through the SCSI connection. It
| involves treating the memory record like a disk drive and dropping the
| program there.
| Please, no more advice about using a card reader or saving battery power (I
| have a mains unit).
| So I'll ask the question again. Is there any way to use Explorer to "see"
| the camera's memory card as an external drive via a SCSI connection?
|
| Martynz

OK. Yes the OLD 2.7MP dSLR uses SCSI-2. RARE to say the least.

It also uses Compact Flash. Since this is discontinued -- I stick with my recomendation of
using a USB v2.0 or FireWire Memory Card Reader.

This is Faster than even SCSI-2 and is the *best* way to access your Compact Flash memory
cards.

There are NO WinXP drivers as it is that old !

http://ca.konicaminolta.com/products/consumer/digital_camera/dimage/dimage-rd3000/specification.html

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Martynz" <[email protected]>

| Thanks for that.
| Minolta adopted the DigitaDesktop program for handling the images and camera
| for the RD3000. This included a program for the remote control of the camera
| from the PC with timed exposures with a minimum interval of 10 mins. Since
| then Digita has been released for development and a number of programs have
| been written that include some that allow for different time intervals.
| Unfortunately none of them allow for access via SCSI only serial, USB and
| Firewire. Thats why I'm looking for SCSI access.
|

As I stated thaere NO WinXP drivers becuase it is that old. The only NT based OS that was
supported was NT4.

I understand the idea of controlling the camera exposure by the PC. If you want to do this
I suggest a Notebook using Win98/WinME where the OS is supported.

A USB v2.0 memory card reader can be had ~$20.00.

 

[Martynz]

I give up.
Nobody seems capable of answering my question...I'm not even sure anyone
actually understood it.
And Yes I know what the specs of the camera are, after all I do have 2 of
them.
Compact Flash discontinued??? Gee, its just as well I live in a backward
country otherwise I wouldn't have been able to buy a card.

Martynz

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Martynz" <[email protected]>

| I give up.
| Nobody seems capable of answering my question...I'm not even sure anyone
| actually understood it.
| And Yes I know what the specs of the camera are, after all I do have 2 of
| them.
| Compact Flash discontinued??? Gee, its just as well I live in a backward
| country otherwise I wouldn't have been able to buy a card.
|


NO. CF isn't discontinued ! I am sorry to confuse you. The camera is discontinued !
The last OS supported was NT4. That means Win2K and WinXP are not supported thus I put in
another post...

"I understand the idea of controlling the camera exposure by the PC. If you want to do this
I suggest a Notebook using Win98/WinME where the OS is supported.

A USB v2.0 memory card reader can be had ~$20.00."

I understand your problem exactly. Because you failed to post the make and model of the
camera in your original post, I found it incredulous to have a camera with SCSI interface.
However it was a fact. Considering the hardware and the time frame, SCSI was the fastest
interface. But SCSI is a more complex issue that a serial port or Today's USB or FireWire
interfaces. You NEED SCSI software. There is no vendor related SCSI software produced for
this camera (SCSI device) for the OS (WinXP) hence; your problem.

As for CF. When your camera came out, a 32MB CF card was all the rage. Now you can't even
use a 32MB CF card -- it's too bloody small. Yours is a 2.7MP camera. Mine is a 6.3MP
camera. If you take pactures in RAW format, you use space fast. Your camera supports JPEG
and TIFF formats. CF is availble in 1GB and 4GB sizes at very reasonable prices. perfect
for a dSLR.

Again reading a CF card in a memory card reader (USB v2.0 or FireWire) will be faster than
SCSI-2 was and that would be your solution for downloading pictures. For having camera
software control the camera it would require a notebook a Notebook using Win98/WinME and a
PCMCIA SCSI interface or a USB to SCSI converter or a notebook with built-in SCSI.

 

[Martynz]

I can control the camera exposure using WinXP.
I want try to modify the existing Digita program but I need to drop a new
program into a folder on the CompactFlashcard. But as I have said previously
it doesn't seem possible to access the camera as an external drive using
Explorer.

Martynz

 

[Bob I]

You may place the file on a flash card with a flash card reader.