Mounting a Pentax Optio A30 Still Camera

[Preston Hagar]

On Thu, Apr 8, 2010 at 4:36 PM, Mark C. Miller <mr.mcmiller at gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, 08 Apr 2010 22:59:38 +0200, Bas Roufs wrote:
>
>> 2010/4/8 Mark C. Miller <mr.mcmiller at gmail.com>:
>>> I am trying to pull the pictures off my Pentax Optio A30.  When I
>>> connect via the usb cable to my Ubuntu 9.10 system, the camera is not
>>> recognized.
>>
>> Option 1:
>> take the SD-card out of your camara and put it into your PC. A file
>> manager like Dolphin (Kubuntu) or Nautilus (Ubuntu) will be able to
>> navigate through it.
>
> I don't have a card reader

You can get one on NewEgg for $9 shipped:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820223087

Or for $2.22 from Deal Extreme (ships from Hong Kong and takes about
2-3 weeks to arrive in US, not sure about delivery times to other
contries)

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.11

This might be the easiest option.

>>
>> Option 2:
>> try special open source camera software like "Digikam" - which can
>> automatically recognise your camera, even if it is not being recognised
>> by your regular file manager.
>>
>
> This doesn't work any differently than what I get with just plugging in
> the usb cable.  It works with my Sony camera, but not the Pentax (or the
> Canon for that matter).
>
> I'm beginning to think the problem is that Ubuntu doesn't like Pentax.
>

I looked up the manual

http://www.pentaximaging.com/files/manual/A30E_web.pdf    [pdf file]

If you look on page 174, there are instructions for changing the USB
connection mode  (go into the menu, go to USB connection, press the
right arrow, select PC, press the Play button).  You might double
check that it is in the "PC" mode.  I know on a lot of devices (not
too fimiliar with this brand of camera) there are often multiple USB
modes, only one of which will make it truly show up as a USB mass
storage device (something Linux can handle easily).  The other modes
usually work with the camera software, or Windows drivers that the
windows software or device installs.


>> Respectfully yours,
>>
>> Bas.
>

Hope this helps,

Preston