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FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #1 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

rscheffler wrote:
There was an app that provided this for the M9 called M9Info but it's not compatible with current Mac OSes.

By the way, Ron, FM Studio v1.3 (coming soon) will read shutter counts for the Leica M8 and M8.2 in addition to the M9...whether loaded via SD card or Wi-Fi card.

That means v1.3 will display total actuations right on the main page and under "Camera Info" for the M8, M8.2, M9 series, M10 series, and M11 series. Every time you load your images you will automatically see the count.

Oct 29, 2026 at 08:36 AM

Ne314satel
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p.3 #2 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

I’ve taken a look at the program, and I liked everything about it. But the software built into macOS is perfectly sufficient for my needs when it comes to copying files from a camera to my Mac.

Oct 29, 2026 at 09:18 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #3 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

Here's a sneak peek at what's coming in v1.3! 🚀

The upcoming update brings shutter count support to the Leica M8 and M9!

Just like with the Leica M10 and M11 series, you will now be able to view the total number of actuations right in the left dark panel (and Camera info window).

Note: Shutter count detection isn't limited to Leica...other supported cameras, like the Nikon Zf (Image attached as well), show it too!

You can also see the new "Rename", "Folders", "Metadata" buttons on the main grid.

Oct 29, 2026 at 10:46 AM

freaklikeme
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p.3 #4 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

This looks great, Fred, and adding the lens to EXIF would be cool, but most of my photos are from the mono rII, and those files go through mono2DNG first so LR doesn't try to debayer the files. What's the best way to integrate your software into that workflow? Can I run the files through the mono software first and then point your software to the file on my RAID where I've saved those DNGs or do I run your software first, output to a custom folder, and then run those RAWs through the mono software?

Oct 29, 2026 at 11:11 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #5 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

freaklikeme wrote:
This looks great, Fred, and adding the lens to EXIF would be cool, but most of my photos are from the mono rII, and those files go through mono2DNG first so LR doesn't try to debayer the files. What's the best way to integrate your software into that workflow? Can I run the files through the mono software first and then point your software to the file on my RAID where I've saved those DNGs or do I run your software first, output to a custom folder, and then run those RAWs through the mono software?

Thanks! The best order is to run FM Studio first, then mono2DNG.

FM Studio is built to work between the camera or card and your computer. It reads from the camera or card, and it writes the lens and your metadata into each photo while it copies it. It can’t be pointed at DNGs that are already on your RAID, and it doesn’t edit photos that are already on your Mac. So starting with mono2DNG would leave FM Studio with nothing to work on.

Your workflow would look like this:

1) Put the card in a reader (or connect the camera) and open FM Studio.
2) Select the photos, click Edit EXIF, and set the lens model (you can save it as a preset). Click Metadata if you want your name and copyright added too.
3) Download to your custom folder. The lens is written into each file as it downloads.
4) Run that folder through mono2DNG, and then import into Lightroom.

One thing to test first: does mono2DNG carry the original file's lens tag over into the new DNG? I’d try it on a few photos before you do a big batch. Also, if your files are not DNG, FM Studio saves your name and copyright in a small .xmp file next to each RAW instead of inside it. mono2DNG may not carry that sidecar over, so check it too. The lens tag from Edit EXIF is written inside the file itself, so it's the more likely one to survive.

Let me know how the test goes. If something doesn't carry over, I can look at it.

Oct 29, 2026 at 12:43 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #6 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

FM Studio 1.3 is out!

FM Studio 1.3 is now available. The big themes this time are getting your files named, filed and labeled correctly as they download, plus a few things many of you asked for.

What’s new

⦿ Folders. Sort downloads into folders built from the capture date, camera, serial number and a job name, for example 2026/Wedding/2026-10-04_NIKON-Z-f. It works with Lightroom folders or any plain folder. Photos you already downloaded keep showing ON DISK if you change the pattern later, and nothing is moved or deleted.

⦿ IPTC metadata on download. Write up to 17 IPTC fields (creator, copyright, credit line, caption, keywords, location and more) into each photo as it downloads, instead of in Lightroom afterward. RAW files from other makers are never touched. Their data goes into a small .xmp sidecar that Lightroom reads.

⦿ Text shortcuts. Type a short code like =ts= in a metadata field and it expands to your full text.

⦿ Rename has a new {job} item, a refreshed window, and a Reset button.

⦿ Leica M8 and M9 shutter count. They can’t report it over a connection, but they record it in every photo, so FM Studio reads it from the files. It works with a card reader or a FlashAir card, and joins the M10 and M11 counts it already showed.

⦿ Camera pictures. The header now shows a picture of the camera or phone you connected, for nearly 400 models.

⦿ A "What's new" card after you update (also in Preferences).

I’ve tested this release on a range of cameras and connection types. Everything is off by default until you turn it on, so your downloads don't change unless you want them to. And as always, nothing is written to your camera or card.

The manual has been updated too, with new sections for Folders, Metadata, text shortcuts, iPhone and iPad, and the shutter count:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/Buzz/FM-Studio-User-Manual.pdf

If you already own FM Studio, download 1.3 from your FM Studio page and drag it into Applications over the old copy. Your license and settings carry over. If you have not tried it yet, here's the page:

https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/fm-studio.php

Thank you! A lot of what's in this release came directly from your feedback and feature requests, posted here, sent by private message, and sent by email. Please keep them coming. It really does shape what I build next.

I will keep adding features to FM Studio, and a PC version is in development.

Fred

Oct 29, 2026 at 02:28 PM

Jeffrey
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p.3 #7 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

Thank you Fred for working tirelessly on this......

Oct 29, 2026 at 09:38 PM

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p.3 #8 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

The one "must have" feature for me, that would keep me on Photo Mechanic is to allow for side by side 100% viewing, where I can lock and unlock panning across the 2 images. I realize this might be an edge case and may not matter to most people. But if this had that capability, I would seriously consider ditching Photo Mechanic. Very polished product though Fred!

FWIW

Tim

Oct 30, 2026 at 06:54 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #9 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

Jeffrey wrote:
Thank you Fred for working tirelessly on this......

I appreciate your kind words Jeffrey. Thanks for your support!!

Oct 30, 2026 at 12:33 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #10 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

tsdevine wrote:
The one "must have" feature for me, that would keep me on Photo Mechanic is to allow for side by side 100% viewing, where I can lock and unlock panning across the 2 images. I realize this might be an edge case and may not matter to most people. But if this had that capability, I would seriously consider ditching Photo Mechanic. Very polished product though Fred!

FWIW

Tim

Thanks for the kind words. FM Studio doesn’t do side-by-side 100% viewing or synced panning today. The viewer shows one photo at a time with a reduced preview. It’s a fair request and I’ve noted it, but I can’t promise it or give a date.

Oct 30, 2026 at 12:34 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #11 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

A quick update on where FM Studio is heading. I read every piece of feedback, and a lot of what's in the app today came from members' requests. Here's what is on my radar:

Coming up in the near term:

⦿ A setting to hide Delete Mode and Format completely, for people who never want them on screen
⦿ Creator contact fields in Metadata (email, phone, address and website)
⦿ Camera-name mapping, so you can show short names for your camera models

Further out, still being considered:

⦿ A Windows version, which is in development
⦿ Choosing a Metadata preset automatically by camera
⦿ Importing video clips (MOV and MP4), since FM Studio only imports stills today
⦿ Side-by-side 100% viewing with panning you can lock and unlock, for comparing sharpness
⦿ Some basic processing on import, such as resizing to a megapixel size you choose (for example 12, 24 or 36 MP) for JPEG, TIFF and possibly DNG, and perhaps cropping

I'm not promising dates for any of this. Some items are small and some are big projects. What I can say is that the more members who buy FM Studio now, the more time and resources I can put into building these features sooner. If there's something you need that's not on this list, tell me. That is how most of the app has been shaped so far.

Oct 30, 2026 at 12:38 PM

Joe Colson
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p.3 #12 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

Fred, outstanding work! I tested FM Studio today with a Hasselblad X2D II 100C tethered to my Mac using USB-C. The app worked perfectly and the folder naming functionality is exactly what I wanted. Now I'm gonna buy the app on the Lifetime plan and let my 1-month plan expire (near the end of November). I no longer have to worry about the ImageIngester app being updated. Thanks very much!

Joe

Oct 30, 2026 at 02:16 PM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #13 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

Joe Colson wrote:
Fred, outstanding work! I tested FM Studio today with a Hasselblad X2D II 100C tethered to my Mac using USB-C. The app worked perfectly and the folder naming functionality is exactly what I wanted. Now I'm gonna buy the app on the Lifetime plan and let my 1-month plan expire (near the end of November). I no longer have to worry about the ImageIngester app being updated. Thanks very much!

Joe

Thank you for the words of encouragement, Joe!

I've been testing with a wide range of cameras, including the latest Canon bodies. My goal is to get Canon working seamlessly not only via USB (which is already does) but also Wi-Fi, just like the Leica M bodies.

Oct 31, 2026 at 10:35 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #14 · FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

Here's the updated version with the picker fixes added, using ⦿ as the bullet.

FM Studio 1.3.4 is out

Version 1.3.4 is ready. It adds Canon Wi-Fi, more Metadata fields, a new Preferences option, and a much clearer way to pick between connected cameras.

What's new

⦿ Canon Wi-Fi. FM Studio now connects to Canon EOS cameras over Wi-Fi, with no beta label. I tested it on the EOS R6 Mark II, and other Canon EOS models with Wi-Fi should work the same way. Join the camera's Wi-Fi network on your Mac and open FM Studio. The first time, go to Connect to EOS Utility, then Add a device to connect to, on the camera and press OK when it shows "PC FM Studio found." After that, you just pick FM Studio in the camera's list.

⦿ Creator contact details in Metadata. You can now write the Creator contact fields into every photo as it downloads: email, phone, website, address, city, state/province, postal code and country. That brings Metadata to 25 fields, along with Creator's job title, Credit line, Copyright notice, Rights usage terms, Source, Headline, Title, Caption, Keywords, location fields, Job ID and Special instructions. Lightroom and Bridge show them under Creator Contact Info.

⦿ Hide Delete Mode and Format. There's a new checkbox in Preferences, under Sources. Tick it and the Delete Mode, Delete selected and Format buttons disappear from the main screen, so nothing can be erased from a camera or card by mistake. It's off by default.

⦿ Better Camera info. Cameras now show their friendly model names.

⦿ Clearer connection choices. When more than one camera or card is connected, FM Studio now lists everything it found before you pick, with plain labels that say how each one is connected (for example USB, Mass Storage, or Wi-Fi). You choose which one to load.

Fixes

⦿ More than one USB camera. If two cameras are plugged in by USB, both now show up in the list. This includes mixing a camera that connects as a drive (Mass Storage, like many Sony cameras) with one that connects directly (PTP, like many Nikon cameras).

⦿ USB camera plus a Wi-Fi camera. If a camera was connected by USB while another was waiting on Wi-Fi (a Nikon over USB with a Leica or Canon on Wi-Fi, for example), FM Studio could jump straight to the USB camera without asking. It now shows the list so you choose.

⦿ Confusing names in the list. Entries like "USB camera" and "untitled" are replaced with labels that tell you what each device is.

⦿ One small trade-off. With a USB camera on a network that also has a Leica M10, the app can take up to about 2 seconds longer to open while it checks for both.

How to update

Download the new version from the FM Studio page. Your settings and license carry over.

Take a look at the new screenshots for Metadata and Canon on the FM Studio page.

New Creator contact details in Metadata

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Connected via Wi-fi

Canon EOS R6 Mark II Connected via USB PTP (Very fast transfer)

Example showing Canon EOS R6 Camera info in FM Studio

Oct 31, 2026 at 03:14 PM

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FM Studio: review, tag and transfer photos on Mac

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