transfer to pc

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reedwarbler

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garry
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hi,being totally new to this,is it safe to transfer from a camera to a pc via a usb cable,i have read somewhere that it can damage the camera? i am asking this because my old pc does not have a slot for a sd card,i am trying to get as much advice as possible before i take the plunge, thank you.
 
IF you've got a space right next to the PC to leave the camera while the pics are transferring and you remember to ensure that the camera's battery is fully charged before you start, I can't see too much problem, although I think transfering from a card reader is faster.
There is some evidence to suggest that the contacts on cards have a limited life in terms of insert/remove cycles but the same goes for USB contacts.

Personally, I use a card reader - among other things, it leaves the camera free to be grabbed if something happens and I want to grab a shot.
 
It is perfectly fine to transfer pics from camera to PC via the USB cable but most peeps prefer to remove the card from the camera and place it in a card reader for transfer.

This means the purchase of a card reader.

It's also a good idea to format the card in camera after the transfer of images. :)
 
Card readers are cheap and can be left plugged in to a USB port. Saves running down the camera battery.
 
looks like a card reader is the best bet.oh,and when you say to format the card does that mean to delete everything
 
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Format it in the camera. Always a good idea to do so after you have done the transfer / backup of shots.

Format is always a better option than to manually 'delete' the images.
 
^ A format does more than just delete the images. There will be an option in the menu to do it, just make sure you've got a couple of copies of your pics before formatting!
 
thanks again,could anyone recommend a card reader,the camera i will be getting will either be d5000 or d90,like i say these questions might seem stupid to some but i dont have a clue!!
 
IIRC, both those bodies take SD cards and there's a strong possibility that you'll use SDHC ones, so make sure any reader you get will read them (some don't). 7dayshop.com do a fairly wide range at decent prices.
 
I bought a Sandisk 4gb Extreme III card recently which came with a card reader free. Can't remember whether it was from Amazon or Play, or even 7dayshop. It also came with a copy of Sandisk recovery software
 
admirable said:
It's also a good idea to format the card in camera after the transfer of images. :)
Click to expand...

Why? Constantly having to format is indicative of a fault.

Gigabyte said:
Card Reader is miles better
Click to expand...

Why? :shrug:

Gigabyte said:
Format it in the camera. Always a good idea to do so after you have done the transfer / backup of shots.

Format is always a better option than to manually 'delete' the images.
Click to expand...

Possibly true, but why?

In truth there is very little to choose between the two methods provided you are reasonably careful. Both sets of connections will wear gradually with constant plugging and unplugging.

As to the formatting obsession - it is a legacy of old magnetic disc drives. One or two of my cards have been formatted once, and some not at all (by me). All work fine.

Personally I use the USB connection as if this were to wear or be damaged then I would have the card reader option to fall back on.
 
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I always use the cable from camera to PC. If there is much of a drain on the camera battery I have not noticed it and I always have a spare battery fully charged.

The connection on the USB cable look more substantial, to me, than the connectors on the card and I'd probably damage the card continually taking it out of the camera and into the reader and back again.

Dave
 
AS above should be no problem. If I use my camera which has SD cards I take the card out and use a reader; if its the canon with Compact flash card I use a USB cable as I think CF cards are more likely to suffer damage to the pins or socket by repeatedly inserting into the body.
 
USB cable from camera to mac every time. Seems faster than my sandisk card reader and the card isn't being removed so no chance of bent pins in the CF chamber. Also, there's no chance of a lost card if you keep it in the camera
 
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If transfering from camera direct to computer using a USB cable, there are 2 major things to consider.
#1, will the camera's battery last the whole performance - if not, I believe there's a good chance of corrupting at least some of the files.
#2, can you be certain that nobody/nothing can trip over the cable, either disconnecting 1/2 way through or (even worse) bringing the camera into a gravity contest (gravity WILL win!).

Yes, it's possible for CF contact pins to get bent and snapped but I'm not sure it's easy! If it takes force to get it in, you're doing it wrong, so stop, check and push gently.
 
A card reader is by far the best option IMHO

Nothing worst than a battery failing part the way thorugh a transfer and if you have no charge left you will have to wait until the battery is charged to get the images off the card.

Added to the benefit of being able (should you require) to download images from one card whilst still using the camera with another card.
 
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