Best method for downloading images from camera

[kevinma]

I'm using a 20D with a 1GB card.

I have a choice of either using my card reader attached to my computer or plugging the camera in directly. What are the advantages and disadvantages of these methods?

To those Mac users out there: For dealing with jpgs, are there significant reasons to download to the Canon image management program rather than directly into iPhoto using the PTP protocol?

Thanks. Kevin.

[Ogrt48]

Card reader.. doesn't kill batteries and is a hella lot faster...
Camera see above and replace doesn't with does and faster with slower :D

[nat869]

Card reader, its fast and easy. I have never once hooked my camera to the computer.

[gramps]

card reader is the ONLY way to go............

[FlipsidE]

If you've got a fast CF card, get a firewire or USB 2.0 card reader (I'm partial to Firewire).

FlipsidE

[Morden]

There only are 3 words required to answer your query; "FAST CARD READER". :)

[danphoto1]

I agree usb2 or firewire reader

[kevinma]

Thanks all. I have a fast card. Any recommendations for a fast reader? I have firewire but not USB2.
Kevin.

[ralee]

Hi

Sandisk make a firewire card reader. It is pretty good, I use the Sandisk USB2 as well. The firewire is a "silver shaped hockey puck" , fairly short cable.

[Persian-Rice]

A fast reader would be amazing , but even a slower one is much much faster then your camera.......

I'm definitely on the card reader bandwagon.

[pcasciola]

A fast reader would be amazing , but even a slower one is much much faster then your camera.......

Hmmmm.. This may have been true last year, but most cameras support USB 2.0 now. My 20D can offload an entire 1Gb card in about 7 minutes, while my USB 1.0 card reader takes about 15 minutes to offload the same card, and using a PCMCIA adapter in my laptop takes even longer than that.

I did, however, just upgrade to a Dazzle 8 in 1 USB 2.0 reader, and it can offload the entire 1Gb card in 2 minutes and 15 seconds. You should get the same performance with firewire since the card speed is the limitation.

The only disadvantages with using the reader is that you have to remember to bring the reader with you if you want to offload the pics somewhere besides your home PC, and you might forget to take the card out of the reader and put it back in the camera (I've done it a couple of times).

[Ballen Photo]

using a PCMCIA adapter in my laptop takes even longer than that.


I'm REALLY surprised to hear this. My pcmcia adapter in my year old laptop seems to be real Fast. :shock: I open the file, highlight all images, then copy(Not move), since I like to keep the files on the card as a backup till I'm sure I've got good copies. I copy them to a folder I made for photos to be processed. It only takes seconds. :roll:

I guess this means my answer is card reader, or pcmcia adapter. :wink:
-Bruce

[PekkaM]

I have 20D, SanDisk Ultra 2 1Gb and USB2. I cannot imagine ever needing anything faster than that :)

[geoff brown]

Card reader. :wink:

[John_T]

I have a 2GB SanDisk Extreme in a 20D. It is very fast in the camera and pretty fast downloading over the 20D's USB2 connection.

Using my Sandisk ImageMate USB2 card reader to download, it is quite a bit faster than from the camera, however be it from the camera or from the reader, both are satisfactory.

The greatest speed gain is when you move from USB1.1 to USB2, regardless of card, camera or reader.

[rsnadel]

Lexar made a firewire reader at one time. You might do a search on pricegrabber.com for it.

[John_T]

The Lexar reader I have only reads Lexar cards well, doesn't like SanDisk at all. Compatibility is also something to check out when buying.

[PhotoDude25]

I can only echo John's reply. I've had my Lexar card reader for about four months now and my first card was a Sandisk. Popped it in the reader and it didn't even show as being inserted at all. Then popped in my Lexar card and voila, nary a problem. I'm partial to Lexar cards anyway, so, bye bye Sandisk card and make room for another Lexar. Just my 2 cents.........PhotoDude25

[Jon]

Not so much a caution as a general advisory not to get your hopes up on Lexar cards. Remember, their "WA" feature isn't supported on Canon cameras. IIRC Rob Galbraith found the SanDisk cards to be faster than the Lexars in operation.