Card Reader Question

[johnnstacy1]

Searched the forum and didn't find anything on this subject so I thought I would ask. Is it faster to use a card reader than to transfer images directly from your camera? I am guessing so and not sure what compatablity issues exist for for the DRebel 1.1 usb vs 2.0 on most computers. Finally, I don't own a card reader. Are they all them same? Can you recommend a brand? Thanks so much! :D

[CyberDyneSystems]

Much faster and more conveinient by far. :)

Look for a USB2 or Firewire Card reader (depending on what your PC has for connectivity) and things will be much easier and faster.

[Jesper]

Welcome to the forums!

If you have a Digital Rebel or any other camera except for the 20D, transfering images with a card reader is most likely going to be MUCH faster than directly from the camera!

The DRebel and almost all other cameras have an USB version 1.1 interface. Card readers usually work via either USB 2.0 or Firewire. The 20D also has an USB 2.0 interface.

USB 2.0 is more than 30 times faster than USB 1.1. It won't be 30 times faster in reality, because when you use an USB 2.0 card reader, the speed will be limited by the speed of the CF card, not the interface - but it will most likely be 3 to 6 times faster, depending on the speed of your CF card.

Note that to take advantage of the speed, you also have to make sure that your computer has an USB 2.0 interface. If your computer only has USB 1.1, an USB 2.0 card reader will work, but it will work at slow USB 1.1 speed.

I think you didn't search very hard, because card readers etc. have been discussed often here. For example:
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46339

[aam1234]

There is something about transferring pics directly from the cam that many people overlook. If the cam battery dies during the transfer, all remaining photos in the card will be lost. That's another reason to get a card reader I think.

[drisley]

aam1234 brings up a good point.
It's been shown that even transfering a few images from the DRebel eats batteries, sometimes up to 50% of the charge! Definately get a card reader. A USB2 card reader transfers images about 10x faster than from the DRebel in my experience.
But, if you read this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=49241), not all USB2 card readers are created equal.
Make sure the card reader says "Hi-Speed" in addition to being USB2.
Older USB2 readers were low-speed usb2 spec, and weren't much faster than USB1.1

[ant]

i recently purchased a card reader for my 300D after my computer decided it didnt want to recognise my camera anymore. and wow, i cant believe how much quicker it transfers images. its great. was cheap to, pick up card reader for 35 bux.

[Olegis]

Since my PC doesn't have USB2.0 or FireWire, I'm using cheap and simple no-name reader (USB1.1 of course) - and the transfer with it is also much faster than the transfer from my 10D. I'm not sure what is the reason for this difference, but using a card reader is both faster and more convenient for me.

There is also the point that aam1234 brought up - the images most likely will not be necessarily lost, but some images may get corrupted. This is another reason to use a card reader.

[Jon, The Elder]

Two major brands are Belkin and SanDisk. There are others of course, but name brands are generally safer.

A word of caution : DO NOT reformat the card from your computer. Also don't just "delete" the files off the card when you are done.

Why ? - The software on your computer creates registry tags that can confuse the camera software.
Play it safe and always reformat in camera.

[MarkH]

Since my PC doesn't have USB2.0 or FireWire, I'm using cheap and simple no-name reader (USB1.1 of course) - and the transfer with it is also much faster than the transfer from my 10D.

Does it have any spare PCI slots?

I picked up a USB2 PCI card which I have used with both WinXP and Win98 and it works fine either way. It cost me less than 20 bucks. This is the cheap & simple solution for the older PC that lacks USB2.

[tim]

I've never tried plugging into my camera, I always use a card reader. My USB 1.1 card reader reads from my Sandisk Ultra II card at 1MB/sec, the USB 2.0 reader reads at 8MB/sec - a huge difference.

There is something about transferring pics directly from the cam that many people overlook. If the cam battery dies during the transfer, all remaining photos in the card will be lost. That's another reason to get a card reader I think.

Why? You're just reading from the card, removing power shouldn't affect the CF card at all. Has anyone actually had this happen, i'd be very suprised if it were true, to the point i'd call it a major issue/****up by the designers.

[Jon]

I've never tried plugging into my camera, I always use a card reader. My USB 1.1 card reader reads from my Sandisk Ultra II card at 1MB/sec, the USB 2.0 reader reads at 8MB/sec - a huge difference.



Why? You're just reading from the card, removing power shouldn't affect the CF card at all. Has anyone actually had this happen, i'd be very suprised if it were true, to the point i'd call it a major issue/****up by the designers.
If you remember, ZB, for one, keeps track of which photos have ben downloaded. That's part of the info that gets written to the CANONMSC folder under the DCIM directory.

[markubig]

Searched the forum and didn't find anything on this subject so I thought I would ask. Is it faster to use a card reader than to transfer images directly from your camera? I am guessing so and not sure what compatablity issues exist for for the DRebel 1.1 usb vs 2.0 on most computers. Finally, I don't own a card reader. Are they all them same? Can you recommend a brand? Thanks so much! :D

I own the Sandisk Imagemate 8-in-1 ($40). It's a USB2.0 card reader that can read up to 8 different formats (CompactFlash, SD, xD, etc.). I use other types of formats other than compactflash, so it's convenient for me. You do have to get a USB2.0 PCI card to support it. I have the adaptec that supports USB2 + Firewire ($80). it's a great investment . . . the difference in transfer rates is huge, especially when you're talking about pictures from a 6.3MP camera.

[merrrrjig]

Wow I gotta get one of those, my camera is way slow