How do you download from a card reader?

Folks, I was always downloading from the camera to PC and so I was using EOS Utilities. When images were downloading, there was a small preview icon and I could follow what is currently being downloaded.
I now have a card reader and understood that the way to download is to use the Zoom Browser. There is no preview available though.

What do you use? Is there a way to download via card reader and have a preview?
Thanks.

I just drag and drop. The card mounts as a drive so you can just click on the files to preview before transferring.

I use Lightroom and it simply finds the slot in which the card is inserted...

I use PhotoMechanic.

Have Autoplay EOS Digital H set to view download images with ZB , Click on it then click let you select and download images it gives you a preview of what you want to download.

View the card and select the keepers with Breeze Browser Pro, transfer selection to Lightroom import dialog and designate destination folder, download.

The issue is that EOS Utility is designed to recognize only "camera events" i.e. Windows sends a prompt to EOS Utility when it recognizes a camera is connected to the computer. And ZoomBrowser EX is designed to detect when a memory card is attached to the card reader/computer.

If you're adventurous and are reasonably competent in using a Registry Editor (regedit) you can add a pointer to the ShowPicturesOnArrival event handler so that it lists and invokes EOS Utility in the AutoPlay dialog box when Windows detects a memory card in the card reader.

light_pilgrim wrote in post #14651594
Folks, I was always downloading from the camera to PC and so I was using EOS Utilities. When images were downloading, there was a small preview icon and I could follow what is currently being downloaded.
I now have a card reader and understood that the way to download is to use the Zoom Browser. There is no preview available though.

What do you use? Is there a way to download via card reader and have a preview?
Thanks.

Breeze Systems offers a versatile program called Downloader Pro which is available for a free trial.

Be aware that there have been bent pin issues in the camera body because of removal/reinsertion of CF type cards.

Adobe Bridge

I recommend this method. I use Lightroom, and here is what I do. I copy all the files from the card and dump them in a folder on the desktop. Then I eject the card. Then, I have this little program:
http://www.fastpicture​viewer.com/
It allows for RAW files to basically be viewed as easily as JPEGS. They load amazingly fast and it's super easy to go through them and delete any ones I don't want. Then, I go into Lightroom and import the remaining keepers.
But as others have mentioned, there are a bunch of different methods. To each his own.

John from PA wrote in post #14652058
Be aware that there have been bent pin issues in the camera body because of removal/reinsertion of CF type cards.

I now I've seen this come up before and not saying its a trivial issue but they are designed to be removed. In the six Canon bodies I've owned over the years I have preformed countless card swaps in the field without never experiencing this. That includes on rugged hiking trails to city streets and the usage of a Card Reader I've about wore out.

Maybe some try and force the CF cards in backwards somehow -

As for that I routinely use the EOS utility. Just select the images in the Preview Screen and select the ones to transfer from Card Reader to the assigned folder. Its pretty straight forward and simple.

Tsmith wrote in post #14652184
I now I've seen this come up before and not saying its a trivial issue but they are designed to be removed. In the six Canon bodies I've owned over the years I have preformed countless card swaps in the field without never experiencing this. That includes on rugged hiking trails to city streets and the usage of a Card Reader I've about wore out.

Maybe some try and force the CF cards in backwards somehow -

As for that I routinely use the EOS utility. Just select the images in the Preview Screen and select the ones to transfer from Card Reader to the assigned folder. Its pretty straight forward and simple.

+1 on this. I have used card readers since the day I got my first digital camera (2002) and have removed and installed the CF cards many many times without any trouble. Damaging a card hasn't ever been on my radar. I'd never thought about it until I read the stories of bent pins on forums. It's a portable memory system, allowing for the use of multiple cards, creating an infinite amount of memory for any given camera body.

As for the OP. The card reader treats the card like an external drive or memory stick. It should show up in your list of drives: (C:, D:, E:, etc.), many of the popular editing and organizing software out there will register the cards and automatically pop up when a card is inserted. I second the recommendation of Downloader Pro from Breeze systems, it was my go to program for downloading, tagging, and organizing my photos when I still used Windows. Lightroom puts up a preview before downloading and I can take a quick look at what's on the card before I actually put the files on my computer. I rarely change anything at this point, I just click the download button and let it go, I'll look through when it's done. Both DL Pro and LR offer organization features to place the photos in folders of your choosing, for ex: Year, month, day, photo number; or Event, day, photo number; etc.

I stopped using zoom browser a long time ago, so I can't speak too well as to it's use. I would think it would work the same whether you're using a camera body or a reader though, maybe I'm wrong. I usually don't worry about culling my photos until they are downloaded and of sufficient size to judge their worth. My "workflow is a little different than yours, from your post it appears you cull while downloading. So maybe a small change in workflow for you: put the card in the reader walk away and let ZB do it's thing. Then when the download is finished, or even while it's in progress view and cull the already downloaded files.

Adobe Bridge downloader is set to pop up when i insert a card.

DC Fan wrote in post #14652056
Breeze Systems offers a versatile program called Downloader Pro which is available for a free trial.

I wuuuv this program soooooo much!