better to transfer over usb or CF reader? (wrt longevity)

CyberDyneSystems wrote in post #3602166
Card reader is soooo much more convenient.

I have measured only about a 0.5 second difference per RAW file in read times between the two methods. I can have the USB cable plugged into the camera and be downloading files while still trying to get the CF card out of the camera with my fumbling fingers.

bill boehme wrote in post #3602511
I have measured only about a 0.5 second difference per RAW file in read times between the two methods. I can have the USB cable plugged into the camera and be downloading files while still trying to get the CF card out of the camera with my fumbling fingers.

But you can't shoot when the camera is being used to download the pics.

Don't most computers now have CF card readers pre-installed? I know I just bought a USB hub with 8 card reader on it for really cheap. My printer has a card reader on it. I use that sometimes. Just use the card reader if your printer has one.

It would take me a hour or more to download my 8gb card thru the camera, so I got a scandisk firewire reader and now it takes about 7 minutes. Big improvement in workflow time. Now if I can get Noise Ninja to go faster.

I use CF reader only. Execept if doing tethered shooting.

1) Can shoot while other card downloading.
2) No risk of little hands/paws pulling cord and camera falling off desk.
3) Can use CF card as portable storage of other files.
4) Can use on nearly ANY computer without loading drivers... just plug n' play. (great when taking shots at friends/family's house)
5) No battery drain while downloading card.

jkoc wrote in post #3579079
so i've been shooting stuff outside of the house and then transfering the image to my laptop back and forth so i can view it on a larger screen. i ended up doing this several times but that got me thinking, is it better for body longevity to transfer via the USB cable attached to the body or take the CF in/out constantly?

it seems like over time, either CF slot DOOR latch could "wear out" and become loose. on the other hand, if i keep using USB cable, the connector could come less 'snug' over time ahaha.

for those of u who have owned the same dslr for a few years now, what do you guys do usually? am i just paranoid and should shut up and just keep shooting?

When are people going to realize these cameras are not made of glass? The CF card slot is designed for the card to be removed and replaced. Why do you think they put the door on it in the first place?

I've got a five-year-old D60 and a three-year-old 20D (with over 30,000 actuations on it) and I never use the USB cable. In fact, I don't even know where it is... When I first got the 20D, I used the cable to put my name in the camera and then promptly uninstalled all the Canon software. I have been using a card reader to download my images ever since and I average 500-1000 images a week. The card slot door on my camera is still just as tight as the day I got the camera.

If you use a reasonable amount of care in the removable and replacement of the CF card, you should have no problems with it. Using a card reader to download your images is the most practical way to go.

I keep the cables in the box still. There's no reason to have it out.

I have a 16GB card, and I've never taken it out of the camera. I always use the USB cable. I have used a card reader in the past, and it takes longer to download the pictures. plus - with a 16GB card, I never have to shoot while downloading. I can shoot over 2000 pictures on here and still not be out of space on the card!


~mike~

mkuriger wrote in post #3602987
I have used a card reader in the past, and it takes longer to download the pictures.

Please update to a card reader that supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, and you will notice a huge increase in speed when using the card reader.

mkuriger wrote in post #3602987
I have a 16GB card, and I've never taken it out of the camera. I always use the USB cable. I have used a card reader in the past, and it takes longer to download the pictures. plus - with a 16GB card, I never have to shoot while downloading. I can shoot over 2000 pictures on here and still not be out of space on the card!

~mike~

That sure would suck if your card somehow became corrupt. I would hate to lose 2000 images.

pwm2 wrote in post #3603015
Please update to a card reader that supports USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, and you will notice a huge increase in speed when using the card reader.

Or update to firewire and notice a huge increase over USB2 especially if doing many or very large files. At work I have Lexars firewire800 and that sucka screams Makes USB1 seem like its moving data by stone tablet.

In2Photos wrote in post #3603097
That sure would suck if your card somehow became corrupt. I would hate to lose 2000 images.

It would be just as bad as losing a wallet with eight 2 GB cards full of images.

It would worse than dropping a 4 GB card in the snow and losing it while changing cards in the middle of a snow storm at a ski race.

It would not be as bad as getting salt water in your camera while changing 1 GB cards during a squall at a yacht race.

I always use the card reader since it is sooo much faster.
I did have to use the USB cable one time when I left my card reader at home while onsite doing a golf tournament.
FYI: I found out that WinXP Pro needs drivers to see the Canon 10D. Canon 20D works with no extra drivers needed, so we were able to transfer the images with my brothers camera..

ScottE wrote in post #3605824
It would be just as bad as losing a wallet with eight 2 GB cards full of images.

Yup!

At least I have more cards to shoot more pics. And these are pretty extreme cases for using one large card over several smaller ones. If you are not taking precautions in those conditions when changing cards then it is your fault anyway, so you can't blame the cards.