Uploading digital images onto a computer.

[jimbryan]

Hi. I am a newbie and would like to know the best way to upload from a compact flash card onto a computer.I have had conflicting opinions,one being via a card reader,and the other direct from the camera via the digital lead.
Any help gratefully recieved.
Canon eos10D.

 

[patrickt]

I use a card reader simply for convenience. I don't think there is any significant difference in the two.

Connect a card reader to a USB2 port, insert card, and the computer sees the reader as another drive.

If you connect the camera to a USB2 port, the computer sees the camera as a drive.

I use the reader because sometimes I'm doing more than one card and because my computer desk is usually so cluttered there isn't room for my camera.

 

[jstuedle]

The biggest issues I have with connecting the camera to the computer are:
1) the camera is the worlds costliest card reader.
2) If the battery fails during download, you will most likely corrupt 1 or more files.
3) Your camera is tied up while downloading, can't take pictures that way.

 

[JerryPH]

In order of speed. slowest to fastest and lowest cost to highest:

- Cable from camera to PC (I hate it... a small power surge could damage the camera)
- USB 1.0 card reader
- USB 2.0 card reader
- Firewire card reader

Having a fast card makes a big difference here.