Have never hooked camera directly to pc.

Find it much easier and faster to use card reader. Currently using a generic which reads CF cards perfectly!

Thanks for great blog!

Gerry - I've actually hooked up the camera to a PC before but that was such a long time ago.

I hook my camera directly to my computer because I have a laptop that travels all over the house. It just seems easier that way. My printer is connected through our wireless router and sometimes I'll put my card in that and transfer my images that way. Maybe someday I'll invest in a card reader, but for now this works for me.

I use a card reader for my DSLRs. It's not uncommon for me to return from a job with several cards full of photos. It's just easier to pop the remaining card out of the camera and use my card reader along with the rest of them.

I do find that I attach the family point-n-shoot cameras directly to the computer instead of using the card reader, but we rarely fill or replace those cards.

I bought a Sandisk card reader. That's the brand of cards I stick with, and the reader cost the same as all the other brands. If it had been more expensive without offering more features I probably wouldn't have purchased it, but it seemed pretty much the same as the rest that were available.

Tracie - I can sort of see how that works as an option it's just that I still see a dedicated USB card reader as an easier option when it comes to using the printer as a hub or transfer protocol. I was gonna use the argument of having to keep up with the USB cord for the camera but I suppose you still would have to keep up with a card reader as it were.

Matt - Since you actually use both methods, do you see an advantage either way? Or is it just a matter of workflow?

I don't notice any difference. Some folks may find a preference for the camera software or the card reader software; I just select and copy the files using my computer's file organizer so it's the same either way.

I haven't used a direct PC connection in a long time. I use a card reader that is also a portable hard drive (I use the one by Wolverine). It serves as a card reader when I'm shooting around the house. But when I'm on the road, I can use it to copy my photos to the hard drive. This comes in real handy since I mainly shoot in RAW or RAW+JPEG, which can quickly fill up the CF card.

I hook my Canon Digital Rebel XT directly to my laptop. I have found that it is much faster than the card readers I have. Typically I'll be downloading 2-10GB of RAW images. It's also a little easier to rename photos as I load them with the Canon software from the camera then from a card reader. My preferences might change if I had faster card readers or more flexible software for loading from card readers. I have not found the power consumption on the XT battery to be an issue. But I typically start out a shoot where I know I will be shooting a lot with 4 fully charged NB-2L(H) batteries and usually have a couple still charged when I'm doing my downloads if I need them.

Barry - You bring up something I hadn't even thought about or referenced. There is the possibility of draining excess power from batteries while importing through the camera. Not a big deal if we're all using rechargeables but still.

I've almost always used the camera, via USB, to download my photos. When I was still shooting with my Nikon D40, I bought a SanDisk card reader, for downloading off the SDcards. After a while, I started having issues with many of the images. They had crazy banding and color issues. I posted a few of them, and got some input. I discovered that it had to do with the reader. So, I went back to hooking up the camera.

But, recently I've upgraded to a D300, which uses CF cards. Maybe switching back will be of benefit.

I've always hated that my camera batter drains when downloading photos. Recently I actually had my camera batter die, because I started a download and forgot about it. Not cool.

I've always used a Lexar card reader for both my DSLR camera and my point and shoot. It is a lot faster than connecting the camera directly and according to one of my professors if you connect the camera directly to the computer that can lead to a corrupted card. I don't know how true that is, but she is a professional in both the photographic and workflow world, so I tend to take her advice on things.

I use a generic card reader purchased for $8 on ebay. Works fine. Only use it with a Canon d60 as the PC link is kronically slow.

All my other cameras I connect directly to the computer. The only inconvenience is the different USB cables required for different cameras.

Windows cut and paste to move my files around in explorer. I find it faster than using software, and easier choosing the directory I want.

I always use the built in SD slot in my laptop. It's just so much easier this way. Although when I want to send some files to or from my phone (which uses microSD) I can't be bothered with looking for a card reader or a cable - I just use bluetooth, even though it's couple times slower at least I save myself the whole hassle with additional cables and readers.

I always used a card reader.

I tried using wire transfer with my first digital camera (A canon DC200 in the late 90s), and would drain the batteries doing a transfer - some times not even completing the transfer.

I moved to a PCMCIA converter for CompactFlash cards, and was using that until I got an on board non-name multi card reader with my new PC last month.

I find when I travel now I fill 3-4 4GB CF cards, so the idea of plugging my camera into my PC is nuts. Card reader is so much more flexible. I'm waiting on my 5D MkII to arrive, and frankly I think it would feel "wrong" to hook it straight up to a PC. Almost insulting the camera.

hm.. cognitively )

I always use a card reader. It saves having to load useless software on my pc that the camera manufacturers force you to use "to read the camera". Also a usb2 card reader is much faster than the camera transfer and doesn`t flatten the camera batteries.

I've only done this when I had a USB cord handy and not a card reader. I've never compared the speed, but I would just rather not use my camera's battery to transfer files.

Like others here, I use a card reader. Currently I am using a generic USB portable that I got on eBay (works great and was 1.00) but I would really like to get one that I can install into the drive bay of my workstation, just so that way I can keep the portable in my bag at all times.

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I always use a card reader, and have a wonderful one from Lexar (You can purchase them at B&H). They only sell the Firewire 800 now, so if you don't have a new Mac you'll have to buy a 800 to 400 cable (which was $12 on Ebay).

These are great because (1) they are firewire and firewire is a lot faster than USB and (2) you can daisy chain them to download pics from multiple cards at the same time.

I try to never hook a camera strait to a PC, I always use USB card readers... Its much more like film.... Bring a few sd cards with you and your off.

Good price .. Pleasant outlook.