Can you use a flash drive to transfer RAW images from one computer to another? (Page 2): Bruce, thanks for your advice :)...

Natalie Knott Loc: Fort Bragg, CA

brucewells wrote:

For the most part, your question was answered. If I were to go shopping for a thumb drive today, I'd want a Sandisk 64Gb, USB 3. Prices vary, and there are worthwhile alternatives. Just ensure you get USB 3, versus USB 2.

Bruce, thanks for your advice :)

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Natalie Knott wrote:

Bruce, thanks for your advice :)

JoAnneK01 Loc: Lahaina, Hawaii

As everyone else has said: Yes, you can transfer raw files from one computer to another using a flash drive without any loss or degradation of your file. I do it all of the time. After all a flash drive is just another form of a hard drive.

Safecracker349 Loc: United Kingdom & Belize

I would like some clarification on this. I recently upgraded my MacBook and transferred my photos from the old to the new.
I did this using a large flash drive and I just saved them as is, by moving them from the photos album to the drive.
When I did this they were saved as jpegs from RAW NEF format by default.
Would should I have done to keep them as raw images going from one to the other.

cthahn

Yes, as long as the flash drive is large enough.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Safecracker349 wrote:

I would like some clarification on this. I recently upgraded my MacBook and transferred my photos from the old to the new.
I did this using a large flash drive and I just saved them as is, by moving them from the photos album to the drive.
When I did this they were saved as jpegs from RAW NEF format by default.
Would should I have done to keep them as raw images going from one to the other.

Can you clarify, moving them from which photos album? If it was an album created within, say, Lightroom, you have to select the file type when exporting. If you copy and paste from one drive to another, file type should not change.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Natalie Knott wrote:

Is it possible to use a flash drive to transfer RAW images from one computer to another, and if so is there loss? Also what would be the best flash drive to use? My cameras are not recognized by my Windows 10 computer so my computer person has reinstalled my Windows XP as a partner to do Canon 10D tethered shooting and choose images to import from my Ricoh GR. Many thanks for your answers : )

Not a problem. I do it all the time. I use a USB 3 flash drive and what brand really doesn't make a difference.

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

Just do your self a huge favor, make the file moves using the COPY function instead if the MOVE function when you start the process on the original computer!

About a year ago, I lost some files in the process of moving them using the move function, and I was unable to recover those lost files.

By copying them to the flash drive, you always have the original files to revert back to if something goes wrong!

From the flash drive, you can or should MOVE them to the next computer, if you're only going to install them on one computer. If you want them on more than one computer, then use copy instead of move!

Once you verify that all of the files have transfered correctly to the new or target computer, you can then delete the original files, if that's what you intend to do!

Depending on how many or the size of the photo files, you may either need a high capacity flash drive (32 GB, 64 GB, or consider an external hard drive if you need more capacity), or you'll need to repeat the process several times!

Safecracker349 Loc: United Kingdom & Belize

steve_stoneblossom wrote:

Can you clarify, moving them from which photos album? If it was an album created within, say, Lightroom, you have to select the file type when exporting. If you copy and paste from one drive to another, file type should not change.

Yes it was from the photos program folder on the Mac.
Every time I save an image, even to the desktop, it defaults to jpeg from RAW.
I have just discovered that I can export images as Raw NEF but any changes made in the photo's program,
for example cropping, revert the image back to original before crop.
What In would like to have done is export the whole photo library as it was/is.

sidpearce

I use a Flash Drive to transfer images to other computers on Windows 10, 7, and XP whenever necessary

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

MtnMan wrote:

Of couse.

No file degradation.

Exactly.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I hope you have two or more external hard drives to back up your photos. (I say "two or more" because external hard drives will fail). It can take a lot of flash drives to transfer those photos; with an external hard drive all it would take is backing up the photos to the hard drive and then installing he photos from the hard drive to the second computer. If there are a lot of photos, it could take a long time.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Szalajj wrote:

Just do your self a huge favor, make the file move... (show quote)

MOVE function is always risky. So much safer to always COPY and once you've confirmed everything has transferred safely, delete from the flash drive. And never rely on just one drive for storage, internal or external.

steve_stoneblossom Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Safecracker349 wrote:

Yes it was from the photos program folder on the Mac.
Every time I save an image, even to the desktop, it defaults to jpeg from RAW.
I have just discovered that I can export images as Raw NEF but any changes made in the photo's program,
for example cropping, revert the image back to original before crop.
What In would like to have done is export the whole photo library as it was/is.

I can't help you, as I do not use the Photos program on my Mac. I suggest you start another discussion and explain your dilemma in detail, someone will know what needs to be done.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

CaptainC wrote:

Just DO NOT drop the drive. If you do the images will be blurry.

That is true, one could say, they would be jittery!