gfox333 Loc: Bloomington In.

Looking for an answer to a question that I am sure has been answered a thousand times here. I recently purchased a new Dell laptop with Microsoft 10 operating system trying to find the best way to transfer my pictures from my DSLR to my computer. In the past I have used an older system was Windows 7 using Nikon transfer with a d200 Nikon. I know it's a very old system and camera but it served me well. the camera remains the same but looking for the best way to upload my files I do have Photoshop CC and Lightroom CC on my new laptop Suggestions???

Keith S Loc: Federal Way, Wa

I have a Microsoft Surface with windows10. I first go to my picture file on the computer and create a new folder for the images I want to download.

Then connect the camera to the computer and select the images. I hit "control C" which is copy.

Then go back to the computer folder and paste those images "Control V".
I know that is a long way around but I am comfortable doing it that way.

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

You may have an internal card reader. If not, an exterior USB card reader is inexpensive.

Bill_de Loc: US

My new Dell got here on the 15th. It has an SD card slot on the side, so for those I put the card in the computer.

Hold down the Windows key and tap the "E" key. From there you can create a sub folder under pictures and drag and drop the files from the SD card into the sub folder. Initially I just name the folders with the current date.

If you have any other card types you can use a cable to connect the camera to the laptop or get an external card reader. The procedure is the same as above.

Thinking back I think your camera uses CF cards, so it will be an adapter or plugging the camera into the laptop.

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BebuLamar

Your laptop should have a USB3 port. Get a USB3 CF card reader. You don't need any software. Even by connecting the camera to the computer I think if you set the camera to act as a mass storage device then you don't need any software either.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Use a card reader and drag/drop the files to your computer.

Or use the Lightroom import function.

You can copy the files with drag and drop, then import the files to the LR catalog using the ADD option, which will leave the files in the location you moved them to from your card/card reader.

I don't like connecting the USB port on the camera - these things are fragile and will eventually fail. I prefer a card reader.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I've never used special software tom move files around. I insert the SD card into a reader and then copy the images into a folder on the computer. From there, I import them into Lightroom.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

I put my card in the reader and wait for the computer to ask what I want to do with the photographs. I click on import, then click new, it then imports to a new folder in pictures. The pictures are put in folders by date. This is built into Windows 10, it also did this in Windows 7.

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Use the card reader in your computer or buy an inexpensive USB card reader. Windows explorer can then be used copy files on the card.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Learn how to use Windows File Explorer to do this. It’s sort of like going from Auto mode to Manual mode on your camera. Don’t use the software provided with the camera. Plug the SD card into your laptop and use Explorer to make the copy to your hard drive or external drive as the case may be.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

I agree with the card reader suggestions. You can buy a simple one [one or two slots for the card[s] you use. Or you can buy a larger one if using it for a card not available on the simple one. Safer, efficient, less likely to fail.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

For uploading images from a memory card, there is little difference between your older Win 7 system and the new Dell Win 10. In Win 7, "My Computer" was the key to locating drives, folders, ... In Win 10, the former My Computer' is named, "File Explorer". There are several way to access it, including some that have already been mentioned. I find a right click on The Window logo (usually called "Start") located at bottom left of the task bar, just to the left of the search box, provides a host of options to navigate in the Win 10 Operating System, most convenient. Once there, you may upload the images in the same way you did in Win 7. I find a USB reader very convenient - it sounds as if you have an SD slot built into the PC. For CF cards, you may find a reader more convenient than connecting the camera via USB cable.
Enjoy the new Dell!
Happy Holidays!
Mark

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I see that most everyone imports their pictures into a folder on their computer and then ADDS them to Lightroom. Also, most use an external card reader instead of the cord from the camera.

I also use a card reader or the SD slot on the computer BUT, I import directly into Lightroom.

This is how it works for me. When I insert the card, import automatically opens. I choose COPY (so the originals stay on the card), scroll down to the bottom, uncheck all, then pick the pictures that I want to import (click-shift-click) and put a check mark in one and all selected will also have a check mark.

Then I check the options in the right hand column. I import them into dated folders, rename the pictures (I made a preset for date, time, custom) where I can type the event into the custom box, and add keywords that apply to ALL pictures. Then I double check the destination to be sure they are going where I want. Click import and Lightroom does all the work. You only have to set this up once, then just name it as an import preset. Next time, you just have to change the custom name for your selected pictures.

I let Lightroom build 1:1 previews on import. After the pictures are imported, I rename the folder to add the event (making sure you don’t delete the date LR created), so the folder looks like this: 2018-12-25_183020_Christmas.

I made a preset yyyy-mm-dd_hrminsec_custom for naming my pictures.

It sounds more complicated than what others suggested but once you have the presets made it’s quite easy.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

In my opinion people import into a folder rather than directly into LR because they do not trust that method to get their images into the correct locations in the folders on their hard drive. Doing the direct import is efficient and actually saves time [which incidentally makes it less complicated!].

I do it a bit differently than you - the images get imported without a designated destination. They are instead located in the "previously imported" category. I then highlight ones for a particular folder. If the folder is already there, I drag and drop them into it. If I need to create a new folder for them, I create it in the desired location and make sure the checkbox is checked for moving those images to the folder at the same time. LR creates that same folder on my hard drive and the images are automatically put into that folder. I also add keywords for those images before moving them.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

Plug in the USB lead that came with your camera, open your program and then switch on your camera - chances are that the program will recognise 'the device' as your camera then prompt you for where to save images (with a schematic of your 'Home' Folder.) click ok. After checking the folder to make sure your files are there delete the card using the camera to do so.

If not plug in camera as above and look at your home folder, you should now see 'drive e(?)' copy and paste the contents to your picture folder.

have fun