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USB card reader v camera cable.
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Aug 11, 2019 14:10:54   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
via the lens wrote:
Always have and will continue to use a card reader. I take two on a trip. Always good to have a backup!

Curious. Have you ever had one reader fail and had to use the second?

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Aug 11, 2019 14:19:55   #
TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC
 
PHRubin wrote:
While a card reader is faster, the USB cable is fast enough. My computer has USB2. A newer one with USB3 would be faster (if the camera can go that fast). I prefer this so as to eliminate the need to remove & replace the card for several reasons. Not only to prevent bent pins, but I worry about static electricity.


I can tell you from experience that there is night and day difference between a USB-2 and a USB-3 card reader. Of course, if you don’t have a USB-3 port available... I don’t know that any potential ESD damage to the card or computer is any worse than plugging the camera into the computer - the USB interface and the card interface is designed to be hot plugged, but I never have my camera on when I attach it to my PC.

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Aug 11, 2019 15:43:02   #
rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA
 
When I had a camera that used 'CF' cards I usually used a cable {and then the one time I used a reader I managed to bend a pin}, but I usually use a reader with my current cameras {that use 'SD' cards} - puts less work on the battery.

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Aug 11, 2019 19:15:06   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
buckscop wrote:
Not the hottest topic here, but am interested in the answer. Is downloading the camera to a PC/tablet faster with a USB reader, or using the cable that came with the camera (Canon)? Some of my larger shooting sessions (200ish) photos, takes awhile with the cable. USB also seems easier to bring along on trips versus the cable. The USB reader would almost be 'universal' . Just wondering what the UHH crowd prefers.


I use either the card reader built into my computer or an external Lexar usb 3.0 reader. Much faster than a cable. Besides, by swapping cards I can use the camera while a large bunch of pictures is imported by LR.
As to the the "What if you damage the pins...?" crowd. Just be careful, insert it slowly and if you hit ANY resistance - don't just push harder - look to see if you are putting it in upside down or crooked and correct. Yes I have found dust bunnies or a piece of paper and one fly??? in a slot. How in the name of the Camera Gods it got there I don't know. But if it doesn't slide in smooth and easy stop and check.

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Aug 11, 2019 19:25:10   #
rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA
 
robertjerl wrote:
I use either the card reader built into my computer or an external Lexar usb 3.0 reader. Much faster than a cable. Besides, by swapping cards I can use the camera while a large bunch of pictures is imported by LR.
As to the the "What if you damage the pins...?" crowd. Just be careful, insert it slowly and if you hit ANY resistance - don't just push harder - look to see if you are putting it in upside down or crooked and correct. Yes I have found dust bunnies or a piece of paper and one fly??? in a slot. How in the name of the Camera Gods it got there I don't know. But if it doesn't slide in smooth and easy stop and check.
I use either the card reader built into my compute... (show quote)
I'm a member of that crowd - mainly because I did it the way you say and still managed to bend a pin; some of us apparently don't have fingers that are sufficiently well calibrated.

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Aug 11, 2019 20:31:03   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
When I'm done shooting for the day I pull the cards, immediately replace them with previously used one, format them in camera, and I'm ready to go.

I use card readers for XQD, SD, and CF. Once the files are downloaded I put the cards in the appropriate card holder. I never format them until I am ready to use them again as it gives me some time to detect any issues with the download.

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Aug 11, 2019 20:37:05   #
LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY
 
quixdraw wrote:
Thanks! Now I know.


Another thing is that most card readers can be used with a variety of card types but a computer's SD slot is only useful for SD cards. Handy for some people, such as myself, that use several types of cards. I have a reader here on my desk (someplace in the mess) that is about 1/2" thick by 2"x2" with seven slots and its own USB cable. I think it cost about $5-$10.

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Aug 11, 2019 21:04:15   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
LFingar wrote:
Another thing is that most card readers can be used with a variety of card types but a computer's SD slot is only useful for SD cards. Handy for some people, such as myself, that use several types of cards. I have a reader here on my desk (someplace in the mess) that is about 1/2" thick by 2"x2" with seven slots and its own USB cable. I think it cost about $5-$10.

FYI - My SD card readers will also read my Sony Memory Sticks.
Also, both the internal SD readers in my laptop and desktop will accept a Memory Stick.
But I'll bet there are not too many Memory Stick users out there.

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Aug 11, 2019 21:21:22   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
LFingar wrote:
Another thing is that most card readers can be used with a variety of card types but a computer's SD slot is only useful for SD cards. Handy for some people, such as myself, that use several types of cards. I have a reader here on my desk (someplace in the mess) that is about 1/2" thick by 2"x2" with seven slots and its own USB cable. I think it cost about $5-$10.


I ordered and installed a high end after market card reader in my desktop. I has 6/7 slots (one is a double slot with a smaller version of the lower slot above it, little plastic lips to guide the smaller size cards into the upper slot) and according to the little tiny white letters above the slots they will take 13 different types of cards (one slot is a usb 3.0). For our laptops or my wife and son's older machine with only SD slots I have a Lexar Pro with usb 3 cable. It and the internal one will read cards up to the newest models as of about 2 years ago. The Lexar is SD and CF and will transfer files from one slot to the other in the reader.

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Aug 11, 2019 21:51:39   #
LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY
 
robertjerl wrote:
I ordered and installed a high end after market card reader in my desktop. I has 6/7 slots (one is a double slot with a smaller version of the lower slot above it, little plastic lips to guide the smaller size cards into the upper slot) and according to the little tiny white letters above the slots they will take 13 different types of cards (one slot is a usb 3.0). For our laptops or my wife and son's older machine with only SD slots I have a Lexar Pro with usb 3 cable. It and the internal one will read cards up to the newest models as of about 2 years ago. The Lexar is SD and CF and will transfer files from one slot to the other in the reader.
I ordered and installed a high end after market ca... (show quote)


Mine is a cheap one that I use with CF, MicroSD, and SD, although I usually use the computer slot for SD. It's by Sunpak and states on it: 72-in-1 High Speed Card Reader. It has 7 slots and can take several different types of cards in several of the slots. I have no idea how that makes it a 72-in-1. Must be that new math.

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Aug 11, 2019 22:55:33   #
robertjerl Loc: Corona, California
 
LFingar wrote:
Mine is a cheap one that I use with CF, MicroSD, and SD, although I usually use the computer slot for SD. It's by Sunpak and states on it: 72-in-1 High Speed Card Reader. It has 7 slots and can take several different types of cards in several of the slots. I have no idea how that makes it a 72-in-1. Must be that new math.


Lets see, how about one slot only takes one type of card but it will read every model and speed variation released up to this year, if you count each of those as a different card and multiply by the 7 slots you could get up to 72 fairly easy with 7.

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Aug 12, 2019 05:33:27   #
johneccles Loc: Leyland UK
 
I always use the USB lead to transfer photographs from my camera to the PC.
My reason for this that the less an SD card is handled the safer your photos will be.
When an SD card is removed from a camera and inserted into a reader you increase risk corrupting the card by four times, far too risky in my opinion.

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Aug 12, 2019 06:28:05   #
Bill_de Loc: US
 
johneccles wrote:
I always use the USB lead to transfer photographs from my camera to the PC.
My reason for this that the less an SD card is handled the safer your photos will be.
When an SD card is removed from a camera and inserted into a reader you increase risk corrupting the card by four times, far too risky in my opinion.


Never heard that before. Is there any documentation or is it just internet chatter?

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Aug 12, 2019 06:45:16   #
mborn Loc: Massachusetts
 
I use readers to transfer files between cards and computer

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Aug 12, 2019 06:55:13   #
ggenova64
 
buckscop wrote:
Not the hottest topic here, but am interested in the answer. Is downloading the camera to a PC/tablet faster with a USB reader, or using the cable that came with the camera (Canon)? Some of my larger shooting sessions (200ish) photos, takes awhile with the cable. USB also seems easier to bring along on trips versus the cable. The USB reader would almost be 'universal' . Just wondering what the UHH crowd prefers.


SanDisk Card Reader!

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