Hello everybody

Which is the safest method to download photos from the camera. Should I connect the camera to the computer and download the pics or should I remove the Memory Card and put in in a Card Reader and download.

Somebody had said in some other forum that never connect the camera to the computer. Always download through Card Reader. Is it true?

If so, theoretically the card should wear out soon because of the constant friction in removing from the camera, putting it in the card reader - back & forth every time you take pictures and download. The card may get damaged.

Please advise.

With best regards
PRSS

>Which is the safest method to download photos from the camera.
>Should I connect the camera to the computer and download the
>pics or should I remove the Memory Card and put in in a Card
>Reader and download.

Card Reader!

>Somebody had said in some other forum that never connect the
>camera to the computer. Always download through Card Reader.
>Is it true?

The only time I ever connect my camera to my computer is when I shoot tethered. Other than that, I always use a Card Reader to download images to my computer.

>If so, theoretically the card should wear out soon because of
>the constant friction in removing from the camera, putting it
>in the card reader - back & forth every time you take
>pictures and download. The card may get damaged.

The same goes for the camera body. Remember that memory cards a a lot cheaper than camera bodies.
My oldest cards are going on seven years and continue to work perfectly and I shoot considerably more than most.
Good Luck and Enjoy your Nikons!

Best Regards,
Marty

The SD cards are very durable. Just handle them with reasonable care. I have 2 16GB cards, plus the 4GB that came with my camera. Have been using them for over a year with no problem. They are not expensive at all. It is a good idea to format them in the camera after you delete the images, to prevent corrupted files from over-writing.

working on it in Middle TN
Nikon D3100
18-55 mm Nikkor VR
55-200 mm Nikkor VR
55-300 mm Nikkor VR
150-500 mm Sigma OS

Visit my Nikonians gallery.

Thank you all for the replies. I shall then definitely follow your suggestions and buy a good card reader.

With best regards
PRSS

The thing I like about the card reader is that it's so easy. Take the card out of the camera, insert in card reader. Download, take out, put in camera and format. Done.

Haven't had any SD or CF cards wear out since I converted to digital in 2003. I shoot paid gigs and am inserting and removing cards all week long.

Dan L.
http://www.danlarussophotography.com/

I always use a card reader. No, not quite. I always use card readers - plural. When I get back to the hotel at night, I can load up more than one reader while I go get dinner. I rarely have more than two cards, but some of my colleagues shoot more frames than I do on smaller cards, and may have 4-10 cards to download after a day's work.

> theoretically the card should wear out soon because of the constant friction in removing from the camera, putting it in the card reader - back & forth every time you take pictures and download. The card may get damaged.

Yes, that's the theory. Reality is different. Many of us do this every day or perhaps even a little more, and they just don't wear out.

> never connect the camera to the computer
I actually do, very occasionally. Specifically, sometimes when I'm shooting macro in specific highly controlled setups, I tether the camera to the computer, thus allowing the camera to be controlled from the laptop as well as having the images transferred automagically. But since this requires a USB cable and effectively also a power supply, this is pretty rare. I only do it when I'm working on a copy stand or when I'm shooting scale models for focus stacking purposes.

Always is a pretty strong word.

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

Thanks blw. It puts away my myth thinking the cards wear away fast.

With best regards
PRSS