File transfer: USB cable or remove SD card?

Hi guys,

Regarding the question above, I used to use a USB cable for each camera until I picked up a Q-S1 that didn't come with one. I had to buy an SD card reader which I now use with both my Q-S1 and K-1.

I wanted to know whether anyone had a preference and if so, the reasons behind the choice. Does using an SD card reader increase the chance of card failure due to contact wear or physical bending of the card?

Thank you in advance for any insight!

I always take the card out of the camera and use a card reader.

Not preaching this approach, but it keeps my camera out of the file transfer process. My computer 'workflow' matches dropping the film off at the lab now I think about it. I shoot RAW and process all DSLR images through Lightroom.

I also always take the card out and us a reader. One advantage of using a reader is that it quicker to transfer the file if your using a usb 3 reader.

USB 3 card reader as it's sooooo much faster.

Stuart

,I remember a thread at PF where a guy had multiple instances of broken SD cards. Turned out his heavy handed approach with the K5 slot was putting sideways pressure on the card coming in and out of the slot.

I've always removed my cards for file transfers and not had any problem with 6 different cards over a 5 year period. Really the whole point of an SD card system is to allow for multiple card use, so removal of one while using another is integral to that approach.

The cable way is an alternative if you don't have a card reader, although generally it's slower I believe.

The card reader is faster and makes more sense when transferring the contents of multiple cards, for example when returning to the PC after a holiday.

There's no significant wear on an item that's designed to be removed/replaced continually. What about the wear and tear of constantly opening a rubber flap on the camera? Or on the fastening clip of a small plastic door? Even attaching the cable has its pitfalls, although likewise it's unlikely to be a problem.

I do replace SD cards after a while, but to move to larger cards over time. Almost all our 4GB cards have now gone, replaced by 8GB and now gradually by 16GB.

i always use the usb lead, have it permanently connected to the computer. transfer is around 10mb /sec . do a few seconds longer or shorter really make any difference anyway.

Joe it seems that wherever computers, bootups and file transferring is concerned, life is short!

I use a card reader ink for the fact that when the card is full it gets put away and a new one gets put in the camera so they also act as my backup storage all original

Probably gose back to the film days and negatives

And I even store them in a airtight container

If I had used that system since getting the K7, 55,000 shots later, I'd be a lot poorer and would have quite a collection of SD cards!

I have found my 3 USB external drives (500Gb / 1TB / 3Tb) to be very good value for backup and archive purposes. I have a collection of double layer DVDs as well, with a copy of my Photos and DNG originals, but I'm well overdue to run another set of these off ....time consuming that way though.

PC's own SD card reader for small numbers of transfers, or USB3 card reader in USB3 port when lots of files are involved.

I've always used the cable because my short stubby fingers can't grab the card when it's hard up against that pesky door. I have to take it out now and then to archive it and put a new one in.

Just a note about SD cards as I noticed that some of us are using them as archive copies. Unfortunately they are not permanent and if unused for a long time may become unreadable. So not the best medium for archiving purposes.

I would probably have as many, if not more - especially after a few airshows with the cameras in machine gun mode

SD card reader, built in on the laptop.

Just seems easier, somehow.