Card reader faster than camera?

[AbyssalPlains]

Is there a difference in speed when downloading pictures using a card reader vs. hooking the camera up to the computer (both USB 2.0, Compact Flash)? Just clocked my computer's transfer rates with 1394 port vs. USB 2.0: Turns out firewire's purported speed advantage over USB 2.0 is less than 3 percent!

 

[stiebs]

Depends on the camera and the card reader. I prefer to transfer with the card reader, but I generally use more than one card on a shoot anyway, so using the camera is more hassle than a card reader.

 

[Warren_L]

I prefer to use a card reader too. I don't really know if it is much faster or not, actually, as I've never tried with my D200. I know with my former Oly C5050 it took quite a while. Using the card reader means I don't have to be concerned about battery power on the camera, and one less cable to carry around.

 

[HowardE]

My $15 from Sam's Club - USB2 card reader is substantially faster than my Nikon D200. And it's tiny.

 

[vladimir]

I use a Lexar (~$25) card reader and, as Howarde said, it is much faster that my D70.

 

[PermanentlyNarced]

I also use a card reader. I would just rather not use the camera as an interface with the computer. No real good technical reason, I just feel more comfortable not using the camera for that purpose when I don't have to.