Downloading RAW and JPEG

[AmyE]

Hi All,
I have a question - I shoot RAW and JPEG and when I download direct from the camera with the USB Cable it takes FOREVER!!!! If I buy a card reader will this speed up the process - I use a MAC and notice that SAN DISK says they have a FAST Card Reader but I need the SAN DISK EXTREME PRO ADAPTER as well - and just looking at it - I am sure this will not fit into my mac desk top?????

SanDisk® Digital Card Readers - Transfer Your Files Quickly and Safely

If they have a MAC compatible one - what are download times like if I am shooting all my images Large RAW and JPEG......

Please help
Thanks Amy

[RLucas]

That adapter is for the express port on a laptop. The standard USB reader should do. I really cant give you any exact data, but I am on a 3 year old Windows machine, and transferring maybe 70 to 100 RAW images at a time, and it only takes a few seconds, or up to a minute, depending on the file size. This is using CF card. I have never transferred directly from the camera, so I can't compare.

[Jim Poor]

Just about ANY card reader will be faster than transferring from the camera.

USB or fire wire will work.

On a separate but related note, you are wasting space and transferring extra data (thus taking longer) by shooting raw+jpg. There is a JPG in every raw file that can be easily access and extracted by several programs on the market faster than you can download a raw+jpg file.

Originally Posted by AmyE

Hi All,
I have a question - I shoot RAW and JPEG and when I download direct from the camera with the USB Cable it takes FOREVER!!!! If I buy a card reader will this speed up the process - I use a MAC and notice that SAN DISK says they have a FAST Card Reader but I need the SAN DISK EXTREME PRO ADAPTER as well - and just looking at it - I am sure this will not fit into my mac desk top?????

SanDisk® Digital Card Readers - Transfer Your Files Quickly and Safely

If they have a MAC compatible one - what are download times like if I am shooting all my images Large RAW and JPEG......

Please help
Thanks Amy

[theArchitect]

I always find it slower transfering via the camera compared to a card reader, not sure if there's a technical reason...

[Jim Bryant]

Any card reader is faster than transferring images using a cable from camera.

I can either use USB, fire wire will work or PCMI slot and have all three type devices.

But I found that the Lexar models work faster. Might costs anywhere between $20-$70.00, depending on what model you get.

Just shoot RAW...no need to save in JPEG + RAW mode.

As Jim said, "There is a JPG in every raw file that can be easily access and extracted by several programs on the market faster than you can download a raw+jpg file.["

[AmyE]

Thanks Guys - I am off to buy a card reader today!!