USB vs. CF reader?

[a james]

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[sys_prog]

I have never connected my 990 to a computer using the USB cable. You can even upgrade the firmware directly from a CF card. The only reason I can think of using the USB cable is if you don't have a separate reader.

By the way, the JumpShot will only work with Lexar USB enabled CF cards. If you want to use other brands or non-USB enabled Lexar, you will need a standard CF reader.

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[PatiO]

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

I think there is only a DISadvantage to using the cable over the card reader. The cable is S-L-O-W-E-R. I don't remember the exact orders of magnitude but the USB card readers have a transfer rate several times higher than the cable. HTH. PatiO.

 

[a james]

that's cool. I didn't see much sense in it if the reader was working so well. Just installed the Lexar reader and wonder how you save your pics to hardrive after all the thumbnails come up on the screen. Can't seem to find that command. If I use another program to access the reader (i.e. Fireworks, Adobe etc.), then I can save pics. Am I missing something in trying to save from the CF reader? Thanks, PatiO.

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

I think there is only a DISadvantage to using the cable over the
card reader. The cable is S-L-O-W-E-R. I don't remember the exact
orders of magnitude but the USB card readers have a transfer rate
several times higher than the cable. HTH. PatiO.

 

[lonniebathke]

You should be able to "drag and drop" the CF contents to a file on your Harddrive.

Keep shootin'
Lonnie

By the way, the JumpShot will only work with Lexar USB enabled CF
cards. If you want to use other brands or non-USB enabled Lexar,
you will need a standard CF reader.

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[Mr. Lee]

Hi AJ;

I use the Lexar CF Jumpshot cable to download all my pics. The Jumpshot cable becomes essentially another hard drive on your computer. When you plug the CF card into the reader, the drive appears as another hard drive just like your main hard disk drive.

I use a PC (not a MAC). I open Explorer (disk explorer, NOT internet explorer) When you plug the card into the reader that is already plugged into your computer's USB port, Explorer will immediately show a new drive in its list of drives. Opening this drive will show all the pictures on the CF card.

Just cut & paste the pics shown in Explorer to copy to other drives (including hard drive) in Explorer.

On a MAC it would be essentially the same, with the Jumpshot CF reader just becoming another drive on your desktop. Open this drive and view, copy & paste your pics.

It is the slickest way to deal with the CF cards.

Hope this helps!

-Lee

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

I think there is only a DISadvantage to using the cable over the
card reader. The cable is S-L-O-W-E-R. I don't remember the exact
orders of magnitude but the USB card readers have a transfer rate
several times higher than the cable. HTH. PatiO.

 

[Lyall Pearce]

USB readers are about 3 times faster than the Cable that came with the CP990. (around 200kB/s for cable, 800kB/s USB)
If I had the option, I would use a Firewire reader, they are faster still!

Additionally, because USB readers generally mount as a removable disk drive, you can do thinks like 'Scan for errors' - just to keep you confident in the CF's integrity.
...Lyall

I use the Lexar CF Jumpshot cable to download all my pics. The
Jumpshot cable becomes essentially another hard drive on your
computer. When you plug the CF card into the reader, the drive
appears as another hard drive just like your main hard disk drive.

I use a PC (not a MAC). I open Explorer (disk explorer, NOT
internet explorer) When you plug the card into the reader that is
already plugged into your computer's USB port, Explorer will
immediately show a new drive in its list of drives. Opening this
drive will show all the pictures on the CF card.

Just cut & paste the pics shown in Explorer to copy to other drives
(including hard drive) in Explorer.

On a MAC it would be essentially the same, with the Jumpshot CF
reader just becoming another drive on your desktop. Open this
drive and view, copy & paste your pics.

It is the slickest way to deal with the CF cards.

Hope this helps!

-Lee

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

I think there is only a DISadvantage to using the cable over the
card reader. The cable is S-L-O-W-E-R. I don't remember the exact
orders of magnitude but the USB card readers have a transfer rate
several times higher than the cable. HTH. PatiO.

 

[Cary]

I have a 128MB card and I primarily use the USB. I have a Microtech card reader and I have found to like the USB better, most especially for just a few images. I have short fingernails so pulling out the memory card is difficult and mine fits tightly in my 990. Using the Nikon software the images all have thumbnails. Downloading with USB is slower but not unreasonably slow (this may depend on the overall speed of your computer). I found with the 950 using the serial connection was unreasonable to use but not so with USB. I would suggest tying the USB before buying a card reader. I recently convinced a colleague to try the USB with the Nikon software and he was impressed. Give it a try, it's free.

 

[Mitch Bobo]

Another advantage, if not the main one, of using the card reader over
the USB cable is that you remove the camera from the loop entirely.
This way you save those precious batteries and remove any need for
an AC adapter.
Mitch

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[DaveM26632]

I used the camera to copy files for some time, but gave in and got a card reader. I was buying something else at the time and figured what the hell!

I'm so much happier with the reader. I uninstalled NikonView and haven't looked back!

With the camera, you can't copy the INFO.TXT file. This may or may not be an issue for you. As mentioned previously, the card reader appears like any other drive and you have full control over it.

The card reader is much quicker (cardport swift) than the camera.

Also, if you've filled several cards (unlikely with your 160mg then its easier just to slot them into the reader one after another and not have to fiddle with the camera - or plug it into the mains etc etc.

Recently I got a card error and discovered a lost link on the card by using scandisk on the card reader. Fixed it nice and quick!

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[Steve H.]

What is the Info.txt file? I have heard mention of it before, but do not have a card reader to view it. What sort of info is in this file?

Steve H.

With the camera, you can't copy the INFO.TXT file. This may or may
not be an issue for you. As mentioned previously, the card reader
appears like any other drive and you have full control over it.

The card reader is much quicker (cardport swift) than the camera.

Also, if you've filled several cards (unlikely with your 160mg
then its easier just to slot them into the reader one after another
and not have to fiddle with the camera - or plug it into the mains
etc etc.

Recently I got a card error and discovered a lost link on the card
by using scandisk on the card reader. Fixed it nice and quick!

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[Trent Mulkern]

This text file is created by the camera and contains the EXIF data for each photo taken. NikonView uses this file to provide EXIF data when reviewing each photo, but you can only transfer the file using a card reader.

V/R
Trent

Steve H.

With the camera, you can't copy the INFO.TXT file. This may or may
not be an issue for you. As mentioned previously, the card reader
appears like any other drive and you have full control over it.

The card reader is much quicker (cardport swift) than the camera.

Also, if you've filled several cards (unlikely with your 160mg
then its easier just to slot them into the reader one after another
and not have to fiddle with the camera - or plug it into the mains
etc etc.

Recently I got a card error and discovered a lost link on the card
by using scandisk on the card reader. Fixed it nice and quick!

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[Steve Wang]

Definitely, the Card reader has its advantages. Not only it is fast, it can also do things that NikonView cannot.
1. Fast.
2. Save Camera power.
3. Two way transfer.

4. There was an incidence that my 990 reset the sequence number, and only CF Card Reader can rename a file back to what it is left off.

5. Also, only Card Reader can copy files back to your camera for you to do a slide show at your friend’s house though a TV set.

Note:

1. Even though I have a 192MB CF card in my camera, but if I am on a weeklong vacation trip with my family, I do need to back up my pictures to my notebook computer.

2. The $10.00 PC Card (SandDisk) is small (smaller than an USB cable itself), without cables, and it is faster than the $25 USB Reader (Parallel instead of serial).

3. PC Card Reader does not need any driver, so you can carry this small device (twice the size of a CF I card) with your camera, and use any Notebook computer to back up your pictures (PCMCIA slot is a standard device in all Notebook computer now).

4. I have both USB and PC Card CF Card Reader. I keep the USB Reader at home permanently plugged in, so I don’t have to eject through software before removing the Reader.
5. I keep the CF PC Card Reader in my camera bag.

Steve W

V/R
Trent

Steve H.

With the camera, you can't copy the INFO.TXT file. This may or may
not be an issue for you. As mentioned previously, the card reader
appears like any other drive and you have full control over it.

The card reader is much quicker (cardport swift) than the camera.

Also, if you've filled several cards (unlikely with your 160mg
then its easier just to slot them into the reader one after another
and not have to fiddle with the camera - or plug it into the mains
etc etc.

Recently I got a card error and discovered a lost link on the card
by using scandisk on the card reader. Fixed it nice and quick!

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[PatiO]

What is the Info.txt file? I have heard mention of it before, but
do not have a card reader to view it. What sort of info is in this
file?

Steve H.

Steve, here's an example of the date stored in the .info file from my 990.

DSCN8581.JPG
CAMERA : E990V1.1
METERING : MATRIX
MODE : M
SHUTTER : 1/1000sec
APERTURE : F2.5
EXP + - : 0.0
FOCAL LENGTH : f8.2mm(X1.0)
IMG ADJUST : BR+
SENSITIVITY : ISO400
WHITEBAL : AUTO
SHARPNESS : AUTO
DATE : 2001.04.11 11:57
QUALITY : FULL FINE

Very handy feature for learning to take better images. PatiO.

 

[DaveM26632]

This text file is created by the camera and contains the EXIF data
for each photo taken. NikonView uses this file to provide EXIF data
when reviewing each photo, but you can only transfer the file using
a card reader.

Doesn't it just use the EXIF data in the JPG's themselves?

I thought the INFO.TXT file was just a handy extra for you to refer to when trying stuff out and seeing what gives the best result??

 

[Jon H]

I thought the same - if you right click on the jpg in explorer you get image data anyway. Is the info.txt different from this?

Jon H

This text file is created by the camera and contains the EXIF data
for each photo taken. NikonView uses this file to provide EXIF data
when reviewing each photo, but you can only transfer the file using
a card reader.

Doesn't it just use the EXIF data in the JPG's themselves?
I thought the INFO.TXT file was just a handy extra for you to refer
to when trying stuff out and seeing what gives the best result??

 

[Bill too26877]

I've never used anything but the cable and doubt that I will. As for speed, I'm usually reading e-mail, scanning this forum, writing a cd or one of a jillion other things at the same time.

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

 

[a james]

What is the advantage of using the USB cable to connect 990 to
computer over using the Jumpshot reader that comes with my 160 mg
card? Just having to remove the card from the camera? Still new
at this stuff. Appreciate any help on this.

I have used the reader and am happy with it, but will also have the USB cable with me as well. The speed is not so much of an issue with me as is the convienence.

 

[Tony X]

I always keep the info.txt file for later reference since the picture information will lose after editing/saving the picture. I convert the info.txt file to EXCEL format and append to my EXCEL file. Later, I can search this file to get information of my pictures.

Tony X

Jon H

This text file is created by the camera and contains the EXIF data
for each photo taken. NikonView uses this file to provide EXIF data
when reviewing each photo, but you can only transfer the file using
a card reader.

Doesn't it just use the EXIF data in the JPG's themselves?
I thought the INFO.TXT file was just a handy extra for you to refer
to when trying stuff out and seeing what gives the best result??