D300 users: How do you transfer files, USB or card reader?

<p>I use the USB cable to transfer files from my D300 to my computer. The downside is that it takes some finagling for me to get the little rubber door back seated correctly after I’ve finished transferring files. It’s such a pain that I’m considering no longer using that procedure and going to popping the CF card out and into a card reader to transfer files between the camera and the computer.<br>

My concern is that popping the CF card in and out regularly might increase the chance to bend the pins and I want to avoid that.<br>

I’ve never had any problems with the USB method and battery drain has not been an issue. The only problem………..and it is a pain…………is getting that darn rubber door back on properly.<br>

Is there a particular benefit to either method?<br>

If you prefer or avoid either method, why?<br>

Is there a “special” way to get the door seated properly easily?<br>

Thanks, Mel</p>

<p>I always use a card reader. I exercise a reasonable amount of caution in pulling/seating cards. I've done it thousands of times over years of use, and never a problem. I prefer not to tether the camera.</p>

<p>I used to do it through a card reader and I can tell you that always I am very careful with my gear. Unfortunately one time it happen to get a pin bended and I had to have the camera serviced by Nikon. I have no explanation why this happened... Since that bad luck I purchased a Lexar 32GB card and it stays for good on the camera... because I use now only the USB cable.</p>

<p>I always transfer files from the card, in a card reader, but do not use a transfer program, but instead copy the files. I've had a couple instances where the transfer program messed up and didn't get the images to my hard drive correctly, and it was very embarrassing to explain the problem to my client.</p>

<p>I use a card reader always have and almost always will. I shoot sporting events every weekend at one of these events I may shoot as much as 40 Gb a day. That means I will take a card out and put a new one in ten times a day. I am not rough about it but I am not overly cautious about it and I have yet to have a problem. I guess there is always a chance something will happen but thats why I have a backup body with me.<br>

I bought a very poorly designed card reader one time. I bent the pins on it the first time I used it. Called it a POS tossed it in the trash and went out and bought a better designed one.<br>

Cards like hard drives fail thats why I only use 4 Gb cards. If one goes I have lost less then if a 32Gb card where to fail on me.</p>

<p>The first week I got my D70, I bent a pin. Nikon wanted $500 Cnd but I went to a camera repair shop and they bent it back for $40. it still loses contact once a day and I need to jiggle the card.<br>

Now, I never remove my cards in my three bodies.including my D300.</p>

<p>I have been using the same Firewire CF card reader since 2003 to download my images to the computer from the CF card.</p>

<p>USB 2.0 CF card reader.</p>

<p>Card Reader. I superstitiously feel that bad things can happen when a camera is plugged directly into a computer. Besides, those little rubber flaps can wear out.</p>

<p>I use a Firewire 800 card reader with four 233x 4g CF cards for the last 4 1/2 years. I can't say I'm overly cautious removing and inserting the cards, but never ever bent a pin. </p>

<p>I have used various card readers for both D300 and D700 since I got them, as I have seen others having problems with the rubber doors. Just be careful when taking the card out.</p>

<p>I use a card reader.</p>

<p>Card Reader. I've never been overly cautious while inserting a new CF card, but a bent pin seems more unlikely to me than eventually damaging the rubber door to the usb compartment or experiencing a transfer problem due to low battery in the camera.</p>

<p>Besides, a good card reader is faster than the camera, and I think it's good practice to not reuse a card until the images are on my computer, the local backup and the remote backup (all automated from the moment I start the transfer to my computer). Since that takes time, I put another card in my camera in the meantime, and can continue shooting.</p>

<p>I use a card reader. While downloading the photos on the HDD, I can use my camera for shooting. At the end of the day, it is just a matter of habbit I guess. </p>

 

<p>I used to use the camera instead of a card reader as i've had a few problems with bent pins on my readers. With the dual card on D300s I tend to use a card reader for SDHC cards and the camera for CF. it does depend what and where I am. I usually keep the image files on 32 GB SDHC as a backup with RAW files or Videos if I'm away and store the JPEGs on smaller CF Cards. I copy the files to my laptop daily. I download all to my mail PC when I'm back in the office.</p>

<p>I use the card reader(s) that's built into my Dell desktop computer...It's fast and works perfectly.</p>

I use Card reader,

 

and it is only very very occasionally that there is a static electrical charge on the computer body that may transfer to the camera and lead it to mal function,I have not heard that about the D300,but I have seen it with some aim and shoot small cameras.

<p>Most of the time I just use USB since my card reader is a basic integrated model that's slower than the camera. Sometimes I use the card reader. Bending pins is indeed a risk with CF cards.<br>

I don't have much trouble with the rubber door, but my fingers are agile :-) just quickly make sure that it's aligned correctly and press down each corner and edge with the thumb, takes less than 5 secs.</p>

<p>I have done it both ways and never had any problems w/ D70,D200,D300...<br>

The way I see it,if I can do it, anyone can! I shake like a leaf when it comes to doing stuff like that ! Luckily I don't when I take pix but I am indeed thankful for VR...</p>

<p>I use the USB and like you, I have to struggle to get the silly rubber door closed again. What is it about Nikon that the core functionality is excellent but the user friendliness is often just terrible, e.g. the rubber door, the controls on the SB-800, the little cap that covers the cable release on the F100, etc, etc.</p>

<p>always USB cable. The rubber flap on my D300 fits without problems.</p>

<p>Always always use the USB cable. But maybe it's because I got the D300s and use both card.</p>

<p>Two FW800 card readers. Never even thought about bending pins on the camera!!</p>

<p>I use a card reader. I think the only time I used the USB port for transferring pictures was once when I had forgotten to take the card reader with me but was able to use the cable from my portable HDD. I do use the USB port for tethered shooting however. I have bent a pin in my card slot once but was able to straighten it myself using a needle. This never happened before or since.</p>

<p>I use a card reader almost exclusively with my D300 and have never had any problems. I'm not overly cautious, but respectful of my equipment.</p>