I’ve always connected my camera using usb, but my new laptop has a built in card reader. Are there any advantages to using the reader?

I always use the USB because I figure it’s less wear and tear (and less hassle) then if you keep on removing the card. Doesn’t seem to be any slower to me.

it saves having to find the cable 🙂

it saves having to find the cable

there is that.

USB is fine if you only have one card, but for multiple cars it’s quicker to load a card reader than a camera.

Also depends on your camera USB speed vs the card reader speed, which I guess might only a concern if you always have lots of photos to uploads.

If you use the usb you’re less likely to take your camera out without putting the card back in it

Less likely to damage the small USB port on the camera, saves battery power and a good card reader is a lot quicker (especially handy with high mp cameras and even more so if you shoot RAW)

Assuming USB2, there shouldn’t be much difference performance wise. Being “worn out” isn’t a problem I’ve run into thus far with either USB sockets or SD cards. There may be an issue if you’re a ham-fisted gibbon I suppose.

One thing I found was that connecting via USB lets you press a button on the camera to automagically copy the pics into dated folders. Using the card reader doesn’t do that, you’ve to sort them manually.

Ultimately, there’s one way to find out, try it and see. If you can’t tell a difference, then it doesn’t matter.

Being “worn out” isn’t a problem I’ve run into thus far with either USB sockets or SD cards

Some people have had a problem with CF cards and bent pins, not quite sure how other than ramming them in the wrong way round (don’t know what the OP uses)

Have seen official advice from camera manufacturers about using a card reader so as not to damage the mini usb port on the camera

Definitely saves valuable battery power using a card reader and could possibly cause problems if the power ran out during transfer

Assuming USB2, there shouldn’t be much difference performance wise.

Not all USB 2.0 devices actually support Hi-Speed USB!

One thing I found was that connecting via USB lets you press a button on the camera to automagically copy the pics into dated folders. Using the card reader doesn’t do that, you’ve to sort them manually.

Depends on the card reader an software. I use a SanDisk reader and my Nikon software automatically starts, downloads, wipes card (hundreds of thousand of RAW files done this way, havn’t lost anything yet), sorts, renames, and make me a cup of tea on inserting the card. OK, maybe it doesn’t make the tea yet, but I’m working on it.

Not all USB 2.0 devices actually support Hi-Speed USB!

When I said “assuming USB2,” I was meaning “assuming that it’s actually transferring at USB2 speeds,” it was just easier to type.

Depends on the card reader an software

Fair enough. It was just an anecdote, really.

I always use the card reader to avoid unpleasant accidents with expensive-camera-linked-to-expensive-computer-by-cable-that-can-be-tripped-over situations 🙂

I would use the card reader if it handled CF.. but I do find it more ergonomic to use the reader, as above – doesn’t chew battery, don’t need to find the cable, don’t need to balance camera on arm of chair or whatever.