Uploading Photos from a Digital Camera to a Computer

When you take a photograph with a digital camera the photos are stored on the digital camera's memory card. The next step is to transfer the digital photographs to a computer. One way to transfer digital photos to a computer is via a cable link between the digital camera and the computer. This is generally a USB cable however some digital cameras also use iLink or FireWire cables.

Cables are normally supplied with digital cameras together with software that can be loaded onto a computer that allows you to transfer your digital photos to a computer.

Now there are two standard methods for transferring the images from digital cameras to computers. One method is by using a cable connect your camera to your computers USB, FireWire or iLink port. Then using software provided with the camera, a few mouse clicks later the pictures are uploaded to your computer. To make uploading digital photographs to computers even simpler, a series of memory card readers are now available.

Not all computers have USB ports and if this is the case then you will need to use a memory card reader. These are also attached to the computer. Again all you have to do is load the card into the reader and upload the digital photographs to your computer.

If you need to buy a memory card reader for your digital camera make sure you buy a memory card reader that is compatible with the type of memory card your digital camera uses. Although there are some memory card readers that will read more than one type of memory card you need to ensure, for example, that if you use CompactFlash memory cards then you will need a CompactFlash memory card reader.

If you have a more basic model digital camera, then the pictures may be stored in the camera's built-in memory (rather than on a memory card). This will the number of photographs you can take and downloading from the digital camera's memory to a computer can be slow. Therefore we recommend that you consider the way you will upload your digital photos to your computer as one of the key points in making decision as to what digital camera to buy.

Memory Card readers are available at around $30.