Downloading 101 (Workflow Basics)

Very basic question:

I would like to verify that when downloading images from camera (D7500) to hard drive (Windows 10) via USB (Nikon OE factory supplied cable), I am not corrupting or minimizing the file quality in any way.

I use file explorer and "copy" the images to an appropriate new folder on my hard drive. After I have them on the hard drive, I copy them to my back up external 1TB drive and dont touch them again (I tag that folder as "Master" so I always have a copy of the originals). I work with the first copy on my hard drive.
I just want to be sure that what you are all doing.
Thanks
Todd

Not me. I remove the cards from the body and insert them into a card reader. It saves wear and tear on the body. No, you shouldn't be corrupting the files in any way when transferring them. Might be Explorer that does the transferring to my computer. If you have Lightroom, I *think* there is a way for LR to do the importing, but since I don't do it that way, maybe another forum member can give you more info.

Personally I have several 1 to 3 TB portable drives for storage. It's always good to have more than one backup. Mine are all made by WD My Passport.

Marilynne said:

That's pretty much what I do. I transfer them from my camera using ViewNX-i and process them there also.

Don't know how long you've been shooting, but 1TB may not be enough. My husband just bought me an 8TB Seagate and I've filled up 1TB already.

Click to expand...

Thanks and I agree.

Point of fact 1 have 3 1TBs daisy chained together. I need to break down and get something like an 8TB. To answer the question, I have been doing digital for about 7 years. I had all my old (35mm negs) stuff digitized about a year after 1 went to digital. They were converted to JPEG by the local camera and video store before they went out of business. I have boxes of chromes that still need to be converted.
So do you think I am losing any quality by not using a program such as View NX? I have an ancient copy around somewhere. I just jumped right into Photoshop elements at the suggestion of a friend. I never got a great feeling for the ViewNX, somehow Ps seemed more intuitive. I have never bothered with the Organizer side of it, just the editing. I have my own system to organize my files and generally find what I am looking for. Although as time goes by and I understand more, there may be a need to readdress that whole issue.

I am just trying to make sure that I am squeezing ALL I can out of my images without doing irreparable damage with the basic downloading. I figure that's a good place to start with as far as making sure I am doing it the best way.
Just because its the way I have always done it, doesn't mean I have been doing it right. I may have been doing things wrong since the get-go.

todd7500 said:

I use file explorer and "copy" the images to an appropriate new folder on my hard drive. After I have them on the hard drive, I copy them to my back up external 1TB drive and dont touch them again

Click to expand...

Absolutely nothing to lose here copying like that. If you really want to convince yourself, check the file size before and after the transfer, it should be exactly the same.

todd7500 said:

I am just trying to make sure that I am squeezing ALL I can out of my images without doing irreparable damage with the basic downloading.

Click to expand...

Consider shooting raw if you want to squeeze ALL you can out of your images. But no, you are not harming anything copying with Explorer. No harm with most programs importing either. I suppose something out there has the ability to reduce file size on import, but I'm not familiar. I would certainly think they would warn you if that was about to happen. Some cloud things like google photos might offer to reduce file size.

I'd second using a card reader to copy the files versus a USB cable... The card reader is more robust than the the USB connection, and over time, we see more problems here associated with that method of transfer.

As has been mentioned, most all of the editing programs that move/copy/import images, don't do anything other than move/copy the original file from one location to another. They don't change/alter the original file.

Most editors also never actually edit/change a RAW file... any changes to the RAW file are added/stored in what are called side-car files... alongside the original RAW files. Lightroom is an example... It never alters the original Nikon NEF file. It stores edits/changes in either an XMP file, or the Lightroom Catalogue... so saving multiple NEF files, although good, is redundant...

Lightroom has a preference that automatically starts imports when a camera is detected. You can be 100% sure that any way of transferring your images will not alter them unless there is a malfunction, which is just as likely (or indeed, very unlikely) regardless of whether you use a card reader or a USB cable. There is no quality loss in transferring.

Using a card reader puts wear on your camera's card slot because you have to take it out, while using a USB cable puts wear on the camera's USB port, so in theory it would be ideal to alternate this, but personally I don't consider either a relevant issue. In other words: use whichever means suit you best and don't worry about it.