D5100 USB Cable....... why?

What was Nikon thinking when they decided to use a "non-standard" end on the USB cable for the D5100?

They were thinking, normal USB cable, £0.50, Nikon proprietary USB cable £5.00

I also never took mine out of the box, only use a card reader.

I, too, use a card reader for downloading. Why use up the cameras batteries?

My logic is this:

If i'm done shooting for the day, i will use the cable for faster transfers if i have a lot of images and or movies (especially) on card.
If I'm going back out shortly and don't have time to charge my battery, i'll use a card reader. I also use a card reader when I have less images.

As far as what Nikon was thinking? I'll bet it boils down to business. Just like Apple does, ya? It's common practice these days. Android phones sometimes have weird sized micro-usb connectors and it's hard to find a cable to charge them with sometimes.

I've yet to come across a weird sized micro-usb connector, especially on an android phone. Most are, well just micro-usb

I use the built in card reader on my laptop to transfer images from my card, because a) my cable is in the box in the loft, b) it has a good read speed coupled with the UHS-1 card so doesn't take too long to copy files across.

In the immortal words of Gordon Gekko, "Greed is good."

I leave the USB cable plugged into the computer all of the time and it just as easy to plug it into the camera. I don't have to worry about having the memory card orientated the correct way when I put it back in. I don't wear the card out plugging it in and out. Replacing a USB cable is less expensive than a card. The only time I use the card is when I need to make some prints at Walmart's, which I almost never do anymore.

As long as you don't damage/break the socket on the camera!!

SS381 said:

As long as you don't damage/break the socket on the camera!!

Click to expand...

I don't use it all that often. It's really no different than plugging in my cell phone every day.

I think the most likely thing to get damaged is the rubber seal that could get worn from using the usb plug to upload pics.

i have been thru 10 usb cables on my 4 nikon d5100 and d5200 cameras. Not sure what the deal is with Nikon's new usb but the cables are not lasting.. i was thinking it was the port on the camera but i bought new usb cables and bingo. .it is working .. but then stop working. cable becomes bad. .. ugh ugh ugh.. and it can happen even if i am not touching the cables/camera etc.. just hitting space bar to take photos.. bingo .. bad cable all of a sudden and the computer locks up or software quits...
anyone else having this issue????