Any truth to this?

Andy W

Senior Member
I saw this on another forum:

"Downloading images directly from the camera to your computer system puts much more wear and tear on the camera then using a Card Reader."

I've never heard of that.
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
I saw this on another forum:

"Downloading images directly from the camera to your computer system puts much more wear and tear on the camera then using a Card Reader."

I've never heard of that.
More wear and tear on the camera port, I suppose, is what they're getting at. But then one could argue removing and inserting an SD card puts more wear and tear on THAT port so... Pick your poison, I suppose.

I will say it never ceases to amaze the things people can come up with to get worried about.
 

carguy

Senior Member
More wear and tear on the camera port, I suppose, is what they're getting at. But then one could argue removing and inserting an SD card puts more wear and tear on THAT port so... Pick your poison, I suppose.

I will say it never ceases to amaze the things people can come up with to get worried about.


x2

I'd bet the chance to wear out the card slot is MUCH less than borking up the cable port.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Well... the mini-usb port spec says they're rated for 10,000 connection cycles. The contacts on an SD card are rated between 50 to 500 cycles, depending on plating... Personally, an external card reader and/or an SD memory card is cheaper to replace than a camera's USB port...
 

Andy W

Senior Member
I've been using the USB port to transfer photos after reading about some folks having card slot problems. Perhaps I should go back to the card reader.
 

Dawg Pics

Senior Member
Well, based on the specs, if you connected the cord every day for the life of the camera, you would still have a lot of cycles left.
You would have to connect it every day for over 27 years to wear out the port. No?

Just be careful about pulling the cord to the side so you won't bend the sides somehow. I used to use a laptop that a cord port needed replacing often because it stretched out due to the heavy use and how the had to set up to use it. I think it was abused by us for the most part.
 
Last edited:

Woodyg3

Senior Member
Contributor
I don't wear shoes anymore. The treads wear out. :)

Card readers are more convenient, so that's what I use. I refuse to think about it beyond that point. :)
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
... The contacts on an SD card are rated between 50 to 500 cycles, depending on plating...
Just based on what I've seen, I have to question those numbers.

Between multiple cameras, and multiple computers, a card with a lifespan of 500 insertion-cycles (at best!) would last me... Maybe a month.
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
Good thing you said something... That was for a "per month application"...

Here are datasheets from makers:

Not knowing which manufacturer(s) provides the CF/SD card connectors for your camera, the best you can do is find datasheet specs from a wide variety of manufacturers, and make your own best guess. When I searched for "SD card insert eject cycle", I came up with some of the following:

  1. 3000 – 5000 cycles (various SIM & MicroSD card connectors, no standard SD): SMK Electronics
  2. 10,000 cycles @ 400–600 cycles/hour: Hirose Electronics (Mouser)
  3. "10,000 mating cycles are guaranteed": Kyocera 5138 series connector
  4. 10,000 mating cycles max durability: Molex
 

WayneF

Senior Member
Other than convenience and not needing the camera battery, one of the best reasons to use a card reader is that USB 3.0 card readers are plentiful (much faster speed), but not so many cameras have 3.0 ports.
 
Top