Your digital camera uses a memory card to store photos in much the same way that a traditional camera stores snapshots on film. The storage medium most commonly used in digital cameras is the SD memory card. Although it's possible to transfer pictures by hooking up the camera directly to your computer, having an SD card reader streamlines the process.
Camera-to-Computer Image Transfer
One way to transfer pictures to your computer is to hook up the camera directly to a USB port on the computer. The mechanism by which the pictures are transferred, however, is anything but direct. The camera copies information from the SD memory card (which must be inserted in the camera during the transfer) through the USB cable and then to the computer's hard drive, with the camera serving basically as an intermediary.
Built-In SD Card Readers
To simplify the process of transferring pictures, some computer manufacturers now install SD card readers on laptop and desktop computers. If your computer has an SD card reader, it will appear as a wide, flat slot near the computer's USB serial ports. To upload images to the computer, simply insert the SD card into the slot, wait for it to "click" and then follow the on-screen prompts from the computer.
Advantages of Card Readers
The primary advantage of storing pictures on an SD memory card is that you don't need your computer to do it. If you want to share photos with a friend, you can give her your memory card rather than your camera. Direct transfer to the computer also eliminates the hassle of having to find the right USB cable, which may resemble other cables you use on a regular basis. Another benefit is that you can have multiple SD memory cards and use them interchangeably -- when one card is full, replace it with another, just as you would remove a used roll of film and insert a new one in a traditional camera.
USB Adapters
If your computer isn't equipped with a built-in SD card reader, you can still reap the benefits of direct image transfer. Simply purchase an SD card adapter that plugs into a USB port on your computer. These adapters are inexpensive and can be purchased online or at your local electronics store.
Tags: your computer, memory card, card reader, camera directly, Card Readers, traditional camera
