dumbass question about digital cameras and computers

[kamper]

So I've just lost my camera and am in the market for a new one. One of the things I'm curious about, that I can't seem to find anywhere is if there are specs regarding how a camera connects to my pc.

For instance, my fujifilm (e510) always mounted as a removable drive on both my pc and powerbook. This was nice because the included software was hideous and I rather like iPhoto, or just being able to grab the photos by hand. Numerous friends' cameras that I've hooked up have also worked in the same way until I tried a Canon a520 which just didn't go (you can tell I know very little about this stuff 😛).

So, is there a way to tell which cameras are accesible sans extra software? Is there a setting on most cameras that changes the way they behave?

tx

 

[Anubis]

if you buy a 10$ card reader they will always show up as a removable drive, but most should show up as a removeble drive when just the camera is pluged in, the 3 camers i have had all have, a fuji an olympus and a nikon

i still recomend getting a card reader, connecting through the cam eats batteries like no other

 

[kamper]

Whoops, hadn't even thought about a card reader. That definitely makes me worry less about something that won't go. Thanks 🙂

Still curious about the technicalities though, if anyone has a good explanation...

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: kamper
Whoops, hadn't even thought about a card reader. That definitely makes me worry less about something that won't go. Thanks 🙂

Still curious about the technicalities though, if anyone has a good explanation...

It depends on how the camera's USB/FW interface is designed. If it emulates a 'mass storage device' (like a USB key or external hard drive), it can be mounted as a hard drive in Windows. If it doesn't, then Windows won't know how to talk to it, and you'll only be able to access it through a program that knows how to talk to its driver.

Also note that some cameras (mostly older ones at this point, but ou never know) don't read/write the memory cards all that fast over the external interface, so a high-speed card reader may speed up photo transfers as well.

 

[Lalakai]

most software can be pointed to the camera and read it like a hd, but as far as i know, only the dedicated software that comes with each brand of camera, will automatically read the camera instead of treating it as another hd.

and i second the option of using card reader, usually faster and doesn't drain the battery. and though most people don't think of it, you can always use it in reverse, transferring pics and data onto your camera's memory card, so that you can view pics that had been on your system, or even transfer data files (when use card reader).

 

[kamper]

Originally posted by: Matthias99

Originally posted by: kamper
Whoops, hadn't even thought about a card reader. That definitely makes me worry less about something that won't go. Thanks 🙂

Still curious about the technicalities though, if anyone has a good explanation...

It depends on how the camera's USB/FW interface is designed. If it emulates a 'mass storage device' (like a USB key or external hard drive), it can be mounted as a hard drive in Windows. If it doesn't, then Windows won't know how to talk to it, and you'll only be able to access it through a program that knows how to talk to its driver.

Also note that some cameras (mostly older ones at this point, but ou never know) don't read/write the memory cards all that fast over the external interface, so a high-speed card reader may speed up photo transfers as well.

Yes, but the question is, while shopping, how can I tell which ones actually do emulate mass storage devices? 🙂

 

[egkenny]

Originally posted by: kamper
Yes, but the question is, while shopping, how can I tell which ones actually do emulate mass storage devices? 🙂

There is no way by just looking at the camera. Even the documentation is not always clear.

This link provides some information:

Digital Camera Support for UNIX, Linux and BSD
http://www.teaser.fr/~hfiguiere/linux/digicam.html

The only way for sure would be to bring your laptop with you. With media in the camera and the camera turned on plug the camera into the USB port. Do NOT install any special camera driver software. Look in My Computer. If a new Removable Disk shows up then it is probably a Mass Storage Device.

 

[kamper]

So the bottom line is trial and error, I guess.

Thanks for that link, it's quite helpful.

 

[bendixG15]

You may find some info on a specific camera....here...

http://www.steves-digicams.com/