Digital Camera Picture Transfer One Example of Moving Files from a Camera to the Computer’s Hard Drive By Bob Fiske
Dec 23, 2015
Digital Camera Picture Transfer
One Example of Moving Files from a Camera to the Computer’s Hard Drive
By Bob Fiske
Transferring Pics – Hard?
• Can be difficult– Many small steps to learn
• No standardization– Many brands of cameras– And smart phones
• The challenge:– Learn the procedure for your camera
Step 1: USB CableHere is my Canon PowerShot Camera
There’s a little flip door
Got it!
And I plug in the mini-USB plug
Step 1: USB Cable (cont’d)The other end is a regular USB plug
Well, that part is done
Comment on Step 1
• No USB cable?• Memory card– Many cameras use a memory card to store pics
• Some computers have a slot to load these cards
– This will probably make Step 2 less work
Step 2: The Camera Picture Folder
• If my camera is connected to the computer…– Then I want to view the picture folder on the
camera– That’s a big IF
• The first time I opened My Computer, I goofed
I thought this was my camera. Then I realized this is the laptop’s built-in camera.
Step 2: The Camera Picture Folder (cont’d)
• Oh. I’m supposed to turn the camera on.
• Then Windows connects to it
That green light meansthe power is on
This says, “Camera connected”
Step 2: The Camera Picture Folder (cont’d)
I almost always cancel this little window
Back to the My Computerwindow. Now I can open awindow for the camera.
NOTES:1. My Computer? Yes, if your computer runs Windows XP.
Newer versions of Windows (Vista, Win7, Win8) call it “Computer”.
2. Why are Bob’s pictures so crummy in this presentation?• ‘Cause he is shooting with his old cell phone camera• Oh, and ‘cause he’s a pretty bad photographer
Step 2: The Camera Picture Folder (cont’d)
• The camera’s picture folder– Finally!
• By the way, what is DCIM?– Digital Camera Image Management– Some cameras and phones store
pictures in a folder called “DCIM”
Step 3: Make a Folder on the Hard Drive• Time to transfer picture files– You need a folder on the hard drive– This is a combination of navigation and creating new
folders• Starting point– In older versions of Windows, you might start with
My Documents and go to My Pictures– After Windows 7 start with the “profile” folder, then
to to My Pictures
Step 3: Make a Folder on the Hard Drive
• Sub-folders– I made a folder “Digital Cameras” under My
Pictures– Under this folder I made a sub-folder “Canon
PowerShot”
Step 4: Park the Two Windows• Parking a window– This is putting a window in corner of the screen
• Note: Not maximized! (Instead, restore it down)
• Do this for the camera window and with the window of the folder you made on the hard drive
Camera window parked in lower right corner
My “Canon PowerShot” window parked in upper left corner Strange:
Bob has his Task Bar stuck on the left side!
Step 5: Drag Files from One Window to the Other
• Select files in the camera window– I do a Select All command• I’m moving all my pictures• This command is in the Edit menu of the camera
window• Or use Ctrl-A
Yes, that’s the Edit menu and the Select All command. So embarrassing!
Step 5: Drag Files from One Window to the Other (cont’d)
• Click-and-drag any one of the selected files• Drag it into the white space of the hard drive
window– All the selected files will be moved
• See the next slide…
Step 5: Drag Files from One Window to the Other (cont’d)
This arrow cursor with the “+” means “Copy these files to this folder”
All these picture files in the camera window have been selected. - See the blue lines around the thumbnails?
Step 5: Drag Files from One Window to the Other (cont’d)
• Be patient!– If you have a lot of files– Or they are LARGE picture files– Or your computer is slow
Step 5: Drag Files from One Window to the Other (cont’d)
• While I waited I took produce pictures
Step 5: Drag Files from One Window to the Other (cont’d)
• Patience is its own reward
What is the Best Pixel Resolution?
• Done.• Now, a digression: file size– Many people innocently set their cameras to
shoot at the maximum resolution• They think more pixels are better
• If you are a serious photographer, this is true• If you are not, then a medium resolution is
just as good as high resolution– And your files won’t be gigantic
What is the Best Pixel Resolution?
I just transferred 619 picture files
These files take up only 196 MB
What is the Best Pixel Resolution?These pictures I shot with my Canon PowerShot
- at medium pixel resolution
Step 6: Disconnect Your Camera
• Do you need to “Safely Remove” your hardware?– If Windows sees your camera as a flash drive, then
you need to inactivate the data connection
Check the notification area for the “Safely Remove Hardware” icon
Step 6: Disconnect Your Camera
• In my case, I don’t need to safely remove hardware– The icon is not present– I just turn off the camera and unplug it
No more green light
Step 6: Disconnect Your Camera
• And the camera no longer appears in the My Computer window
The End