Smart media flash ? digital camera

[ozzy0627]

Hi just wandering a quick question I couldn't find on the website. Will you need a smart media reader, if you have cards above 32 meg? I'm getting an olympus camera and puting 32 to 64 meg in it. Will I need to get a reader or will the camera just act as a reader itself? Does anyone know this who has and olympus camera?

[madsam]

i have a fuji and it reads any card i put in, including the 32 and 64mb cards.

some cameras need a reader and some don't, so if the olympus comes with a usb cable, chances are....it needs no reader. it should have it built in.

i've heard people say the reader is quicker...simpler....easier......but i plug in the cable, click on my camera, and windows opens a wizard to help save your photos to hdd. it's too easy. i hear the reader is quicker, but it takes a few seconds to maybe a minute to send a full card to my hdd.

it you have several devices using compact flash memory and smart media, the reader can be purchased in a version that reads both...

i didn't get one because my camera does it for me and win xp recognises it.

i hope this was at least a little helpful....

[Breadfan]

I personally would get a reader regardless. I have an HP 318, and got a CF reader just so that I could avoid loading the HP software on my system. But readers have many advantages.

Yes they are fast, but if you have a USB camera you probably won't notice it being that much faster. Now, serial camera's vs. usb readers is no comparison :)

The card readers offer teh same ease of use. Put the card in, plug the reader into the USB, and there ya go, Removable Drive. You can then drag and drop, even use the CF or SM card to store files on.

The other main benefit from readers is the power. They run off the USB power, so no external cables or batteries. With a camera, you either must use an AC cord or use your batteries. Digital cameras suck down batteries quick enough on there own, so to me, anything that saves battery in my camera is a good thing.

The nice sandisk ones can be had for around 15 bucks.

Mike

[madsam]

with win xp, the system recognises my camera as soon as i plug it in, also, at 15 bucks, it's a worthwhile price just for saving batteries.....good point there...... and like i said before, if you use other devices like mp3 players and such, which use smart media or compact flash, the reader is almost a must.......i didn't know the readers were 15 bucks either....last time i looked at prices was last year when i bought the camera. i do have an adapter for my camera because when i switch batteries, the camera date and settings all get cleared. so i plug it in before i remove my batteries. hey, i might just get me a reader too.

if it doesn't prove to be worthy of my 15 bucks, i'll have to buy more smart media devices.....he he he .....just an opinion i guess.

[ozzy0627]

Thanks...you posted a good point....i just now thought of. I wasn't sure if the camera was compatible with xp. But I guess it doesn't matter if you have smart media reader. My camera would never have to touch my computer...

Thanks

[madsam]

and the smart reader seems useless for the ....almost rare......occasion i use the camera, so for me....it gives me reason to go buy more stuff, thingy's and doo-hickies......

when i plugged the usb from my camera into my pc, i heard windows make a sound and it opened a photo wizard to help manage my photos....no drivers to install. too cool.