Downloading digital pictures from camera to which format CD/DVD?

LordSutch

As a newbie to Digital camers, I want to know how to download my now 'Full' 2Gig card to a CD-R (or is it a DVD-RW)? I really need to know which disc is best, and what are the advantages of copying my photos to a CD-R instead of a DVD-RW (for example)?

My camera is totally full, so help is needed, please.

TheChizler

A CD can contain only 700MB while a DVD can contain 4.7GB or more. With DVD-RW you can write some now and add more as you fill more cards, whereas with a DVD-R you can only write once. I've had issues with DVD-RWs becoming corrupted on subsequent writes, so I'd recommend the DVD-R as they're cheaper and simpler to use. Just make sure you get the right ones for your system, some DVD writers can only do DVD+R or DVD-R, so make sure you pick up the correct format. It should say it on the side of the drive.

Zillah

When you're burning data to a disc the only difference between CD and DVD is how much you can store on it. A single CD would be too small for 2GB of photos. You know you don't need to put them on a disc at all though, right? No one really does that any more. You can just copy them to your computer and then maybe an external drive as a backup. No harm putting them on a DVD as a long term archive or something, but it's not very convenient for day to day.

EDIT: In terms of how to do it, your camera should have come with a cable that can connect it to a computer and then it will show up as an external device, and you can just drag them onto the computer. Burning discs is very easy, modern Windows can do it without any additional programs.

DotOrg

LordSutch wrote: »

My camera is totally full, so help is needed, please.

note: you can always buy a new card for your camera for a really good price:
eg: €6 for 8GB (at http://goo.gl/ktLPF)

or you can back your current card up to a portable hard drive, more expensive but lots more space

or you can just save your memory card onto a PC

5uspect

As above, why do you want to copy the photos to a disc?
The images are just files that you can store on your PC like any other.

allthedoyles

upload them to a photo album like picasa , pix , etc

LordSutch

5uspect wrote: »

As above, why do you want to copy the photos to a disc?
The images are just files that you can store on your PC like any other.

Its an old Laptop and its days are numbered, so I would feel happier with my precious pictures on a disc (just in case she crashes)!

5uspect

Or just pick up a cheap external usb hard drive. 500GB costs very little nowadays.

mayo.mick

What about an 8/16/32gb flash drive, would be cheaper than an external hard drive. You could allways upgrade to a larger hard drive at a later date, would get you by in the mean time?

CabanSail

LordSutch wrote: »

Its an old Laptop and its days are numbered, so I would feel happier with my precious pictures on a disc (just in case she crashes)!

You do realise that you should be downloading the images regularly and that Memory Cards often become corrupt and all their contents lost?

magicbastarder

get a dropbox account and upload the photos to it. it's free for 2GB of storage.