usefeet Posted October 19, 2007 Share #1 Posted October 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) I didn't get a data connecting cable with my M8 kit, so I assume the only way to download images is by removing the SD card. The only cable in my kit was the one with a cigarette lighter connector. Guess this is for battery charging, ..must try it one day. I would prefer to use a dedicated connecting cable rather than continuously opening and removing the card. What are your thoughts? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 19, 2007 Posted October 19, 2007 Hi usefeet, Take a look here Wearing out camera SD contacts. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Philinflash Posted October 19, 2007 Share #2 Posted October 19, 2007 The cable in question is standard USB kit; while you should have gotten one in your box, one should be easy to obtain from any computer store. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
doubice Posted October 19, 2007 Share #3 Posted October 19, 2007 Actually, the USB connection on the camera is a pain in the proverbial arse to open and and to insert the cable. I find it much easier to use a card reader. It takes less time to remove the base plate, take out the card and put it into the reader than it does to use your fingernail to pry the USB cover open, fiddle with the cable, find its propper orientation and the correct angle to insert it into the camera. If you bought your camera new, it should have come with the cable; as the previous poster mentioned though, it is a standard USB kit, available anywhere. Best, Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
erl Posted October 19, 2007 Share #4 Posted October 19, 2007 Hi William, The card reader method is infinitely more user freindly than using a USB cable, but you should have got one anyway. I would not be concerned overly about 'wear on the contacts', any more than wear on the shutter mechanism which works harder. As an aside, you can always do what I just did and buy a spare M8. (DON'T tell "she who must be obeyed!) Therein lies a story that I will probably tell on the forum over the W/E, if I dare. :eek: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradreiman Posted October 19, 2007 Share #5 Posted October 19, 2007 I've always found the camera-cable-computer method to be tragically slow compared to readers. I also don't like connecting anything with electronics to my m8s. Never know what could happen. I have been using for a while now the sandisk ultraII cards which fold in half to become their own "reader". You simply fold the sd card in half and stick it in the usb slot directly. As far as wearing down the contacts, I think you'd really have to be removing the card thousands of times to wear down those contacts, a bit paranoid probably...B Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
usefeet Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share #6 Posted October 19, 2007 Thanks for the úseful hints guys, I will continue using the card reader. Anyone charge their battery with that other cable? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted October 19, 2007 Share #7 Posted October 19, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks for the úseful hints guys, I will continue using the card reader. Anyone charge their battery with that other cable? Thanks. That other cable only charges the battery when it is in the charger, but permits this to be done in the car. It seems useful, but I haven't shot enough in a single day to have needed it yet, with just two batteries. And I think I would invest in more batteries if I start approaching the 1000/day mark. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
usefeet Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share #8 Posted October 19, 2007 >>>As an aside, you can always do what I just did and buy a spare M8. (DON'T tell "she who must be obeyed!)<<< Erl, mine hasn't noticed the 8 on my camera yet, or maybe she has and is just waiting for better timing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
usefeet Posted October 19, 2007 Author Share #9 Posted October 19, 2007 That other cable only charges the battery when it is in the charger, but permits this to be done in the car. It seems useful, but I haven't shot enough in a single day to have needed it yet, with just two batteries. And I think I would invest in more batteries if I start approaching the 1000/day mark. Thanks Scott, I'll just leave the cable home (have 2 batteries). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradreiman Posted October 19, 2007 Share #10 Posted October 19, 2007 William-I have used the car charger adapter and its fine. Me and my gal had a couple week drive around the country and kept a battery in it all the time charging. I find this to be a great convenience. Furthermore, if you are in places with no electricity and cars are around you can still charge. I think this is probably why they included this in the package. If your out in Rwanda in your Landy you can charge up the ole m8 regardless of the village power outage....B Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted October 19, 2007 Share #11 Posted October 19, 2007 Another downside to downloading directly from the camera is it runs down the battery. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted October 19, 2007 Share #12 Posted October 19, 2007 I would like to have seen a docking station for the M8 - drop the camera into the cradle to allow image upload, run the camera independently of the battery for uploading purposes and charge the battery at the same time. As regards wear and tear on the SD card socket, a standard industrial grade part - cost $4 in quantities of 100+ - is specified as good for 10000 mating cycles. It's worth remembering the socket is soldered onto the DSP board and I don't know whether Leica would replace it if, say, the latching mechanism failed, or whether a complete replacement DSP board would be required. The message is clear though, go easy on the card and socket. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
orjanf Posted October 19, 2007 Share #13 Posted October 19, 2007 As regards wear and tear on the SD card socket, a standard industrial grade part - cost $4 in quantities of 100+ - is specified as good for 10000 mating cycles. Excellent. Three times a day for the next 9 years and I will have a good excuse to buy an M9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
guy Posted October 19, 2007 Share #14 Posted October 19, 2007 is specified as good for 10000 mating cycles. Gosh... I wonder how many mating cycles I'm good for? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMast Posted October 19, 2007 Share #15 Posted October 19, 2007 Another advantage of using a card reader is the correct labeling of files. If you use Windows XP and download via the usb cable they get named as TIFF files and not DNG. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
robsteve Posted October 20, 2007 Share #16 Posted October 20, 2007 Ian: If you use Lightroom in Windows to do the transfer from the tethered camera, it has the option of downloading them as DNG files. Robert Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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