For most photo workflows, you only need the actual image/video files from DCIM. Copying the whole folder structure usually gives no benefit for normal editing, and folders like MISC are typically for camera-side data such as thumbnails, temporary metadata, or DPOF print-order information.

So if you’re importing stills into Lightroom or similar software, copying just the photos you need is generally fine.

The main exception is video: some cameras split long recordings into multiple files and store related metadata elsewhere in the card structure. In those cases, preserving the full folder structure can help certain software reassemble clips properly or avoid sync issues.

In short:

• still photos: copying only the files is usually enough
• normal short video clips: usually fine to copy just the files
• long/split video recordings: safer to copy the entire card structure

If you want the most future-proof archive, copy the whole card. If you only care about standard photo editing, copying the image files is typically sufficient.