What’s the fastest way to transfer photos from a Canon 5D Mark III to a computer?
Asked 12/8/2015
2 views
2 answers
0
I’m using a Lexar CF/SD card reader with my Canon 5D Mark III and wondered if there’s a faster method. I saw someone using a non-OEM Ethernet accessory attached to the camera and wasn’t sure whether I’m missing a better workflow.
Is transferring directly from the camera via Ethernet faster than using a card reader, or is the fastest option simply a high-speed CF/SD reader?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
10
It is not possible to transfer images out of the memory card faster than its maximum read speed. All you need then is a sufficiently fast card reader.
With USB 3.0, there is enough bandwidth to exceed the transfer speed of the fastest current Compact Flash and SDXC cards. Lexar claims 500 MB/s top speed which is faster than Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mb/s = 128 MB/s), so it would not be any faster if you used Ethernet.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For a 5D Mark III, the fastest practical method is usually to remove the card and use a genuinely fast card reader.
The transfer speed is limited by the card’s read speed and the reader’s real-world performance. A USB 3.0 reader already has enough bandwidth to exceed the speed of most CF and SD cards, so the bottleneck is typically the card/reader, not the interface.
Ethernet is not likely to be faster. Gigabit Ethernet tops out around 125 MB/s in theory, which can be below the read speed claimed by fast cards and readers. So an Ethernet accessory is more about workflow convenience or tethered/networked shooting than maximum download speed.
If you transfer one card at a time, a high-quality USB 3.0 or Thunderbolt reader is your best bet. If your workflow involves multiple cards, a multi-bay workflow reader can save time by downloading several cards at once.
Also note that many readers advertise interface speed rather than actual card-read performance, so check real-world reviews when possible.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI10y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
Should you use an SD-to-CF adapter in an older Canon EOS 5D, or just buy CompactFlash cards?
Canon EOS 5D Mark III: can I delete RAW/JPEG pairs from CF and SD together?
Should I import photos from the SD card or CompactFlash card on a Canon 7D Mark II?
How can I keep a Canon 5D Mark IV set to the CF card instead of switching to SD?
Can an iPad import RAW files from a Canon 5D Mark II CF card?