Q: How do I find the best USB camera cable for transferring photos?
Digital cameras can use a variety of standards for transferring photographs to a computer, including USB and FireWire. Some cameras can even send photo data over a wireless network. A USB camera cable is, by far, the most common method for transferring photos, however.
If you're using a USB camera cable, keep in mind that some cameras require special USB cables that include mini-USB connectors or other types of non-standard USB connectors. The camera should include a USB camera cable with the correct connectors when you purchase it. However, if you ever need to replace your USB camera cable, be sure you purchase one with the correct connectors.
For the high-resolution photos you'll shoot with a digital SLR, you'll want to be sure your camera can use a high transfer rate, such as is available with USB 2.0 (up to 60 MB, or megabytes, per second), USB 3.0 (up to 625 MB per second), or FireWire (up to 100 MB per second). Most point and shoot cameras don't have a FireWire option.
Find more answers to common camera questions on the camera FAQ page.
