topic EOS Rebel T8i: Save to a computer instead of a card? in EOS DSLR & Mirrorless Cameras

EOS Rebel T8i: Save to a computer instead of a card?

stevet1 — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 21:53:07 GMT

I am only asking this question out of intellectual curiosity.

If I took the memory card out of the camera, and connected the camera to a PC with a USB cable, would the computer recognize the camera as a device, and save the pictures on the PC?

My hunch is no, but I don't really know for sure.

Steve Thomas

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

777sullivan — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 03:36:30 GMT

That is how I used the camera, it worked great. Never put a SD Card in it until now.

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

stevet1 — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 04:51:20 GMT

777sullivan,

What kind of camera?

Steve Thomas

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

AtticusLake — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 08:50:58 GMT

The basic answer is no. Your camera isn't going to recognise the computer as a storage device, and won't save pictures to it. At the very least the computer isn't going to identify itself as a storage device -- because it isn't -- but even if it did, or if you plug a hard drive into the camera's USB port, the camera (most cameras) won't have the ability to save to a USB drive.

That's the literal interpretation of your question. There are of course apps you can run on a PC to remote-control your camera, and use it to grab pictures; but that's not the same thing as the camera using the PC as a storage device.

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

p4pictures — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 09:32:25 GMT

This is not possible without a suitable app on the computer, the camera cannot just recognise a PC connected to the USB cable and start saving images to it.

However if you have EOS Utility installed on the computer then yes, you can have the images sent to the computer and not saved on the card - or even need one in the camera. Select the saving location from the remote capture screen, mine shows JPG to computer, RAW + JPG to camera.

Then you can choose where to save the images, including computer only.

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

Tintype_18 — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 14:06:02 GMT

Stevet1, does your PC have a card slot? By accident, I discovered my Lenovo laptop has a card slot. Insert and follow the directions. Don't need cable or card reader.

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

stevet1 — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 15:01:07 GMT

Thanks guys.

I was asking my question outside of any apps. Somehow, I just don't think the saving processes are the same. The signals just aren't there. I can't really test it myself because I've got EOS Utility installed, and if I connect the cables, and turn on my camera, the app immediately boots up.

I was reading an article about Olympus cameras and it talked about saving images to the internal memory of the camera, and transferring those images from the internal memory to the computer.

https://learnandsupport.getolympus.com/learn-center/photography-tips/technique/getting-images-off-your-cameras-internal-memory

"When the camera does not have a memory card in it, the images are saved by default to the camera’s internal memory, which holds different amounts of images based on how many megapixels are built into the internal memory and what image quality and compression are selected in the camera’s menu."

"To transfer photos to a computer from the internal memory using the USB cable, first remove the memory card from the camera. Then, when the camera is connected, the computer and software will only see what is in the internal memory and transfer those photos or videos."

but I just don't think Canon has that feature.

Steve

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

AtticusLake — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 19:29:24 GMT

Hi Steve,

that's the other way around -- that's about the computer seeing the camera as a storage device, not the other way round.

Most cameras will do this, including Canons; so if you plug the camera into the computer, the computer will see the camera, and from the computer, you will be able to copy files to/from it.

In all this you haven't said what camera you're using. Unfortunately some Canon cameras have big problems with this. For example, on Cinema cameras, it looks like only some files show up (like MP4s).

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

stevet1 — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 20:09:48 GMT

Atticus,

I have a T8i, but I don't think that makes much of a difference.

I looked in the manual and the only time internal memory is mentioned is temporarily storing images when shooting in a burst mode until they can be written to the card.

Steve Thomas

Re: Save to a computer instead of a card?

AtticusLake — Sat, 04 Jan 2025 21:47:27 GMT

I'd like to help, but I'm confused about what you're asking about. Maybe you could explain clearly what it is you want to know?

Almost no cameras these days have internal memory that they would store pictures to. That's really a thing of the past.