While USB is the most common type of transfer, there are many other ways to download from your camera. Older cameras also use a variety of other methods.

This method of transfer works very much like the USB, only faster. FireWire transfers data between devices very quickly, fast enough for digital camera images and uncompressed digital video. Some people believe that FireWire will become the data transmission standard of the digital world. FireWire is easy to use and is hot-swappable. It permits many devices — such as digital cameras, digital camcorders, music devices, printers, and scanners — to be connected to one port.

Kodak in particular has developed docking stations as a way to simplify digital photography. You place the camera on a docking station that is connected to the computer via a USB port. Then you press a button or two and pictures are transferred to your computer.

TWAIN compliant cameras and scanners can be accessed directly by some computer graphics and file manager programs. While TWAIN works with older operating systems, Windows XP (1.7 or higher), in particular, has built-in TWAIN support. What this means is that your camera and your graphics program can work together so that you can import your camera's photographs into your graphics program — for example, edit them and then save them in your computer.

Other (generally older) digital cameras use other ways to transfer images. These methods include wireless infrared transfer (IrDA), removable storage such as a floppy disk or a CD, and transfer via the serial port. All of these methods are quite slow. Some may require the original software that came with the camera to work properly.

After you have figured out how to transfer images without a hitch, write down all the steps involved. This is especially important if you don't download very often, as you will probably forget something.

Since computers are very logical, write down the steps in order. Don't leave anything out. For example, if software is automatically launched after you attach your USB cable from your camera, write down that your software showed on the screen and that it took 30 seconds after attaching the camera. The more detailed your list, the better. A month from now you won't be scratching your head wondering why it worked before and why it doesn't work now.

If you get an error message on your computer or camera, make sure that the cable is inserted correctly into both receptacles and that the camera is on. If these check out, make sure that the USB port on your computer is working properly. In Windows, for example (Settings > Control Panel > System > Device Manager), you can look at a list of devices that are installed in the computer and see whether they are working properly.