New Mac mini does not have SD card slot - How do you import pictures from camera

[ccsicecoke]

It came to my attention that the new 2018 Mac mini does not have a SD card slot, even it does not have a concerns of thickness controlling like Macbooks. I'm surprised that everyone was so cool about it. No complaining what's so ever.

Is everyone past the stage of using SD card? Up till now importing from SD card is still the most convenient way for me. Luckily I still have an external card reader.

Setting up a poll here to see how does everyone one import pictures from camera (Excluding iPhone).

 

[Broken Hope]

You buy something like this.

USB-C Hub, Type-C Digital AV Multiport Hub with 4K HDMI, 2 USB 3.0, SD Card Reader, USB C Power Delivery and Gigabit Ethernet Adapter for 2016-2018 MacBook Pro 13 15, MacBook 12, Dell XPS, More https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H8XYF2R/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_WkD3Bb17MZPYV

 

[Naimfan]

Welcome to dongle-land!

 

[someoldguy]

Use either a usb card reader , or connect a usb cable from the camera to the computer...

 

[archer75]

You're still using SD cards? Use a USB cable from the camera. Done. We always do it direct from the camera.

 

[0970373]

You're still using SD cards? Use a USB cable from the camera. Done. We always do it direct from the camera.

Yeah, my mom does it this way as it was the easiest way for her. I prefer to use a fast card reader and I have multiple SD cards that I shoot RAW on so it's much more efficient w/ a separate reader.

 

[archer75]

Yeah, my mom does it this way as it was the easiest way for her. I prefer to use a fast card reader and I have multiple SD cards that I shoot RAW on so it's much more efficient w/ a separate reader.

Yeah we shoot raw as well on several SD cards. Still use the camera and USB cable to transfer. Works well.

 

[scottsjack]

I would import pictures into a new mini the same way I import them into my my Mac Pro and my MacBook Pro. I plug in a Sandisk CF card reader.

 

[F-Train]

I need Thunderbolt/USB ports a lot more than I need an SD card slot. Secure Digital cards are not exactly a universal standard and never have been. Here is what I currently use for photo and video capture and the options for each to get the data to my computer:

Leica digital camera: USB cable or SD card reader to USB
Sony digital camera: wireless or USB cable or SD card reader to USB
iPhone 8 camera: wireless or USB cable
Sound Devices PIX E5H external video monitor & 4K video recorder: SSD thumb drive to USB or USB cable
Sound Devices 702T audio recorder: Compact Flash card reader to USB or Thunderbolt 3 cable or FireWire cable
Sound Devices MixPre audio mixer/recorder: USB cable or SD card reader to USB
Sound Devices USBPre 2 audio recorder: USB cable

The above isn’t even exhaustive of the possibilities in photography and video production.

 

[0970373]

Yeah we shoot raw as well on several SD cards. Still use the camera and USB cable to transfer. Works well.

It's so much slower though. And I use multiple cards so no point putting it back in the camera just for that. But to each their own and one should do what's best for their needs/uses.

 

[archer75]

It's so much slower though. And I use multiple cards so no point putting it back in the camera just for that. But to each their own and one should do what's best for their needs/uses.

It shouldn't be. Perhaps it depends on the camera? Ours is a Sony a7rii.
Multiple cards are being added and removed from the camera or card reader, same diff either way.

 

[neutrino23]

I transfer photos by WiFi to the iPad and with a USB cable from the camera to the MBP. The MacBook has a slot but I use that for storage expansion.

 

[ruka.snow]

All my pro cameras are CF or CFast, so I use a USB-c breakout box. Though since this is less of a pro machine, they perhaps should have kept the SD reader. I guess the way to go if you don't have a super fast reader is to connect via ethernet(if on your camera) or USB.

 

[0970373]

It shouldn't be. Perhaps it depends on the camera? Ours is a Sony arii.
Multiple cards are being added and removed from the camera or card reader, same diff either way.

If it works for you then great.

 

[F-Train]

Camera storage is quite volatile at the moment. The new Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera uses CFast as well as SD, and Zeiss has just announced a new camera that will have an internal SSD drive. External recorders for video, like the new 5" Atomos, use SSD thumb drives. And there's a clear move to transmitting files via WiFi.

Dropping the SD card slot just reflects the fact that at this point camera storage and file transmission are all over the place. It's interesting that the original poster excluded smartphones from his question. Why? They appear to have become far and away the most common camera in actual use.

 

[montycat]

I either connect my camera to my Mbp or I use an external USB card reader. My old iMacs never had a SD slot. Not having a SD card slot on my current Mbp or my future Mac Mini isn't a concern for me at all.

 

[Fishrrman]

SD card reader.
Works for me.

 

[George Dawes]

I have an integral sd card slot in my iMac 27 , it stopped working ages ago

I use a dongle now and am happy to report the similar works on the mini

That’s one of the things that put me off the studio tbh , the front mounted sd that’ll probably pack up like my iMac ..