I just upgraded to Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. There is a new software package CAMERA that works fine to download files from my old Kodak C 182 digital camera. CAMERA is a part of the additional programs that are available to install. I have had problems with other programs being unable to detect cameras. Shotwell is also part of this new distribution. While it did not recognize my camera I was able to download the files from the memory card using a card reader on my old Lenovo IBM desktop. I tried this with several different cameras and it worked in every instance. This seems an easy workaround if you are having troubles downloading direct from the camera. You can buy card readers that will plug into a USB port for just a few dollars.

Often these cameras are identified as "mass storage devices" (something along that line) as if they are external hard drives. As such you can use a file manager to move the photos from the camera to your computer.

most of the time , just plugging in the mini usb cable is all that is needed
or the better option
pull out the sd card and plug it into the computer ( a lot of new boxes have them built in ).

Gnome3 and KDE4 should automatically mount the camera and ether pop up a notification or place a entry into the Nautilus "places" left window

That is what Shotwell did but only when I inserted the memory (sd) card. It does not detect the camera at all for some reason. My IBM Lenovo desktop is of 2006 vintage so I had to use a card reader attached through the USB but they are dirt cheap. However, Shotwell will import the photos so you do not need to use a file manager.

Depends on the camera.
When digital cameras first became available they required manufacturer specific software to communicate to a computer. Somewhere along the line one company designed their cameras to be "seen" as mass storage devices and eventually (by the mid 2000s) most of the other camera makers followed suit.

the generic way of downloading photos works with any distro
step 1 goto the CLI "fdisk -l"
step 2 plug in the camera wait 20 seconds repeat step 1
step 3 mount any new drive that shows up that is your camera

if no new drive shows up from step 2 then install gphoto2 http://www.gphoto.org/

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