I get a folder on my desktop when I plug in the camera, iPhoto starts as well, but I just quit it if I don't want to use it, and browse through the folder mounted on the desktop, much like the folder you get when you plug in the card reader. Odd you don't get it when you connect your camera, I've connected 5 different cameras and they all mount a folder on the desktop that I can browse through.
What version of OS X are you running? What camera are you connecting? Can you give is some more info?