If somebody told you, you can't import images to Magento, he was definitively liar. Magento Dataflow can import images, but the trick is you have to upload or copy images you want to import into [installation_directory]/media/import/* . Then export (System -> Profiles -> Export All Products -> Start profile) your products if you have any, download (copy) and edit the file. Now you can fill columns small_image, image, thumbnail with absolute path from media/import directory - for example /my_image.jpg (note the / on the start). And sure you can use same image for all three columns.