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View Full Version : best compact flash reader ?

picken
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 07:27
I am looking for recommendations on c/f card readers, I have a mac and firewire would be handy.I have a delkin but it is really slow.Any help would be appreciated.

allan
Pete
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 07:28
I use the SanDisk Extreme one (firewire). Always worked fine for me...
Apshiso
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 07:56
I have the Sandisk multi-type reader thingy (can't remember the model or name) and it only worked for about 2000 reads (images) - like a couple months at most.

If I hook it up now it will read for, say ,twenty images or so and then it will disconnect (internally?) and the error "your device has been disconnected" will come up.

It's really anoying - I have to use the camera and cable method - which stinks.

So now I am in the market for one as well. - Dedicated CF is fine - I don't really use the other ones anyway - but they would be good to have IF the combination does not mean less reliability.

UDATE: the reader I referenced is the SanDisk SDDR-89-A15 ImageMate 12 in 1 Reader (Silver/Black)
Double Negative
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 10:24
SanDisk Extreme FireWire is the fastest out there, currently.
ben_r_
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:23
SanDisk Extreme FireWire is the fastest out there, currently.
OH!!! ONE MORE POST AND 8000!!!!
Double Negative
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:26
OH!!! ONE MORE POST AND 8000!!!!

Shazzaam! :D
ben_r_
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:27
Shazzaam! :D
LOL!!!! Congrats!
Double Negative
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:32
LOL!!!! Congrats!

Do I win a POTN strap or something?

:D
ben_r_
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:34
Do I win a POTN strap or something?

:D
Nope, you win the "We post too much on POTN" award though! ;)
Double Negative
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:37
Nope, you win the "We post too much on POTN" award though! ;)

More like... Heh. :D
Colorblinded
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:38
Another vote for the Sandisk Extreme IV firewire reader.
aram535
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:45
I vote for the El chepo USB 2 11-to-1 reader from Home Depot made by GE, cost me $5.99 and is just as fast the as the ScanDisk since the CF can't pump out as fast as the ports can go anyway.
Colorblinded
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 14:51
I vote for the El chepo USB 2 11-to-1 reader from Home Depot made by GE, cost me $5.99 and is just as fast the as the ScanDisk since the CF can't pump out as fast as the ports can go anyway.
I've never seen an el-cheapo reader (even Sandisk) transferring at 30-40MB/s like my Firewire 800 Extreme IV does. It obviously does depend on your computer's chipset and the card in question.
aram535
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 20:52
I've never seen an el-cheapo reader (even Sandisk) transferring at 30-40MB/s like my Firewire 800 Extreme IV does. It obviously does depend on your computer's chipset and the card in question.

I was referring to USB only. Firewire is a different creature, and is limited to about 15 Mb/sec anyway which is why The el-cheapo works fine.
vibin247
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 21:20
My Lexar Pro CF readers work just fine for me. I average about 4 min. for the FW800 and 6 min. for the FW400.
Colorblinded
14th of July 2008 (Mon), 23:00
I was referring to USB only. Firewire is a different creature, and is limited to about 15 Mb/sec anyway which is why The el-cheapo works fine.
What exactly is limited to 15MB/s?
aram535
15th of July 2008 (Tue), 09:44
What exactly is limited to 15MB/s?

Sorry about the dangler. USB is limited to about 15Mb/sec.
Double Negative
15th of July 2008 (Tue), 10:31
I wouldn't use USB if you can help it; go for the Firewire. It's faster.
Anke
15th of July 2008 (Tue), 10:40
I use the SanDisk Extreme one (firewire). Always worked fine for me...

Yup, I love mine, and boy is it fast :)
SuzyView
15th of July 2008 (Tue), 10:43
I hate all of you for recommending such fun great stuff! You've got me looking at the SanDisk right now. I don't really need one, but time is most important issue for me.
Double Negative
15th of July 2008 (Tue), 11:21
^ Just buy it already, you know the drill. :D
Colorblinded
15th of July 2008 (Tue), 12:24
Sorry about the dangler. USB is limited to about 15Mb/sec.
No it isn't.

USB 2.0 is good for a theoretical 60MB/s (480Mb) although the most I've seen is in the 30-45MB/s range. Otherwise, USB 1, 1.1 is supposed to run at 11Mb or just over 1.3 MB/s.
r.morales
15th of July 2008 (Tue), 18:06
Mine is a hoodman Raw firewire . It came with a 400 to 800 adapter .
People will tell you USB 2.0 is as fast - maybe - but not on my Mac's .
Speed starts to get important when you get 8 and 16 GB CF cards .
I like it so much , I bought the adapter from SD to CF . I have several of the all card USB 2.0 readers .
DDCSD
15th of July 2008 (Tue), 18:10
I have the Sandisk multi-type reader thingy (can't remember the model or name) and it only worked for about 2000 reads (images) - like a couple months at most.

If I hook it up now it will read for, say ,twenty images or so and then it will disconnect (internally?) and the error "your device has been disconnected" will come up.

It's really anoying - I have to use the camera and cable method - which stinks.

So now I am in the market for one as well. - Dedicated CF is fine - I don't really use the other ones anyway - but they would be good to have IF the combination does not mean less reliability.

UDATE: the reader I referenced is the SanDisk SDDR-89-A15 ImageMate 12 in 1 Reader (Silver/Black)

Send it into Sandisk, they'll send you a new one. Every company can put out a defective product, that is why they have warranties.
aram535
23rd of July 2008 (Wed), 02:56
No it isn't.

USB 2.0 is good for a theoretical 60MB/s (480Mb) although the most I've seen is in the 30-45MB/s range. Otherwise, USB 1, 1.1 is supposed to run at 11Mb or just over 1.3 MB/s.

Theory vs. reality. I was talking Reality with a usb cf reader. I double checked my numbers with a websites doing CF speed tests.