Can you recommend a reliable card reader?

[lostid]

Currently I am using Sandisk 4 GB Ultra II and 8GB Extreme III CF cards.
Thanks.

[vii_haven]

If you're on a Macbook Pro or Mac Pro, i'd suggest the Lexar UDMA Firewire 800 CF readers. That's what i'm using now, and they are blazing fast.

The reason why i really like it is because it is physically stackable, and can be daisy chained (benefits of Firewire). Unfortunately i could only afford 2 card readers so i can only download 2 cards at once. But hey, even that, makes things a lot more convenient as it cuts my download time by half because i can download more at 1 time.


If you're running USB, i'd suppose the USB 2.0 Sandisk card readers would do just fine.

[sumadaz]

If you're on a Macbook Pro or Mac Pro, i'd suggest the Lexar UDMA Firewire 800 CF readers. That's what i'm using now, and they are blazing fast.

The reason why i really like it is because it is physically stackable, and can be daisy chained (benefits of Firewire). Unfortunately i could only afford 2 card readers so i can only download 2 cards at once. But hey, even that, makes things a lot more convenient as it cuts my download time by half because i can download more at 1 time.


If you're running USB, i'd suppose the USB 2.0 Sandisk card readers would do just fine.


I don't have a Mac but I do have firewire on my laptop. Is this card reader exclusive to Mac's?

[Sledhed]

If you're on a Macbook Pro or Mac Pro, i'd suggest the Lexar UDMA Firewire 800 CF readers. That's what i'm using now, and they are blazing fast.

In order to take full advantage of that card reader you need a UDMA card too.

[Snow001]

I use the Extreme III USB CF card readers and they work fine. Very affordable as well.

[xenomorphic]

I use the SanDisk Imagemate 12 in 1 - It takes CF I & II, SD, MMC, RS-MMC, xD, SM, MS, PRO, Duo and ProDuo cards. It connects via USB. Very lightweight. I don't know what half of all the formats are, but I have used it with CF and SD cards for years without a hitch. Definitely reliable in my experience. And I'm hoping I wont ever have to buy another card-reader ;) (Until they bring out the next killer format used in a future camerabody that is)

James

[tvphotog]

The new Dell I just got not only has a built-in cardreader in the tower, but has one on the side of the monitor as well. In a few years, you won't have to buy a separate one.

[lostid]

Thanks for all the info. I still don't know which one can read both ultra II and extreme III.

[ben_r_]

I use and love this guy from Sony: LINK (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Memory-MRW62E-S1-181/dp/B000HU2CCC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1235777269&sr=8-1)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iMLcsOPtL._SL500_AA200_.gif

[lostid]

I use and love this guy from Sony: LINK (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Memory-MRW62E-S1-181/dp/B000HU2CCC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1235777269&sr=8-1)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iMLcsOPtL._SL500_AA200_.gifCan it read both ultra II and extreme III?

[Jon]

Shouldn't matter. CF is CF; any CF reader should read any CF card. If it doesn't - take it back, it isn't standard.

[Grentz]

I love my SanDisk Extreme USB 2.0 Reader (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018OF88G?ie=UTF8&tag=gelstoncafeco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0018OF88G)

This all the way! Mine is blazing fast on my desktop and laptop, plus it does CF and SD which are the only two important to me. (CF for SLR, SD for P&S).

I have used a LOT of card readers over the years including some other highly rated ones, and this one kicks the crap out of them all. Also keep in mind most of the 10in1, etc. type ones are not going to be as fast.

To some it is not that big of a difference, but if you are transfer gigs of photos off the cards regularly a high speed reader is a time saver ;)

[bohdank]

I paid $20 for mine. Works great. Works with all kinds of different formats. Don't even remember the name of it. Size of a credit card and, maybe 1/4" thick. Buy the cheapest one you can find.

2 min 46sec to transfer a full 4 gigs. I can live with that.

[Duncan Frenz]

FWIW, you'd have a difficult time picking one that didn't work. I have many, but my newest one is a Lexar unit which works great. I would have purchased the Sandisk, but they were out of stock and the Lexar had the same features I was looking for.

[Agamemnon]

All current capacities of CF will work in all CF readers, as there's no addressing problem like SD/SDHC/SDXC. They planned a little better when they made the spec.

If anyone fills up their box with 800 varieties of cards that they "support", they're trying to make it look like their card reader is better. CF is CF.

[vibin247]

I use the Lexar Professional FW800 and FW400 CF card readers, and recommend them. There are cheaper options out there, but if you want performance, get a FireWire reader. The Lexars can be daisy-chained and stacked up to 4 readers.

[Nick5]

I use the Extreme III USB CF card readers and they work fine. Very affordable as well.
Works great on my MacBook Pro.

[vii_haven]

I use the Lexar Professional FW800 and FW400 CF card readers, and recommend them. There are cheaper options out there, but if you want performance, get a FireWire reader. The Lexars can be daisy-chained and stacked up to 4 readers.

In order to take full advantage of that card reader you need a UDMA card too.

Agreed. I use Extreme IV cards and Lexar UDMA cards. Also, Lexar UDMA Firewire 800 CF card reader is not exclusive to macs. You can use it with PCs too provided you have a Firewire 800 port. The stackability and the speed from the Firewire800 really rocks. The daisy chaining is very useful.

[Mike R]

I love my SanDisk Extreme USB 2.0 Reader (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018OF88G?ie=UTF8&tag=gelstoncafeco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0018OF88G)

I've had a lot of readers and this is the fastest one yet.

[keitaro]

SanDisk Extreme Firewire Card reader....

best reader i ever had! FW 400/800 compatable

[yokotas13]

I paid $20 for mine. Works great. Works with all kinds of different formats. Don't even remember the name of it. Size of a credit card and, maybe 1/4" thick. Buy the cheapest one you can find.

2 min 46sec to transfer a full 4 gigs. I can live with that.
until you have 5-4gb cards full....then it gets annoying

[bohdank]

I don't envision filling 5-4gb cards for a total of about 1600 shots (40D) in one session :-) If I have a break I often trash the ones that obvious don't work, using the rear LCD, so that lowers my shot total even before I get back to the computer.

I would be far more annoyed with the time I would need to spend having to sift through them all and decide which ones to dump.

Besides, my cheopo card reader can go through 5 cards in less than 14 minutes. Time to make coffee which I will probably need to sort throught them all ;-)

[lostid]

I use and love this guy from Sony: LINK (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Memory-MRW62E-S1-181/dp/B000HU2CCC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1235777269&sr=8-1)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iMLcsOPtL._SL500_AA200_.gif
Bought this one from ebay brand new (with one year warranty from Sony) for $17 and free shipping. Amazon sells for $30. Thanks for the recommendation.

[lostid]

I use and love this guy from Sony: LINK (http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Memory-MRW62E-S1-181/dp/B000HU2CCC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1235777269&sr=8-1)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iMLcsOPtL._SL500_AA200_.gif
Thanks for the recommendation. Here is a shot for the card reader. I really like the design, built and size.