Odd CF/Reader problem

I've recently noticed an odd problem. I have 4 CF cards. 2x Transcend 16GB 600X 1x Sandisk 16GB 60mb/s, 1x Transcend 32GB 400X.

My card reader works fine on the 2 Transcend 600X cards, but when I pop in the 32GB card or the Sandisk 16GB card, it won't read them.

I can leave the card in the camera, hook the camera up to the computer via USB, and it'll read the cards just fine. But when I take that card out of the camera, the computer won't recognize it.


Any ideas?

What model reader?

It's a Delkin Devices hi-speed USB 2.0 DDREADER-38

I know it's nothing high end.. But until this point it's worked fine...

Tonight, I put the cards that don't work in the reader in the camera and formatted them via USB from the computer. Shot a few shots.. No problems there... Put the card in the reader - nothing. Hooked the camera up via USB, no problem importing to LR. ...

I ordered a new reader tonight from Amazon.. So should have it tomorrow... Hopefully that fixes it.

Delkin's, at least from time to time, been problematic in making readers that are good with dealing with other brands' cards. First time I encountered this was with a friend's back in 2005. Lexar's another brand that has had issues like this from time to time, due to trying non-standard extensions to the CF interface. They even had a firmware upgrade for their memory cards at one point because the cards didn't play nicely with Canon's cameras.

CF card readers do fail. I've had one get really slow and another totally fail. All inexpensive units. The few SD readers I had all failed. Bought a Kingston 3.0 multicard from Amazon and it seems solid and the card fit is firm.

Thanks Jon and pfjbaldwin.. I ordered the Kingston one on Amazon after reading a bunch of reviews earlier this evening..

I am going to guess that it is the controller in the card reader. I have seen plenty of strange things with USB devices. Have you tried the card reader on another PC and got the same results?

Laptops are notorious for cutting corners regarding the USB spec, and many times they will not provide enough current to meet the USB spec. The issue raises its ugly hand when a device needs the maximum power in the USB 2.0 spec which is 500ma.

Regards,

110yd

So... it's a slow morning at work.. decided to do a little experimenting with the old Delkin Reader since I have a new Kingston one on the way.

I put in a Transcend 16GB 600x Card. 1.47 Seconds, and the Import Dialog in Lightroom is up. (That's how I have AutoRun set to deal with images)

So, with my baseline set... I decided to play with the Transcend 32GB 400X and Sandisk 16GB 60mb/s...

I popped in the Transcend 32GB 400X and hit start on the stopwatch.... 39.93 Seconds later, it was recognized by the computer.... so... apparently, I wasn't waiting long enough before.... but, it shouldn't take that long. Also, instead of bringing up Lightroom's Import Dialog, it brings up the Autoplay options.

Now, the Sandisk Extreme 16GB 60mb/s card.... I popped it in the reader and hit the stopwatch. At 6 minutes, I turned the stopwatch off.... Ain't happening.... now, this is a card that works just fine in the camera, and if I USB the camera to the computer, I'm able to download the images quickly and easily.


So.... I dunno... it's interesting that some cards work, and some don't... and it appears to be related somewhat to the speed of the card.

well... new reader just got here.... all cards work perfectly fine....

Holy Crap USB 3.0 is fast.... I should have done this a long time ago.


Thanks for your input guys!

Defintely the card reader.

When I first got my 60D, my computer didn't have an SDHC slot, so I bought a cheapo USB reader at Walmart. It didn't like either of my Sandisk 16gb cards.

So, I bought a Sandisk reader. Worked perfectly ever since!

yep i though it was the cards , but if you get a cheep c-reader your in for it,its best to start with the higher end ones..