Recommendation for a fast external CF Card Reader

I didn't see the word "laptop" mentioned in the OP question, but the advice swerved off in that direction. I am also interested in a faster reader than a USB. I have firewire ports on my desktop PC as well as ESATA.

So can someone post the Lexar Firewire reader model number? I think that would help me a lot and the OP also, especially if they install the firewire card in their PC.

I also have a laptop I use on assignment but I am stuck with USB 2.0 because there is not an express card slot or firewire - just the basics.

nduralt wrote in post #9910515
Unless all you have is a USB please spend the money and make the best of your equipment. Here's a link to the reader I have. Just imagine dumping all your images in minutes rather than 20+ with the usb. PS, you can purchase a Firewire port card for your comp here: http://www.firewire-1394.com …-usb-2-pci-card-uf400.htm Or anywhere with the keyword "firewire port card"

I've got an ExpressCard port on my laptop so makes sense to use an ExpressCard CF reader. Haven't bought one yet but just researching the options. The Lexar one generally receives great reviews all around especially with performance. I'm never in a huge rush anyway to get the files to my laptop as I can easily occupy myself with something else for a few minutes.

Troy

MT Stringer wrote in post #9910627
So can someone post the Lexar Firewire reader model number? I think that would help me a lot and the OP also, especially if they install the firewire card in their PC.

I also have a laptop I use on assignment but I am stuck with USB 2.0 because there is not an express card slot or firewire - just the basics.

Here's the Amazon link, a bit more expensive although it looks like it'd be a great performer judging by the specs! http://www.amazon.com …r-RW034-001/dp/B000QU1QVG

Hope this helps!

Troy

Bloodbean wrote in post #9910641
Here's the Amazon link, a bit more expensive although it looks like it'd be a great performer judging by the specs! http://www.amazon.com …r-RW034-001/dp/B000QU1QVG

Hope this helps!

Troy

Thanks Troy. I was just looking at it on Amazon. Even got it in my cart.
Mike

lexar FW800 reader $40 or £60 here ($100)...go figure!...rip-off britain again!

187 wrote in post #9908039
This is not available yet. Have you actually used one or are you just reading specs?

Doctor Diesel wrote in post #9908259
Anyone know where you can get one in the UK?

187 wrote in post #9909632
Come on Frank, Did you ever see one of these?

I own one. Bought from hereon 12th Feb. I ordered in on 11th Nov so I guess I must have got one of the first ones they received.

cheers Frank, have ordered but currently out of stock....great price too....£20

Probably mid April in the US. There must have been a small initial run. Thanks for clearing this up Frank

I have a Lexar Professional UDMA Dual-Slot USB Reader
http://www.lexar.com …rs/pro_udma_dua​lslot.html

The read speed is 24.5MByte/s from a Compact Flash Sandisk Extreme III 8GB card. And about 10MByte/s from a Sandisk Extreme II 2GB card. I have used CrystalDiskMark to test the speed.

I regret that I bought a USB Reader instead of the Firewire card reader from Lexus

Do you think a Sandisk Extreme IV will reach over 30MByte/s in read speed with my USB reader listed above?

blur07 wrote in post #9950878
I have used CrystalDiskMark to test the speed.

I'd not thought of using CDM for speed testing. Gonna have to try that out.

OK, These are sequential read/write speeds using 100MB test size:

Lexar ExpressCard Reader

Sandisk Extreme 60 MB/s 32GB ....84.67 62.39
Sandisk Extreme IV 45 MB/s 8GB ..44.71 45.24
Sandisk Extreme IV 45 MB/s 16GB.44.94 44.31
WexPro UDMA 16GB...............32.​24 20.44
Digitex 1GB...............1.28 1.43

Anyone know of a good pci express firewire 800 card? it seems like there are limited choices out there and I would prefer to get the full output of that lexar firewire 800 reader by using in with a firewire 800 card.

I'm going to wait for USB 3.0 CF readers to come out, and get the USB 3.0 PCIe card for the desktop.

I finally got my Lexar Firewire 800 card reader in service. Turns out, my PC had a firewire port, just not a Firewire 800 port. So I bought a card locally at Fry's Electronics for $29. Luckily, I had one PCI slot left on the motherboard.

Tonight, I did a download test of three different cards with files shot with the same camera - a 1D MK III.
Card 1 - 8GB Sandisk Ultra 30MB/s CF - 675 files (3.21GB) - 4 minutes.
Card 2 - 16GB UDMA Transcend 400x 1079 files (5.1GB) - 3.5 minutes.
Card 3 - 16GB Kingston elite pro 133x - 1526 files (6.7GB) - 5 minutes, 8 seconds.

That's not a very scientific test, just three cards I had with the same type of files on it. I also have a built in USB card reader (fits a 3.5 in drive bay) and a couple of external USB card readers. The built in card reader won''t read the Transcend card but the cheap external USB reader does.

If I get a break, I may test those readers also. With my laptop, I have to use the external USB reader because the laptop doesn't have a express card slot.
Mike

I like my Transcend P8 USB reader.
Fast and was inexpensive.

http://www.robgalbrait​h.com …ti_page.asp?cid​=6007-9392

Tests of various readers with various cards. good database.