Fastest SD Reader?

Now that one of my cameras uses SDHC cards (T2i), what it the fastest reader that mounts in one of the bays of the computer case?

Using the camera itself as a reader, it is about 8x faster than the multi reader (Teac brand) that is in the 3.5" bay on my tower right now.

I tried Google, but it mostly gives results from before 2007 even when I put 2010 into the search.

I want something faster than the camera, and I don't want to wear out the port by using the camera itself.

SATA? USB 2 (or the new 3.0)? eSATA?

What's wrong with the reader on your computer?

It is super slow compared to using the camera itself as a reader, so I figure there must be faster and slower readers out there.

USB 3.0, in theory, would be the fastest, but I don't see any card readers on the market yet.
Next would be eSATA, then an ExpressCard connected through SATA (though I imagine the speeds would be pretty close since they both use SATA).

I'm looking for a multimedia card reader that can connect directly to the motherboard's SATA currently myself. This looks interesting: http://compu-apps.stores.yahoo.net/​satakiosk.html

There are external hard drive eSATA docks with built-in card readers, but so far most seem to have poor build quality from user reviews.

lexar's firewire 800 reader is supposed to be insanely fast.

DisrupTer911 wrote in post #10843959
lexar's firewire 800 reader is supposed to be insanely fast.

I don't think there are any firewire SD card readers. Also, regarding firewire, you need to have to a firewire 800 port on your computer in order to utilize a firewire 800 card reader. Otherwise, you're firewire reader will be totally dependent on the firewire speed on your computer. So if you have a firewire 800 card reader and only a firewire 400 port on your computer, you will only be utilizing firewire 400 speed. Keep in mind, some firewire 800 card readers cannot be used on firewire 400 or lesser connections.

Sadly, the card manufacturers (e.g. SanDisk, Lexar, etc.) keep coming out with these faster and faster cards... Which are of limited usefulness, IMO. Even shooting video with the latest cameras you won't need anything close to their maximum rated speeds. So the idea is that at least your images will download to the computer faster... Bullsh!t. Maybe a little.

I do believe ALL SD card readers are limited to USB 2.0 speeds, even the Express/34 cards (which emulate USB 2.0). LAME. Are SD cards somehow considered the realm of DP&S cameras and nothing a pro would use by these companies? Because that's most definitely not the case.

At least with CF card readers, there are choices. USB. FireWire. PCMCIA...

Even if USB card readers are limited by USB speeds, the USB reader inside the camera is lightyears faster than the reader in the computer case.

So, I guess what I'm asking is:

1. Is there any website that has a 2010 shootout of USB SD readers?

2. Is there any website that has rated the true speeds of the SATA SD card readers vs the USB ?

A fast reader in the camera doesn't do you much good. Even if you connect it to your PC via USB, guess what...

Sure; over on Rob Galbraith's site: http://www.robgalbrait​h.com/bins/multi_page.​asp?cid=6007

Thank you.

I looked at that site yesterday, but some of the readers are not even made anymore, none read the newer SDXC and none of them are SATA.

ebay multi card readers for $4 are pretty fast.

They don't support sdxc as that technology is just barely reaching the market.

c2thew wrote in post #10846065
ebay multi card readers for $4 are pretty fast.

I want "fastest".

I want a reader FASTER than the one built into my camera.

^ It doesn't exist. That's what we're saying. In the end, they all go as fast as USB and not a lick more.

So if the reader in your camera is faster than the one in your PC... Use your camera.

I don't want to have to stop shooting to download. I just want to pass the card to my data wrangler and keep shooting.

If the camera is as fast as they go, then I want a reader as fast as the camera.

Don't buy large SDHC cards. Go with smaller cards, like 8Gb. Even the fastest SDHC card reader will take a long time reading from a full 32Gb card.