Compact flash card reader

Stevio125 · #1 (**permalink**) 22-03-2011, 10:51 PM

I was just wondering what card readers you were all using for you cf cards I have Nikon d300s so can shot to either cf or sd cards, because I only have a cheap ebay reader for the cf card I tend to mainly just use the sd card as it reads fairly quickly straight into the laptop.
This seems a waste as my biggest fastest card is a cf, so will a better reader speed things up a bit? I've been looking at the lexar firewire ones, so are thay any good and how fast will they transfer a 100 or so raw files?

Many thanks in advance Stevio125

Lancashire Lad · #2 (**permalink**) 22-03-2011, 11:07 PM

I always download from the camera (with the supplied cable) connected directly to computer's USB port.

This avoids keep having to remove the card from the camera, and negates any requirement for card readers.

Regards,
Mike.

Tringa · #3 (**permalink**) 23-03-2011, 04:26 AM

Same as Mike.

I think the contacts on the card are more likely to be damaged by continual removing and replacing than any wear and tear on the download socket on the camera.

I have heard that downloading by cable is a drain on the battery but I have never noticed any problems.

One thing I have heard which I can understand is that you may lose photos if you are downloading by cable and the battery runs out of charge during the download.

I have no proof this happens but seems a possibility. However, it is easy enough to make sure this doesn't happen.

Dave

PMG · #4 (**permalink**) 23-03-2011, 05:51 AM

Asda's own - £5! Haven't had any probs yet (except I bought a dearer one for Ian and it didn't work?) so got their own brand one again - no probs as yet .....

nightshade · #5 (**permalink**) 23-03-2011, 07:43 AM

I have a Belkin which is also a powered hub, a Hama 35 in one which is my laptop reader 32MB/s and a compact Kingston.
They all do the vast majority of cards and are very neat, the card ports on my computer are pants compared. Make sure you use the "remove device" button on the bottom menu bar (XP)

Andrew C · #6 (**permalink**) 23-03-2011, 08:02 AM

Morning,

I use a Lexar Professional UDMA card reader and it is pretty fast compared to everything I used before.

Cheers,
Andrew.

Geoff F · #7 (**permalink**) 23-03-2011, 08:45 PM

I also normally download straight from the camera; using Canon EOS Utility in my case.

However, when I recently needed to recover some deleted data from my CF card I purchased a Sony MRW62E for around £10. It is well constructed and worked fine. I couldn't recover data using direct camera download.

I think it worked slightly faster with a card reader but the set up time is longer so there isn't much difference. And the fear of bending some of those tiny connection pins made me return to direct camera connecting.

Jim Ford · #8 (**permalink**) 23-03-2011, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff F

However, when I recently needed to recover some deleted data from my CF card I purchased a Sony MRW62E for around £10. It is well constructed and worked fine. I couldn't recover data using direct camera download.

Doesn't the camera show itself as a USB disc drive, when you use the cable connection?

Jim

The_Moaner · #9 (**permalink**) 24-03-2011, 12:37 AM

I have a built in card reader on both my Desktops + two cheep ones from 7dayshop (had for 4 years now) still works great. Also got Two All In One HDD Docking stations with built in card readers as well.
I would NEVER recommend that you leave card in camera and attach to PC. One slight catch of that lead (easily done) and camera is on floor. Or Cat pulls it over, or Dog. As for takeing out the card and putting back into camera all the time wears out the pins, that's a falasy. JMHO. As those who test them will tell you..
Just like those who say, buy the fastest card you can afford for your 7D otherwise it slows down..Another Falasy. All mine are 133x cards and slower and my cards work just as fast. Unless you be useing Video, then you need a faster card. I have a hard drive just for images. I make a folder and date it, thus "2011-03-24 Wetlands" I then open it, I then open the folder on card and Highlight ALL and Right Click and choose, Move hear or Copy hear. I find that faster than lightroom. I guess we all be different in how we do these things.
Hey! The Moaner ain't moaning about his cards. That makes a change. LOL
Do what you find is easier for you, but don't disscard the other ways until you try it first. Be carefull if camera is attached to PC.
Take Care.

johnf3f · #10 (**permalink**) 01-04-2011, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew C

Morning,

I use a Lexar Professional UDMA card reader and it is pretty fast compared to everything I used before.

Cheers,
Andrew.

I use the same one and find it fine for my needs. It downloads at about 12 mbps for SD and 28-30 for cf. Plenty fast enough for me, so I haven't bothered with the Firewire version.