i need some recommendations on a card reader.
currently i just use the card slot on my pc but it's quite slow..
i use extreme III CF card.
what's a decent, reliable card reader that's not too expensive.
preferrably under $50...(i have no clue how much they usually go for..)

thanks~

What kind of ports do you have on the computer(s) you're using?

The fastest readers will be Firewire 800, followed by Firewire 400. USB 2.0 readers are fast too, but don't sustain as high transfer rates.

I've got an old (5 years?) Lexar Firewire 400 reader that works wonderfully-- but so does my cheap (~$20) UDMA USB 2.0, no-name reader I bought from eBay (just type in: "UDMA CF reader" or some such variation, there are lots of sellers) for when I'm traveling... and when I'm using a netbook that doesn't have Firewire.

It all comes down to $$, diminishing returns on speed, and in limited cases the build of the reader (particularly flimsy readers where the pins are easily bent can be an issue, but that's mostly for those really low-profile readers).

If you'd rather save the money, pick up a cheap USB 2.0 UDMA reader (try eBay)-- it'll do the trick fine.

first, thank you for your detailed response~

so, are the ports different for firewire800 and 400? the one on my computer is like retangle shape and angular on the left side..

Dear Jae:

Take a look at the offerings on B&H or Adorama. As you know, these are probably the two largest camera stores in the world, and should have a wide selection of CF card readers. I use a Lexar firewire 800 CF card reader, and it works very well.

Best regards,

Roman

IF the one on your computer is slow it could be that the reader is using USB 1.x instead of 2.x which is a lot faster...
Just my 2 cents.

I use the one on my computer and an el cheapo from fleabay.

I was always unhappy with the speeds from my USB 2.0 reader and Ultra II/Extreme III cards. Without replacing all my cards with fast UDMA cards and readers, I didn't see how I could speed things up. I recently stumbled across a SATA-CF card adaptor from Addonics. It's fantastic, installed easily into my PC desktop and I can download cards basically at the limits of their read speeds. The SATA interface is way faster than USB/Firewire.

jaehoppa wrote:
first, thank you for your detailed response~

so, are the ports different for firewire800 and 400? the one on my computer is like retangle shape and angular on the left side..

jaehoppa,

I have a FW800 and it works via a PCexpress card placed into the motherboard. I paid about $60 for the card and then I bought a Sandisk FW800 card reader. I'm using a Lexar 8G 300X CF card. Transfer speeds are sensational, up to 50 MBs/second, whereas I believe USB 2.0 can get to 30 MBs/second. The port of the FW400 is rectangular with one end square and one end rounded, this comes with most PCs nowadays. The FW800 port is squarish with a small tab/notch at the top of the port. Like anything to do with digital photography, once you boost your speed with PC hardware, you'll have a hard time going backwards. Personally, I feel I made a great investment since I often have huge transfers from my card to the PC. In your case, USB 2.0 or the next gen 3.0 may work just fine, depending on your workload.

Nicholas
www.copperhillimages.com

If you'd rather save the money, pick up a cheap USB 2.0 UDMA reader (try eBay)-- it'll do the trick fine.

+1

Newer Sandisk Extreme III cards support UDMA.
Older internal card readers don't support UDMA.
A generic cheap external USB 2.0 UDMA reader will probably give you a big speed improvement.

I like this Lexar USB reader. It supports UDMA:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/537132-REG/Lexar_RW035_001_Professional_UDMA_Dual_Slot_USB.html

It is nice because it is small and snaps shit to keep the dust out.

Using non-DMA Extreme III CF and SD I get 22 MB/s from 8GB CF, and 18 MB/S from SD (using HD Tune to measure it on my PC).

Here is a link to performance measurements for various card readers (results at bottom):

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/reader_report_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-9392

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/reader_report_multi_page.asp?cid=6007-9438

These tests are a little less than a year old.

You'll see the Extreme III (30 MB/s version ) was about the same on the one I referenced above compared to the Firewire 800. also not these were done on a MAC vs PC and the does change the equations some.

Gene

GeneO wrote:
I like this Lexar USB reader. It supports UDMA:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/537132-REG/Lexar_RW035_001_Professional_UDMA_Dual_Slot_USB.html

It is nice because it is small and snaps shit to keep the dust out.

A Freudian slip? Sh*t is my feeling about that reader. The SD slot did not line up well, and then the CF slot would only recognize cards 2 of 3 times. I removed the spring-loaded bottom part from the reader itself, but it was not any better. After a few weeks, the reader in parts are in the trashcan. I'm back to the cheap and simple, but reliable, Uno UDMA CF reader.

EBH

EB-1 wrote:
GeneO wrote:
I like this Lexar USB reader. It supports UDMA:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/537132-REG/Lexar_RW035_001_Professional_UDMA_Dual_Slot_USB.html

It is nice because it is small and snaps shit to keep the dust out.

A Freudian slip? Sh*t is my feeling about that reader. The SD slot did not line up well, and then the CF slot would only recognize cards 2 of 3 times. I removed the spring-loaded bottom part from the reader itself, but it was not any better. After a few weeks, the reader in parts are in the trashcan. I'm back to the cheap and simple, but reliable, Uno UDMA CF reader.

EBH


Like any product you can get a faulty unit. I haven't heard voiced any problems with this reader from anyone else. Sh*t in is sh*t out The i key is right next to the o

I wouldn't spend a lot on any firewire product, but I'm sure a card reader is cheap.

As for speed comparisons the soon-to-be-available (probably within 6-8 months) USB readers will "crush" esata and firewire according this article. That assumes you have the interface to read it of course, but the first mother board from Asus with USB 3.0 is already out

http://asia.cnet.com/crave/2009/01/14/usb-3-0-will-crush-esata-firewire/

Here's a 3.0 demo.. Say goodnight to apple's firewire, even the new and improved version I'm afraid...

http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/23/usb-3-0-has-a-superspeed-coming-out-party-at-idf/

UPDATE: Intel may have delayed some mfgs the other day and backed off on 3.0 until 2011.. Not sure if this is true or just and ugly rumor. i sure hope it is NOT true, but...

You can always get an add in card because some people are going ahead with it I guess.