Recommend a CF card reader SATA or Firewire

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

08/24/2011 11:27:07 AM · #1

I need a new CF card reader, I want to get either an internal or external SATA reader or a Firewire reader. Nothing USB, I have all of my ports clogged with backup External Hard drives. Got any recommendations that work and are fast? I won't say price is not important, but not afraid to spend money on quality stuff.

Matt

Yo_Spiff

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

08/24/2011 11:44:12 AM · #2

Do you have any additional internal USB headers on the motherboard? It would just be a couple of sets of pins labeled as USB. That's where I have my bay mounted reader connected to. Can't recommend any SATA or Firewire readers, since I have not tried any.

08/24/2011 11:46:22 AM · #3

I have some front mounted USB ports that I'm sure go to the MB but they quit working a long time ago. I might be able to remove them and add a USB slide in to the spot those are now. But I think I'd prefer to go to one of the open SATA ports, and I also have a firewire card in the back that is no long in use, so I have 4 open slots there.

smardaz

08/24/2011 11:47:36 AM · #4

firewire is slower than usb

08/24/2011 11:48:59 AM · #5

Originally posted by smardaz:

firewire is slower than usb

But I have 4 open ports. :D and the USB already has 3 external HD's plus 3 printers attached to it.

Sony SAL-16105 DT 16-105mm

08/24/2011 12:14:14 PM · #6

Originally posted by smardaz:

firewire is slower than usb

Firewire 800 card readers test faster than either USB 3.0 or eSATA, and USB 2.0 doesn't even come close (they're 1/2 to 2/3 the speed of Firewire).

The fastest card readers tested in Rob Galbraith's database are the Lexar and SanDisk Extreme Firewire 800 readers (I use the SanDisk). He notes that "The read speeds for the Delkin Reader-39, Hoodman RAW UDMA FireWire 800, Lexar Professional UDMA FireWire 800 and Synchrotech CFFire800 Pro are effectively identical [to the SanDisk Extreme]," and you can get the Delkin model HERE for $21 shipped.

Message edited by author 2011-08-24 12:16:15.

LandzEnca

Samsung TL500

08/24/2011 12:26:24 PM · #7

I am in search of a cf card reader myself. One that would work for the iPad camera connection kit usb slot. I have looked at various types of cf reader and i am not sure if i have come accross one that works with sata.

What i would do in your case is instead of searching for a sata cf card reader, which i dont know if it does exist, i would search for a sata hdd casing to which you would transfer your external hdd and free up some usb slots. Then you can use the free usb slot with any usb cf card reader which you can find almost anywhere.

Of course i am basing that on the assumption that your external hdd are sata drives mounted on a casing with usb-to-sata port, which is most common nowadays. Get rid of your usb-to-sata casings. Replace them with a real sata-to-sata casing and you can free up those usb slots.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

08/24/2011 12:33:19 PM · #8

Originally posted by Cyberlandz:

My external HD are all MY books from WD. I manually back up all of my systemsx2. You are right I would be better off doing SATA HD's in a raid system, but I'm stubborn and old school and prefer to back up my system manually so I can remove unneeded things at the time of back up.

Matt

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

08/24/2011 01:15:10 PM · #9

There are internal SATA readers, but do look at the info on Rob Galbraith's database... some of these have troubles with some cards. I agree with Shannon that the FireWire 800 readers are smokin' fast, but almost no PC hardware implements FW800, it's all FW400. Still a pretty fast solution. A USB 3.0 reader might be a good bet, if you have USB 3.0 available. Only very recent systems do. USB 2.0 is too slow to consider.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/24/2011 08:16:33 PM · #10

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by smardaz:
firewire is slower than usb

Firewire 800 card readers test faster than either USB 3.0 or eSATA, and USB 2.0 doesn't even come close (they're 1/2 to 2/3 the speed of Firewire).

The fastest card readers tested in Rob Galbraith's database are the Lexar and SanDisk Extreme Firewire 800 readers (I use the SanDisk). He notes that "The read speeds for the Delkin Reader-39, Hoodman RAW UDMA FireWire 800, Lexar Professional UDMA FireWire 800 and Synchrotech CFFire800 Pro are effectively identical [to the SanDisk Extreme]," and you can get the Delkin model HERE for $21 shipped.

Thanks Shannon I ordered one of them today. When it arrives I'll do some side by side testing with my current USB 2.0 and it. My system will do FW800 as I built it when I was using Canon 1 series who used firewire to download.

Nuno

Nikon D700

09/03/2011 10:25:40 PM · #11

I have the Delkin Pro firewire 800 card reader that I've bought in a bundle with a CF card (4GB UDMA 600x speed)

I've recently bought a cable that concerts firewire 800 to firewire 400 (9 pins - with the 6 pin version it doesen't work because it doesen't provide power for the card reader)

I've been using it and even at firewiere 400 speeds I can have a transer over 30 MB/sec, and with USB 2.0 I can only have 10MB / sec.

09/03/2011 10:37:11 PM · #12

Originally posted by MattO:

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by smardaz:
firewire is slower than usb

Firewire 800 card readers test faster than either USB 3.0 or eSATA, and USB 2.0 doesn't even come close (they're 1/2 to 2/3 the speed of Firewire).

The fastest card readers tested in Rob Galbraith's database are the Lexar and SanDisk Extreme Firewire 800 readers (I use the SanDisk). He notes that "The read speeds for the Delkin Reader-39, Hoodman RAW UDMA FireWire 800, Lexar Professional UDMA FireWire 800 and Synchrotech CFFire800 Pro are effectively identical [to the SanDisk Extreme]," and you can get the Delkin model HERE for $21 shipped.

Thanks Shannon I ordered one of them today. When it arrives I'll do some side by side testing with my current USB 2.0 and it. My system will do FW800 as I built it when I was using Canon 1 series who used firewire to download.

Well I ordered this on August 24th and according to the place I ordered through they are still processing my order? I wouldn't suggest placing an order through the place Shannon linked. Apparently they aren't real good. I'll be filing a complaint with paypal to get my money back.

09/04/2011 12:20:47 PM · #13

Originally posted by MattO:

That's disappointing. I've ordered from Buy.com literally hundreds of times (mostly because they have a nearby distribution center, and ground orders arrive next day for me) and never had an issue. Looks like they're sold out... maybe there was a surge in orders after I posted?

09/04/2011 01:49:11 PM · #14

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by MattO:
Well I ordered this on August 24th and according to the place I ordered through they are still processing my order? I wouldn't suggest placing an order through the place Shannon linked. Apparently they aren't real good. I'll be filing a complaint with paypal to get my money back.

That's disappointing. I've ordered from Buy.com literally hundreds of times (mostly because they have a nearby distribution center, and ground orders arrive next day for me) and never had an issue. Looks like they're sold out... maybe there was a surge in orders after I posted?

I don't know they showed it in stock when I ordered, took my money and haven't offered anything since they acknowledged my order. I just assume they are scammers since they won't answer my e-mails. I won't ever order from them again.

09/04/2011 03:35:02 PM · #15

Given their lack of communication, I don't blame you one bit.