Fire Wire CF card reader

[Dreadnote]

Anyone have any recommendations on a decent firewire 800 CF card reader? I have been using SD cards, but recently picked up a 60 mb/s Sandisk extreme CF card for the faster write speeds.

[ziggy53]

You don't mention your computer and operating system, which will often help define your real choices.

According to Rob Galbraith the:

SanDisk Extreme FireWire
Delkin Reader-39
Hoodman RAW UDMA FireWire 800
Lexar Professional UDMA FireWire 800
Synchrotech CFFire800 Pro

... all use the same controller from Oxford. This means they all have similar performance and compatibility. Of these I believe the Lexar has been discontinued. I think that the Sandisk is the most widely available but there are reports of some problems with certain Mac OS and XP SP2 and Win 7.

---------------------------------

The fastest transfers, for the CF card you mention, appear to come from Addonics ADSACF-N SATA CF Adapters which seem available as a SATA CF Adapter On PCI Bracket.

http://www.provantage.com/addonics-adsacf-n~7ADDO1HC.htm

Also with an internal drive bay adapter and SATA cable (Note: More reports of problems with this approach):

http://www.provantage.com/addonics-adsacfb~7ADDO182.htm

Rob G. is reporting read transfers of up to 100MB/s with SanDisk Extreme 2010, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB in Win 7.

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

Not bad for a $30USD device. :wink (The Sandisk Firewire 800 posts transfers in the 60MB/s which is not horrible.)

[catspaw]

Sandisk here and zero issues with Mac OS and my MacBook Pro. excellent device!

[ziggy53]

I moved this to the Digital Darkroom Gear, where most other "card reader" discussions appear.

Carry on.

[Dreadnote]

You don't mention your computer and operating system, which will often help define your real choices.

According to Rob Galbraith the:

SanDisk Extreme FireWire
Delkin Reader-39
Hoodman RAW UDMA FireWire 800
Lexar Professional UDMA FireWire 800
Synchrotech CFFire800 Pro

... all use the same controller from Oxford. This means they all have similar performance and compatibility. Of these I believe the Lexar has been discontinued. I think that the Sandisk is the most widely available but there are reports of some problems with certain Mac OS and XP SP2 and Win 7.

---------------------------------

The fastest transfers, for the CF card you mention, appear to come from Addonics ADSACF-N SATA CF Adapters which seem available as a SATA CF Adapter On PCI Bracket.

http://www.provantage.com/addonics-adsacf-n~7ADDO1HC.htm

Also with an internal drive bay adapter and SATA cable (Note: More reports of problems with this approach):

http://www.provantage.com/addonics-adsacfb~7ADDO182.htm

Rob G. is reporting read transfers of up to 100MB/s with SanDisk Extreme 2010, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB in Win 7.

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

Not bad for a $30USD device. :wink (The Sandisk Firewire 800 posts transfers in the 60MB/s which is not horrible.)

Sorry about leaving out that information. Im running a macbook pro OS X 10.6.7. I have a firewire 800 port and USB ports available. And thanks for the links :thumb

[Dreadnote]

Not bad for a $30USD device. :wink (The Sandisk Firewire 800 posts transfers in the 60MB/s which is not horrible.)

I've had a chance to look through the posts you provided, but I can't seem to find that Sandisk reader anywhere for $30

[ziggy53]

I've had a chance to look through the posts you provided, but I can't seem to find that Sandisk reader anywhere for $30

The Addonics devices are around $30. (I was using the Sandisk "card" as a comparison for speed).

The Sandisk Firewire reader is much more money, a bit slower, but probably easier to connect and use.

Get the Addonics device if absolute speed is important, but have a compatible computer to use. Get the Sandisk reader if ease of use and ease of setup is more important than absolute transfer speed and if you can justify the cost.

[ziggy53]

The Addonics devices are around $30. (I was using the Sandisk "card" as a comparison for speed).

The Sandisk reader is much more money, a bit slower, but probably easier to connect and use.

Get the Addonics device if absolute speed is important, but have a compatible computer to use. Get the Sandisk reader if ease of use and ease of setup is more important than absolute transfer speed and if you can justify the cost.

To elaborate further, the Addonics devices do not use Firewire800/IEEE-1394b to interface. The Addonics devices either attach to your PCI bus or to your HD controller, inside your computer (if it is compatible).