Inexpensive Card Reader
Posted: Wed 02 Sep 2015, 10:59
Compact Flash cards have a major design issue in that the card has a number of holes which have to be aligned precisely with some very delicate pins when inserted into a camera or card reader. On a couple of occasions I have ruined a reader when inserting a memory card. The first time it was the PC's built in card reader and the second was an expensive external Lexar device. The problem is one of poor engineering. The card has grooves which align with guides inside the device into which it is being inserted to ensure accurate alignment, but if there is any play a bent pin is likely to result at some point. Despite its cost, this is the case with the Lexar reader, but fortunately my (Canon) camera has much finer tolerances and I have not experienced problems. Just as well, as the slot is incorporated into the camera's motherboard* and it would not be an economic repair.
These days, I tend not to use my DSLR to the same extent as previously and I mainly shoot with cameras which write to SD cards which are much easier to handle. For Compact Flash I have been relying on a couple of older readers, but these are USB 2.0 and download times are quite slow. I have now found this reader at 7DayShop which is USB 3.0 and while I have not conducted any tests, appears to be very quick. It's compatible with a variety of card formats, although most of these are legacy nowadays. At £6-49 including delivery I could buy four of these for what the Lexar cost a few years ago and still have some cash leftover, so it is cheap enough to be disposable. Most importantly, it holds a Compact Flash card securely and I cannot detect any movement. I have just ordered a second so that I can keep one in my laptop bag.
https://www.7dayshop.com/memory-card-re ... cable-7989
* The camera is a Canon 7D. According to the teardown of the Mk II undertaken by Roger Cicala at LensRentals, the Mk II version has a memory slot which can be replaced indpendently of the motherboard. Just one indication of the higher build standards Canon is incorporating into its latest models.
These days, I tend not to use my DSLR to the same extent as previously and I mainly shoot with cameras which write to SD cards which are much easier to handle. For Compact Flash I have been relying on a couple of older readers, but these are USB 2.0 and download times are quite slow. I have now found this reader at 7DayShop which is USB 3.0 and while I have not conducted any tests, appears to be very quick. It's compatible with a variety of card formats, although most of these are legacy nowadays. At £6-49 including delivery I could buy four of these for what the Lexar cost a few years ago and still have some cash leftover, so it is cheap enough to be disposable. Most importantly, it holds a Compact Flash card securely and I cannot detect any movement. I have just ordered a second so that I can keep one in my laptop bag.
https://www.7dayshop.com/memory-card-re ... cable-7989
* The camera is a Canon 7D. According to the teardown of the Mk II undertaken by Roger Cicala at LensRentals, the Mk II version has a memory slot which can be replaced indpendently of the motherboard. Just one indication of the higher build standards Canon is incorporating into its latest models.