CompactFlash card reader

[MarcLister]

Does anyone have a good CompactFlash card reader they can recommend to me? Wanted to update the firmware on my 400D and I either needed a program off a CD. A CD I don't have here it seems. Or I needed to take my CF card out and plug it into a reader and copy the firmware over to the CF card that way and then update the firmware on the camera.

I've got a Sandisk CF card and I wonder if the Sandisk CF readers are any good?

P.S. Posted this in C&C and not AV er because I felt like it. :D

[Feek]

I'd imagine one card reader is pretty much as good as another. Buy one that looks good!

[Mark]

That used to not be the case (some readers were a lot faster than others), but these days I suspect most will be acceptable if you avoid the cheap and nasties.

[MarcLister]

How much should I look to spend? Play.com have http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/880513/SanDisk-ImageMate-CompactFlash-Reader-Writer/Product.html and Amazon also have it. http://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-ImagaMate-5in1-USB-Button/dp/B0007QU7VE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=gateway&qid=1202044199&sr=8-2

Where should I get it from? Amazon one is from a trader that I don't know or trust.

Don't particularly want/need a reader that lets me read every sodding card in the world including birthday and Xmas cards, just a CompactFlash reader will do little old me. :D

[Mark]

Fetch it from play.com - that Amazon seller costs 49p more. :)

[MarcLister]

Think I will. Plus I got the wrong item on Amazon. It is this. http://www.amazon.co.uk/CF-USB2-0-READER-WITH-BUTTON/dp/B0007QU7X2/ref=pd_bxgy_w_h__text_b/202-7948214-5784664?ie=UTF8&qid=1202044199&sr=8-2

Just need to find some DVDs or CDs in the 2 for £10 to make it a worthwhile purchase. :D

[Mark]

Ah, OK. You'd have to spend £4.84 more to get free delivery so my suggestion stands. :)

[MarcLister]

I can't be bothered with that. I'll get it from Play.com as I can get free delivery on anything and everything. :)

[rich99]

I've never had a problem with Play, got a bargain on some SD cards from them a while ago when Amazon's postage charges policy was making their's particularly bad value.

[MarcLister]

Yeah. I got my Sandisk Ultra II 4Gb CF card from Play for £34.99 last April. The same card is now selling for £24.99. The £34.99 price was a damn good deal at the time so I might get another one soon as a backup. :)

And yes Amazon's delivery charges do tend to ruin any cheaper prices they have. They aren't selling the above card themselves, just linking to traders.

[Mondo]

I got this one

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000L453BQ

It takes SD car too and its very quick.

[MarcLister]

Hmm looks nice and there is something else I've been planning on getting from usemymemory.com. Just need a AAA battery charger and I'm ready for that.

Anyway, what are the chances I will need an SD reader?

[Mark]

What are the chances you'll get a device that takes SD/MMC/miniSD/microSD? Phones/PDAs/MP3 players (and cameras of course but I doubt you'll be doing that :)).

[Mondo]

I got it because my phone uses microSD card so it helps, plus the wii takes SD cards too.

[MarcLister]

What are the chances you'll get a device that takes SD/MMC/miniSD/microSD? Phones/PDAs/MP3 players (and cameras of course but I doubt you'll be doing that :)).True. I HATE my current phone and can't wait to get a new one. Will probably wait until I graduate Uni and (hopefully) get a job to see if they offer me one or if I really can justify a Blackberry :D. I also has a 400D which is why I need one. I suppose getting a reader that can support other cards is future proof and lets me help out other people if they need a hand with something.

I got it because my phone uses microSD card so it helps, plus the wii takes SD cards too.If my next phone takes microSD it WOULD be very useful to have a reader capable of working with them. I shall research again and see what I can get. :D

[Mark]

Most of the readers that take CF will need an adapter to work with MicroSD (which, fortunately, is often supplied with the MicroSD card). There are some that don't need an adapter but they don't take CF.

I'm sure the cheapy unbranded one on play.com would work, and will probably support just about every format going. Whether it'll be as quick as the Sandisk one you were looking at is a bit of an unknown.

[MarcLister]

Just found http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/880509/SanDisk-ImageMate-12-in-1-Reader-Writer/Product.html#.

And only £3 more than the CompactFlash only jobby. So good price by comparison and means I won't have to get another reader in the future depending on console/phone/MP3 player purchases. :D

Thanks Mark and Mondo (why am I reminded of Mork and Mindy? :p)

[Mark]

You know, I saw that in a small picture and didn't realise what it was. :o

I might have myself one of those at some point. I have about three readers here but only one of them can handle the SDHC card I use in my S3 IS, and that SanDisk one looks way better.

[MarcLister]

LOLZO.

The reason I wanted a Sandisk one is (A) they look better than most of the other card readers and (B) I know Sandisk as a quality brand due to their CF cards so I trust their card readers. :D

[Mark]

Yeah, I use SanDisk Extreme III SD cards. My SDHC card is a cheapo play.com one but it's not fast enough to keep up with the camera in burst mode, so may end up getting an Extreme III SDHC card too.

[Desmo]

I got this a few weeks back... http://svp.co.uk/product/datawrite_15_in_1_black_usb2_memory_card_reader_58 73

It's a card reader, it just works :)

[Mark]

It's a card reader, it just works :)
:)

Two problems for me - (1) no SDHC and (2) it's out of stock. ;D

[MarcLister]

Got my Sandisk card reader this morning. A nice long wait since last Tuesday when Play despatched it. Could have had it yesterday if the bloody incompetent student flat staff on reception put the card telling me to go and get it yesterday when they dated the bloody card and not this morning.]

It works a dream and I've updated the firmware on my 400D. :D Was surprised to see that the CF card didn't have to go all the way in (ooh err!!).

[Mark]

Really rather impressed with mine. I got one after the USB plug bent on my mini reader (I bent it back, but it's only a matter of time).