Data transfer and card readers

Trev4

Trev4

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Trev
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Since going over to recording RAW images, and hence larger images, I have run into a problem transferring to my PC. Using a USB link from the camera, after around 100 images have been downloaded, the transfer stops and a message is shown stating that the source has stopped working. The camera hasn’t gone to sleep and the battery is full. Resetting the camera and restarting the down load works ok until again at about 100 images or so, then again it stops.

I now use a card reader and the transfer is fine, but, the card reader I use is a cheapie, cost maybe £9.00, but seems to work. Fitting a CF card into the reader is somewhat fiddly though, and that worries me in case the card is damaged. I use Sandisc Extreme III 8 gig cards.

The question is, what is your opinion on card readers, is it worth the extra cost for something like a Lexar Pro or similar, do you gain anything other than a brand name. It seems silly to economise on the reader when it could damage an expensive card, but if there is no real difference...

If you feel it’s worth buying a better quality reader, what make or model do you feel is good, or what have you had good experience with.

Thanks for your opinions guys.
Trev
 
andrewc said:
I use a Sandisk firewire card reader and its certainly a nicer, higher quality feel to it than my el-cheapo usb card reader.
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Thanks for that, its what I suspected but wasnt sure until I asked the question :thumbs:
 
I use a Sandisk multi card reader and it's great, quick and feels robust, definately worth the extra over a cheapy.
 
andyred said:
I use a Sandisk multi card reader and it's great, quick and feels robust, definately worth the extra over a cheapy.
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Thanks, another vote for the Sandisc.

neil_g said:
you should be limited by the speed of the transfer method (USB/USB2/FW), personally i use an argos sub 10 quid jobbie and i dont lose sleep over the 30 seconds longer it may take.
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Thats fair comment, for the photography I do, the speed of downloading isnt important, all I need is a reliable download using a reader that isnt going to [physically] damage my cards, hence the question I raised. Thanks for replying :thumbs:
 
Trev4 said:
Thats fair comment, for the photography I do, the speed of downloading isnt important, all I need is a reliable download using a reader that isnt going to [physically] damage my cards, hence the question I raised. Thanks for replying :thumbs:
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I think you'd struggle to damage a card with a reader though - the pins are in the reader and not the card, and as these are the weakest part and the most susceptible to get damaged, the reader would be first to go IMO

However, price difference between a good one and a bad one is not much (unless you go mad) so I'd go with the best you can, and it should last you a good number of years.

I got mine from 7Dayshop - cost about £15 I think, it's made by Trust (I think) and seems well made, has a metal casing and the cards locate solidly before you press them into the reader.
 
Sandisk ImageMate multi-card reader here - brilliant bit of kit, cost me about £12...USB-2, so it fairly flies when transferring those hefty RAW files from the D3x...
 
Regarding downloading via your USB cable, I would try a different cable. I had a similar issue when I used an extra length cable (~5m) that I had left in place for some tethered shooting and didn't bother to change.

It worked fine on the remote shooting side and sisngle downloads. However, when I wnt outside, shot a lot of shots and came back in again, downloaded, I started to get hangs. I put this down to interference on the cable, hangs occurred when the cable was looped up, but not when it was straight. Seems the shielding on this cable wasn't quite up to scratch.
 
OutLore said:
I think you'd struggle to damage a card with a reader though - the pins are in the reader and not the card, and as these are the weakest part and the most susceptible to get damaged, the reader would be first to go IMO

However, price difference between a good one and a bad one is not much (unless you go mad) so I'd go with the best you can, and it should last you a good number of years.

I got mine from 7Dayshop - cost about £15 I think, it's made by Trust (I think) and seems well made, has a metal casing and the cards locate solidly before you press them into the reader.
Click to expand...

Arkady said:
Sandisk ImageMate multi-card reader here - brilliant bit of kit, cost me about £12...USB-2, so it fairly flies when transferring those hefty RAW files from the D3x...
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Thanks both, and that’s a good point about the pins on the reader :thumbs:. The cheapie one I have feels all wrong when the card is inserted, you have to jiggle it about to get it to line up etc. so now its going to be replaced with a decent one now I know from your experiences that there is an appreciable difference in manufacturing quality.
Trev
 
coldpenguin said:
Regarding downloading via your USB cable, I would try a different cable. I had a similar issue when I used an extra length cable (~5m) that I had left in place for some tethered shooting and didn't bother to change.

It worked fine on the remote shooting side and sisngle downloads. However, when I wnt outside, shot a lot of shots and came back in again, downloaded, I started to get hangs. I put this down to interference on the cable, hangs occurred when the cable was looped up, but not when it was straight. Seems the shielding on this cable wasn't quite up to scratch.
Click to expand...

You have raised a good point there, and thinking about it, I'm unsure if I have been using the original Canon USB lead for downloads, thats something I will try just to prove the point. Thanks :thumbs:
 
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