Expresscard/34 Compact Flash card reader?

Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a Expresscard/34 Compact Flash card reader?

Thanks
Mark

MacMini, PowerMac G5 (Late 2005), MBP, Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Feb 26, 2006 2:39 AM

56 replies

igrok-mac

Level 3

947 points

Sep 24, 2006 7:02 PM in response to Mark Taylor4

I see no reason to use the expresscard for such a thing, since a USB or FW reader should do the trick with plenty of speed, owing to the speed of the CF card itself. The new sandisk extreme IV, which I don't think is even out yet, gets up to 40 MB/sec, which even FW 400 should handle at top speed.

Sandisk has an extreme USB 2 reader at $25 that reads both CF and SD cards. Their new extreme firewire 800/400 reader reads only CF cards, and is some $80 (I think it's on amazon for $62, but it's hard to tell since there's no picture there.

Here's the FW model: http://sandisk.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx?ID=2015

Here's the USB2 model: http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(2012)-SDDRX3-3in1-SanDisk Extreme_20_USBReader.aspx

Sep 25, 2006 8:31 AM in response to igrok-mac

I see no reason to use the expresscard for such a
thing, since a USB or FW reader should do the trick
with plenty of speed, owing to the speed of the CF
card itself.

Well how about a situation where your USB and FW ports are all being used by a mouse, a printer and and external FW drive ? Are we to understand that the ExpressCard slot should stay unused unless we don't have any other choices ?

And generally speaking, if you had taken the time to read through this particularly long thread (but you should check out some of the old iCal threads, phew!), you would know that the main issues are the fact wireless PC were no longer supported when EC3/4 was introduced and that the choice of EC3/4 vs. 5/4 will never allow us pro photographers to see an internal CF-EC adapter. A bit of a bind, I must say.

Check this out for more information on the photographers grumble.

Mark Taylor4 Author

Level 1

18 points

Sep 25, 2006 10:55 AM in response to Mark Taylor4

As always Rob Galbraith is the guardian all matter relating to the speed of CF cards and readers. Here is his summary from here: http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/content_page.asp?cid=7-7898-8578

"If you want the fastest possible card-to-computer transfer rates with SanDisk Extreme IV CompactFlash, the SanDisk Extreme FireWire reader can't be beat at well over 32MB/second. Second fastest, however, are the OnSpec reference board and the Delkin ExpressCard 34, at a still-impressive rate of about 20MB/second. We'll continue using the SanDisk Extreme FireWire as our primary reader, but the performance of the ExpressCard 34 means it definitely warrants consideration as the second reader in a multi-reader laptop setup transferring pictures from Extreme IV cards. And if you're transferring pictures from any card other than Extreme IV (which as of this writing is unique in its support of UDMA 4), then the ExpressCard 34 is roughly comparable in performance to the speediest readers currently available."

Please read the full review for the complete picture.

Mark
(I apologise to Mr Galbraith for taking the quote without permission)

igrok-mac

Level 3

947 points

Sep 25, 2006 11:30 AM in response to Jay Louvion

Response removed.

Message was edited by: igrok-mac

Sep 26, 2006 12:55 PM in response to Mark Taylor4

I have pre ordered mine in the UK through Spaphoto in Leamington Spa ( suggested by Delkin UK ) www.spaphoto.co.uk
they do not have delivery dates or exact prices as yet.
For my requirements the absolute top speed is not the top priority, I am just looking for the most convenient way of downloading my digital images when travelling, I have limited space in the car therefore I am trying to cut down on cables, mains adaptors etc.

Oct 5, 2006 2:39 AM in response to igrok-mac

I agree that a USB 2 or FW reader sounds like a better idea.

For everyone's interest, I use a NitroAV FW800 ExpressCard, and beyond it's ongoing issues with crashing I have major questions about the entire EC34 implementation.

It is VERY difficult to plug or unplug a cable into the FW800 EC/34 without unseating it - so I'd imagine others would have this problem with a CompactFlash reader.

Oct 5, 2006 11:36 PM in response to calfcanuck

Quite. But that's exactly what we did: in an easy to catch habit three steps process: slightly eject the PC-CF adapter, detach the CF from it using the ledge under the back of the CF, push the adapter back in. In that way, it always is there. No forgetting it. No losing it. No easy way of getting it damaged.

j.

sigh how long does this thread have to get before someone at Apple comments on the choice between the two standards of ExpressCard ? Dream on, me.

Oct 8, 2006 6:49 PM in response to Ahmed Hassan

"Eric, that product is ExpressCard/54"

True, but if you look at the Hagiwara adapter you can see how easy it would be to produce a 34 version. However, it would have to stick farther out of the MBP and be very vulnerable. This may be why there are none on the market yet.

Webb

PM G5 1.8/A 3GB, MBP 2.16, PM G4 DA , iMac600SE, 9600/G4, Older Macs/OS 7-10.3 Mac OS X (10.4.7) G5 has 2 Raptors, 4X 300GB eSATA. G4 has dual 1.2GHz, 2 X SATA, FW & SCSI drives

Oct 28, 2006 2:57 PM in response to Jo-Ann-Webb

My Delkin compact flash card/express card arrived in the mail Saturday, it all seems to work fine, but I have yet to transfer a full 2 Gb card across, maybe Sunday if the weather holds up.
On 1st look it does look a little ungainly, the slim profile of the express card format with the ( by necessity ) larger fitting for the compact flash card grafted onto the end, but it works and that is the most important factor, no more cables and seperate card reader to carry around when out and about.

Mac Book Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8) Photography, motoring, European travel

Mar 21, 2007 10:03 PM in response to Mark Taylor4

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06093009delkinexpresscardcf.asp

10blade

Level 1

0 points

Aug 6, 2007 12:03 AM in response to Mark Taylor4

We knew it would just be a matter of time. Here you go:

http://computers.pricegrabber.com/flash-memory-readers-accs/m/29443403/

Works like a charm. Only downside is that it sticks out of the ExpressCard port so it has to come out when you've got the MacBook Pro in your bag.

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Expresscard/34 Compact Flash card reader?