Sandisk Extreme USB 2.0 3in1 Card Reader (SDDRX3-3IN1-901, US Retail Package)
by SanDisk
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List Price: Our Price: $15.00 You Save: $9.99 (40%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Sandisk Extreme USB 2.0 3in1 Card Reader (SDDRX3-3IN1-901, US Retail Package)
Customer Review: Very Fast - When Paired with the Extreme III CF Card
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good product, very nice build quality and it is very solid (unlike most card readers which are flimsy and cheap feeling). The package comes with everything you need to plug it in and get started. I'm guessing that the software is not needed on most computers, I have PC and Mac and did not need to install the software. The device was instantly recognized and I don't need another photo management system. I may need it some day if I need to use the photo recovery.
The only bad thing I can say about this reader is that the Extreme speed it claims only happens when you use SanDisk Extreme III or Extreme IV CompactFlash cards (I can't comment on MS or SD as I didn't compare those). That being said, once I used it with my Sandisk card, it really was extremely quick to download the images from my card.
Here are my results for dropping 3.46GB of photos with the cards:
Sandisk Extreme Reader + Sony 133x Card = 33 minutes
Sandisk Extreme Reader + Extreme III Card = 5 minutes
Generic USB 2.0 Reader + Sony 133x Card = 30 minutes
Generic USB 2.0 Reader + Extreme III Card = 28 minutes
There you have it. I used the same folder of photos for every test to give it a fair shot. I'm just glad I got the USB reader instead of spending $40 for the firewire reader (which reports the same speeds according to reviews i've read).
I do recommend picking this up if you use Extreme CF cards from Sandisk or don't have a reader yet (it is not overpriced). I will probably be converting all my CF cards to Sandisk extreme now that I see the speed of those cards - speed is important when you are in the field and need to dump everything to your laptop so you can continue to shoot.
Customer Review: Chuck the included Mini-USB up-front for an Amazon-Basics
Summary: 5 Stars
We have 3 of these readers as well as several others from Kingston. This one has worked the best for SD or SDHC cards.
Our Sandisk reader units stay in the office on a desk until they are plugged in for use - maybe 50 times total on each. These units - in my opinion - won't travel well.
We wrote dozens of SDHC 4GB Class 6, 8GB Class 6 & 8GB Class 10 images to these cards (full 4GB/8GB). The SDHC cards used were from Transcend or Kingston with some 4GB Sandisk SD cards (slow speed Class 2).
The weak link is the cheap mini-USB cable supplied with the unit. Chuck it immediately... It became the culprit on failed 'Input/Output error' writes from Ubuntu directly to the Reader. This happened with *2* Sandisk USB cables.
When we replaced the Sandisk-included USB cable with Amazon Basics cable [...]
... all the write errors/problems went away.
You can see the quality of the "Amazon Basics" near 1/4" diameter cable is much higher than the 1/8" diameter cabling that came with the reader. We could actually INDUCE an 'input/output write' error with the Sandisk 1/8" cable by picking up the unit (causing the cable to bend slightly).
Otherwise, this writer is bulletproof.
One user mentioned the cheap USB plug on the actual reader and he's probably right. For our uses we've had no issues with that connection because it's not moving in and out of a suitcase where the wiring and connection gets pulled, bent, plugged/unplugged, etc. Something to be aware of.
If you want a portable SD reader, check out ones that have the USB Male "Plugs" (look more like Flash drives) that plug directly into the USB port without cabling.
Customer Review: It's Fast
Summary: 5 Stars
I just filled a 4GB CF card this past Saturday at my parents' anniversary party. As luck would have it, my card reader arrived that same day.
To test the speed, I transfered the files a total of four times:
- Camera to desktop via camera's USB 2.0 cable
- Camera to laptop via camera's USB 2.0 cable
- CF in this cardreader to desktop
- CF in this cardreader to laptop
The camera used is a Canon EOS 40D. Memory card is a 4GB Sandisk Extreme III CompactFlash. In each of the four tests, I transfered the files using Canon's ZoomBrowser EX transfer tool (included with the 40D).
Results:
Average transfer time via the 40D's USB 2.0 cable was 8:48.
Average transfer time via the cardreader was 4:36.
That's nearly twice as fast as the camera's USB 2.0 interface. That could quickly add up if you shoot a lot.
Other than that, I'm pleased with the appearance, size and feel of the reader. The cord detaches so it will fit in my camera bag easily, or it looks good just sitting on my desk. There's a small blue LED that indicates when a card is inserted.
EDIT:
The reader has spent the vast majority of the last 7 months loose in the top compartment of my camera bag along with some filter cases, remote shutter release, and other various extras. I'm surprised to see that it isn't really scratched up. It still works great.
Customer Review: Everything depends on your computer
Summary: 2 Stars
I bought the Sandisk Extreme USB 2.0 Reader, thinking that, like the sales pitch, it would dramatically incease my download times from a CF card (or SD) to my computer. Well, I was wrong. Like all things in the slightly despicable digital industry, you need something else in addition to the thing you are buying. And, of course, they do not tell you this (unless you read the very very, sometimes obscure, sometimes not present) fine print.
Anyway, on my current system, which is a bit outdated, there was no visible improvement in download speed from the previous eFILM USB 2.0 reader I have. I also bought a new Extreme III 4GB CF card, which this Sandisk Extreme is specially designed for, and there was no obvious improvement in download time. Remember, you must have a USB port ON YOUR COMPUTER that ACCEPTS the "superfast" download times of the Sandisk Reader. So, in essence, check your own computer system to see if it will even work "as promised" by the Sandisk Extreme Reader. You may have to buy a new computer, either a new MAC or a PC with DUO processors, for this puppy to work "as promised" by Sandisk. I'm pretty sure that once I upgrade to a new system, it will work "as promised". For now, though, there is no discernable change in download times at all.
Customer Review: Great Product, Nice Design, Fast Speed!
Summary: 5 Stars
Pros:
I have a few card readers and this it the newest one that I have purchased in February 2007. The design of the Sandisk reader is pretty cool, I really like the black finish. As a usb reader, its speed seemed only limited to the interface and the current memory cards. I have used it to test various cards such as Sandisk Ultra Extreme III (CF), Ultra II (both CF and SD), Kingston Elite Pro (CF), PQI, Panasonic, Viking. Toshiba... etc. With all these devices, the highest transfer speed between the card reader and my laptop rates at 18.80mb/s. It is pretty much almost the limit of the current high speed usb 2.0 interface.
Cons:
The cable provided is a little bit "too slim" and you should take care of it. It is just a common usb cable that you can get anywhere. I heard some others mentioned that you have to use this cable to get the high speed, it is not true. The only bad thing about the cable is it is too slim. It only takes CF and SD cards (MMC too maybe). I hope it can accept more different cards but it is fine for most photographers since most of our cameras only use either CF and SD cards at this point.
Overall
I think the product is pretty good, It is a worth buy for the price.