Lexar CompactFlash FireWire 800 Card Reader RW034-001 by LEXAR MEDIA INC
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List Price: Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Lexar CompactFlash FireWire 800 Card Reader RW034-001
Digital camera Review: Fast, Fast and Did I Say FAST!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I just plugged in the Firewire 800 port of my MacBook Pro, inserted the Compact Flash card and imported a 430MB file to my MacBook in just over 10 seconds. It makes USB2 look like it's standing still. My only complaint, but not enough to drop a star is the hard seems hard to insert, you really have to make sure it's pushed home all the way. But once the cards in it's so FAST!!! I don't know why I waited so long.Digital camera Review: Fast, and it works
Summary: 5 Stars
What's with all the negative reviews? I've had this for over a year and transferred plenty of huge HD video files from my pro camera. It just works. Nuff said.Digital camera Review: Fast, but flawed
Summary: 1 Stars
We take between 1000 and 3000 images per shoot, so a fast, reliable card reader is an absolute must. In the past, we've used Lexar products that have all been USB-based; when we saw this product, we sprang on it banking on the speed increase moving from USB to firewire. The unit is small and very light - it almost feels like it was "thrown together" instead of compact. When it works, it's VERY quick (as you'd expect); however, it's difficult to get the thing to operate. The front of the unit has a large metal flap to cover the slot for the memory card. The slot is very large - almost twice as large as what would be required for a single card. There seems to be some sort of magnetic guide for inserting the memory card into the unit, but it's strangely difficult to get the card into the reader. Not only do you have to "hunt" for the right slot, but you have to force the card into the reader to get the unit to engage (and start drawing power over the firewire connection). I understand that you need to seat a card firmly, but wouldn't it be easier to do that if you could SEE where the card was going instead of worrying about what might happen if you accidentally bend the pins inside the card? Great speed, but poor engineering has forced us to toss this gear out.Digital camera Review: Fast, but plastic cheap.
Summary: 3 Stars
I purchased this for speed, and it delivers. It's quick in transferring with ease.
BUT, the composition and materials of this make it seem as if it's made by Playskool. Here are the drawbacks.
1. When inserting the card, it doesn't glide in with ease. It's difficult to tell how far one is to insert the card because there is nothing noting that it's in such as a click. It always feels forced. If you shoot professionally, the last thing you want to do is damage a card with valuable work on it.
2. It comes with two cables, both of which are way too stiff. With the cable being too stiff, the card reader itself doesn't stay in place flat on your work surface. Rather, the card reader will move around because the cable pulls/pushes it in whichever direction.
3. When ejecting the card, again, it doesn't eject smoothly. The eject button is difficult to push in and you literally have to pull the card out with a slight degree of force.
Overall, I gave it 3 stars though it's probably closer to 2-1/2. Spend a little extra for a card reader without the drawbacks.
Digital camera Review: Firewire 800 speed - Great Build Quality - Excellent Product
Summary: 5 Stars
Hi All,
I am a cross platform computer user but use mac's as my primary machines with bootcamp into windows. I recently decided that I would venture and start learning about DSLR shooting in RAW Mode. If you know anything about RAW mode, the files are HUGE and can take quite a bit of time to transfer to your computer for post processing. Well this is your solution.
The firewire 800 connectivity on this card reader make it scream as compared to usb 2.0 devices. It is well built and easily connects to a mac.... (side note: I am sure most of you know that new current generation macbook pro's have dropped the older firewire 400 for firewire 800)
My only issue - and it does not merit a decrease in the rating - is the implementation of the daisy chain firewire 800. Most fire wire devices recently manufactured allow you to daisy chain other fire wire devices off of them...in other words...one cable from your computer to the first device and then a cable from first device to second device and so on.... The Lexar unit only allows you to daisy chain to other lexar card readers...which is kind of useless but again not a deal breaker.
I plan on trying this unit with windows via bootcamp on a macbook pro and a mac pro and will update the review when I get around to doing just that.
It is a great unit and worth every penny for the speed and performance aspect that it provides for the large files we all now have.
5/5