The data in the tables below was derived from the time it took to transfer about 225MB of Nikon D1X JPEG and NEF files to the internal hard drive of an Alienware Area-51m laptop with a 3.06GHz P4 processor running Windows XP Home. Each transfer was performed twice and the results averaged.
All data has been converted to Kilobytes/second (K/sec). Highest throughput for each CompactFlash card is in bold. For comparison purposes, note that the highest throughput we measured with the USB 1.1 Microtech Zio! was 754K/sec.
| Brand and Model |
Addonics FireWire Mini DigiDrive |
Addonics Pocket Ultra DigiDrive |
Alienware Area-51m
PC Card slot |
Dazzle Hi-Speed Zio! |
| Delkin Devices PRO 512MB |
5957K/sec |
6086K/sec |
1281K/sec |
5025K/sec |
| IBM Microdrive 1GB |
3248Ksec |
2900K/sec |
1237K/sec |
3231K/sec |
| Kingston Memory 512MB |
5546K/sec |
5660K/sec |
1292K/sec |
3984K/sec |
| Lexar Media 512MB 24X |
6041K/sec |
5829K/sec |
1265K/sec |
4613K/sec |
| Lexar Media 512MB 40X Write Acceleration |
5816K/sec |
4928K/sec |
1261K/sec |
4898K/sec |
| Microtech 512MB |
5042K/sec |
4984K/sec |
1286K/sec |
3682K/sec |
| Sandisk "standard" 512MB |
2083K/sec |
2064K/sec |
1220K/sec |
1967K/sec |
| Sandisk "original" Ultra 512MB |
2456K/sec |
2358K/sec |
1229K/sec |
2237K/sec |
| SimpleTech 512MB |
3402K/sec |
|
error2 |
2900K/sec |
| SimpleTech PRO X 512MB |
4523K/sec |
|
1267K/sec |
3969K/sec |
| Transcend 512MB 30X |
5094K/sec |
error3 |
1292K/sec |
3745K/sec |
| Average1 |
4473K/sec |
4275K/sec |
1263K/sec |
3659K/sec |
| Brand and Model |
Lexar Media FireWire CF Digital Film Reader |
Microtech FireWire
CameraMate |
Sandisk
Ultra ImageMate |
Sandisk ImageMate
6 in 1 |
| Delkin Devices PRO 512MB |
4413K/sec |
5875K/sec |
5758K/sec |
2414K/sec |
| IBM Microdrive 1GB |
3152K/sec |
3246K/sec |
3268K/sec |
2308K/sec |
| Kingston Memory 512MB |
4520K/sec |
4825K/sec |
5630K/sec |
2415K/sec |
| Lexar Media 512MB 24X |
3890K/sec |
5811K/sec |
5411K/sec |
2385K/sec |
| Lexar Media 512MB 40X Write Acceleration |
3931K/sec |
5867K/sec |
5447K/sec |
2380K/sec |
| Microtech 512MB |
4189K/sec |
4434K/sec |
4853K/sec |
|
| Sandisk "standard" 512MB |
2042K/sec |
2057K/sec |
2042K/sec |
1670K/sec |
| Sandisk "original" Ultra 512MB |
2334K/sec |
2369K/sec |
2323K/sec |
2178K/sec |
| SimpleTech 512MB |
3321K/sec |
3418K/sec |
3450K/sec |
1838K/sec |
| SimpleTech PRO X 512MB |
3952K/sec |
4460K/sec |
4312K/sec |
2411K/sec |
| Transcend 512MB 30X |
4228K/sec |
4317K/sec |
5504K/sec |
2394K/sec |
| Average1 |
3634K/sec |
4244K/sec |
4363K/sec |
2239K/sec |
(1) An average of the throughput of the eleven CompactFlash cards tested (except in the case where a card was incompatible with the reader, where the average was calculated for the remaining compatible cards).
(2) These cards failed to work with these readers.
(3) Because of the excessively long transfer times (20+ minutes for 225MB) we measured with this card in this reader, we dubbed the combo incompatible and tossed out the results. |
Clearly, top-notch throughput is the order of the day for several of the readers we tested, for both FireWire and USB 2.0 devices. Even the diminuitive and inexpensive Dazzle Hi-Speed Zio! mustered over 5000K/sec throughput, while four other models delivered transfer rates that were faster yet. The advent of USB 2.0 and FireWire on the Windows platform is quickly adding up to a plethora of card reader options for professional photographers.
