Flash memory card reader

[Enchantress01]

Hi! I'm brand new to Disboards! I was wondering if anyone knows which is the best portable flash memory card reader to use? I have a Nikon Coolpix L20 (DS20 is the family photographer!) I run out of 4G memorycards quickly and would like to be able to reuse my memory card. If you have other suggestions, please let me know.

Me DH DS27 DS20 DD12

 

[Frantasmic]

Just want to clarify since your post is kind of vague.

Are you looking for a USB reader that you hook to a computer and then download your card to the computer?

Or, are you looking for the device that has some sort of memory in it and you don't need a separate computer (a reader and downloader that holds a certain amount of memory until you can take THAT unit to a computer)?

If it is the first one, there really isn't much to distinguish one USB reader from another. They all tend to work with a computer and can be found for $15.00 or so up to about $30.00. You find one that just works basically and doesn't cost a lot of money.

If it is the second one, you should definitely shop around to find one you want and want to spend money on. Those are much more expensive.

 

[Enchantress01]

I believe I'm looking for the second one. I want something portable that doesn't require a computer so I can reuse my SD card. Thanks so much I'll be sure to do my homework.

 

[Shutterbug]

Just buy more memory cards, that is bound to be a less expensive way to go.

 

[AlbertZeroK]

Epson probably has the most popular portable hard drive you can download a memory card to. But realistically, it's cheaper to get more memory cards.

Depending on your shooting style, you need to have adequate memory cards available. I shot 40G of images at Arabian Nights tonight, and use 16G memory cards. I know how much I shoot and have a ton of memory cards at my disposal.

You need more memory cards though if you keep running out, and look into 16G cards if you need the space. I also recomend high speed cards if you do alot of continous shooting, if not, something like a class 4 or class 6 works fine. Also, I prefer Sandisk and shoot with their cards almost exclusively, you may find other brands work fine, but I've never had an issue with a sandisk card, not true for many other cards I've owned both personally and at the office.

 

[Enchantress01]

Thanks so much everyone for the info on the flash cards. On our last trip during the '09 Food and Wine Festival, I only brought a 4G SanDisk flash card and wound up buying another 4G at The Darkroom shop in the Studios (ouch!). I find them the most reliable too. I took hundreds of pictures and several videos at all of the parks with a little room to spare. So the 16G card sounds like it will have more than enough memory for our next trip. I'll give that a try!

 

[AlbertZeroK]

Some people say you shouldn't delete images from your memory card in camera. This makes sense if you know anything about DOS's FAT file system.

 

[Enchantress01]

Yes, I came across info about DOS's FAT file system (not that I understood it fully) and problems that can result from deleting images in the camera. I also came across another tip regarding the benefit of using more than one SD card. If a card is corrupted, lost or stolen, all of the images aren't lost when some still remain on another card. So I think this may be the best way to go.

 

[Frantasmic]

I would suggest getting several 4 or 8 gb cards class 4 or above.

You should be able to go to Amazon or just google 4 gb sdhc or 8gb sdhc and find several places that have these at a reasonable price. Many people only use kingston or sandisk. I've also used adata and not had any problems.

A good deal on a 4gb would be about $10. I saw some 8gb at some places for between $15 and $20.

Look for bundles too. I found a 3 pack 4gb kingston class 6 bundle for under $25 recently.

 

[Enchantress01]

Thanks so much for narrowing down my search! I like the idea of bundles; sounds like a good deal to look for. These are excellent tips and make sense to avoid having all of my pics on one card.