Firewire CF readers for OSX?

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via firewire.

I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other options?

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

There is a review here of the Unity reader: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/unitydigitalfwreader/

That card reader doesn't appear to be OSX compliant, at least not according to the review, so it's not useful for me.

I had a bad experience with a Delkin USB reader, which (after 16 months from OSX's release) still doesn't have OSX drivers - so I'm not willing to buy a reader unless I know for certain that it works well with my computer.

Leo Salais said:

There is a review here of the Unity reader:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/unitydigitalfwreader/

Click to expand...

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire. I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is
upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other
options?

Click to expand...

Not yet. The others on the market are made by the same company as the Lexar. You can wait for the new Lexar model which may be out by the end of July, or get the Microtech FireWire CameraMate now. I bought one, and it works perfectly. Any unit shipped after May 31 is completely compatible with Mac OS X.
Jeff H.

My Microtech CameraMate Firewire Reader works great in OS X. Of course, I first had to send it to them for a firmware upgrade. Without that upgrade, the unit is essentially useless in OS X. Once you have the new firmware, the unit is wonderfully fast and works flawlessly with CF Cards of all types and also 1GB Microdrives (don't have a 340MB Microdrive, so can't speak to that). Best to you...

Mike Flaherty

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire.

I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is
upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other
options?

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

Click to expand...

--
Mike Flaherty
http://imageevent.com/mflaherty/mikesgallery

Mike Flaherty said:

My Microtech CameraMate Firewire Reader works great in OS X. Of
course, I first had to send it to them for a firmware upgrade.
Without that upgrade, the unit is essentially useless in OS X.

Click to expand...

Just a reminder: Before buying a MicroTech FireWire CameraMate, ask your dealer when they received it. Any unit shipped to your retailer after May 31 works with Mac OS X, and does not require a firmware update. Earlier units were only partially comaptible (same model #) and need to be sent back to Microtech for a free update.) -- Jeff H.

A number of firewire reader brands have a problem that they can read the first card inserted but after dismounting the first card, they do not recognize more cards unless the reader is unplugged and plugged in. Has the CameraMate Firewire reader solved this problem? Thanks.

Jeff H. said:

Mike Flaherty said:

My Microtech CameraMate Firewire Reader works great in OS X. Of
course, I first had to send it to them for a firmware upgrade.
Without that upgrade, the unit is essentially useless in OS X.

Click to expand...

Just a reminder: Before buying a MicroTech FireWire CameraMate, ask
your dealer when they received it. Any unit shipped to your
retailer after May 31 works with Mac OS X, and does not require a
firmware update. Earlier units were only partially comaptible (same
model #) and need to be sent back to Microtech for a free update.)
-- Jeff H.

Click to expand...

Leon Wittwer said:

A number of firewire reader brands have a problem that they can
read the first card inserted but after dismounting the first card,
they do not recognize more cards unless the reader is unplugged and
plugged in. Has the CameraMate Firewire reader solved this
problem? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Yes, the units shipped after May 31 have new firmware that resolved this problem completely. -- Jeff H.

I use the Lexar and it works just fine for me under OS X. I've got a 128 mb in my Canon A20 and a 1GB microdrive in my D30, and it works great with both.

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire.

I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is
upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other
options?

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

Click to expand...

Kevin,

Are you saying that you do NOT have to sleep or reboot your system or pull the Firewire cord in order to get the Lexar Firewire to recognize a second card after you've ejected the first? While there is a fix for this problem (according to Lexar), the units are NOT available yet (presumably end of July). I have one of the Lexar units and it flatly refuses to recognize a second card until my G4 (under OS X) is either rebooted, slept or the firewire cable is pulled out and reinserted.
Best,
Phil

Kevin Hessel said:

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire.

I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is
upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other
options?

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil Williams
http://www.photosolve.com

Ick! Yeah, I have to pull the cord between cards. Do you know where I can find the supposed fix? I haven't seen anything on their Web site. I guess I should have waited another month before investing in this one -- I didn't realize it was a universal problem with them! (I'm very green to this site!).

Thanks,

• Kevin

Phil Williams said:

Kevin Hessel said:

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire.

I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is
upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other
options?

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil Williams
http://www.photosolve.com

Click to expand...

Hi Kevin,

The fix has not been posted yet. It will involve 1) new firmware, and likely 2) a new product. I have been communicating with the product manager for about two months and the fix is due "real soon now"...apparently new product is due in "from overseas" by the end of the month. I expect that it'll be a swap out if you have the problem...

In the meantime, I bought one of the latest microtech Firewire units (new firmware) and it DOES work, no longer requiring the sleep/reboot/pull the cable. Cost $100, but worth it...

Best,
Phil

Kevin Hessel said:

Thanks,

• Kevin

Phil Williams said:

Kevin Hessel said:

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire.

I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is
upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other
options?

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil Williams
http://www.photosolve.com

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil Williams
http://www.photosolve.com

Hi there Phil,

Thank you very much for that information. Hopefully a firmware solution will be sufficient so that I don't have to buy another product. The Lexar unit only cost me $40, so switching to something two and a half times as much isn't ideal for me right now (though neither is the sleep/reboot/cable pull "solution," either). If you hear anything before we do, be sure to let us know!

Thanks,

• Kevin

Phil Williams said:

In the meantime, I bought one of the latest microtech Firewire
units (new firmware) and it DOES work, no longer requiring the
sleep/reboot/pull the cable. Cost $100, but worth it...

Best,
Phil

Kevin Hessel said:

Thanks,

• Kevin

Phil Williams said:

Kevin Hessel said:

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire.

I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is
upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other
options?

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil Williams
http://www.photosolve.com

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Phil Williams
http://www.photosolve.com

Click to expand...

I have test run the Lexar (the RW011 Rev B version) Firewire Card reader on PowerBook with OSX and it has full functionality.

Bus power is quite adequate.There is no need to install any extra software. Appears as Lexar Media Icon on the desktop and even fires up Iphoto for you if there is anything on the card.. It's fast too... (I can't speak for the earlier non-Rev B version) Check on the base label if in doubt and consult the URL:- http://www.digitalfilm.com/drivers/firewire_mac.html

(These Mac OS9 drivers are not needed for OSX but this page shows you how to recognise the Rev B version.)

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire.

I've heard that the microtech one works ok if its firmware is
upgraded, and that the Lexar model isn't great - are there other
options?

--
Charles Bandes
http://www.bandesphoto.com

Click to expand...

Charles Bandes said:

So I'm looking for a cardreader that will work well under OSX via
firewire.

Click to expand...

here is my experience with the Lexar Firewire card.

I purchased it for use on a Windows machine but have since switched to an iMac, and was trying to get it to work.

First time I plugged it in, worked flawlessly.

left it in, and went to bed. Mac went to sleep and got upset that I ejected the card (obviously the card reader wakeup didn't quite work)

It wouldn't work any more. Restart, and it works.

Do what I need to do, eject the card like you should (drag to trash). put card back in, doesn't work.

So I'm cornfused, try other card, it works fine (both are 1GB MDs). eject and switch back, it doesn't work, switch to card that did, it doesn't work now either.

So as near as I can tell, it'll work with a given card once, if that card doesn't change, it ignores it next time. Only after you change the contents of the card does OS X seem to want to mount it.

i can find no way to manually mount the card reader, don't know if there is one. still new to OS X

Tom Boucher said:

Tom Boucher wrote:
here is my experience with the Lexar Firewire card.

Tom Boucher said:

So as near as I can tell, it'll work with a given card once, if

Click to expand...

that card doesn't change, it ignores it next time. Only after you
change the contents of the card does OS X seem to want to mount it.

i can find no way to manually mount the card reader, don't know if
there is one. still new to OS X

Click to expand...

Tom: I suggest that you contact Lexar. They have acknowledged a problem with their current unit and Mac OS X. Their tech support reps say that a brand new version will be released by the end of this month. Most likely, they will fix/replace your unit.