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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

ExpressCard to PCMCIA Adapter

So the best CF card reader will be eSATA attached, like the one on the RED camera.

I wonder if I take RED CF interface and connect it to the PC eSATA interface inside my AZIO eSATA external hard disk box if computer will recognize it as a drive? It has exactly the same power and eSATA hookup.

Anybody did try it already?

This would be hell of the fast CF card reader.
 
I don't know about the RED CF module, but an Addonics SATA-CF adapter will mount in an eSATA enclosure no problem. However it will require that your enclosure be one suitable to fount bezel drives (like floppy and ZIP drives) as most eSATA enclosures are for hard drives and don't allow access to the front of the drive.

However, I suspect that the speed benefit between eSATA and FW800 would be fairly negligible, as at those speeds the maximum read speed of the media is probably the limiting factor.
 
Maximum speed of CF card for read is about 100MB/sec so FW800 is at its max where eSATA clicks at 375MB/sec (3Gbits/sec) so plenty of spare headroom.
RED should make external CF eSATA box kit based on the same module that they use for the camera.
It may look exactly as the existing side mountable module, same size, same look but with the bottom part attachable to it so you can put it on top of the table. Also blank card bracket with the eSATA connector and pigtail so you can connect it to the eSATA connector inside your computer and of course the eSATA external cable.
 
Does it mean that this CF to Express Card gizmo uses USB interface instead direct UDMA transfer? Can’t be!
In the specs it shows 2.5 Gbits/sec this is far above FW800 speeds and far above USB.
I guess if it is 2.5Gbits/sec measured transfer speed it will transfer the whole 8GB content in 26 seconds.
Anybody could confirm that this card can transfer the whole 8GB from RED CF to the hard disk in less than a minute?
 
Andrew,

How would you insert this into the current Red Module in order to use ExpressCards to record footage? It seems that there is still a piece missing to connect both technologies. I want to find it since I want to test and use it since it seems that Red.com is not pursuing the development of an ExpressCard Module.

Thanks,
 
Sycophant said:
I can't make one with RED's kit, but if people want one, I'm happy to build one and sell it to you :)
Click to expand...

Dylan,

If you can make one simple, working adapted using current CF Red Module, to insert it into such module to use an ExpressCard without much convolution, I will be more than willing to work with you and test it for purchase, and further assist you on promoting its selling. Please advise.
 
Luis Otero said:
Andrew,

How would you insert this into the current Red Module in order to use ExpressCards to record footage? It seems that there is still a piece missing to connect both technologies. I want to find it since I want to test and use it since it seems that Red.com is not pursuing the development of an ExpressCard Module.

Thanks,
Click to expand...

If this thing is pulling 2.5Mbits/sec then eSata will give us 3Gbits/sec
I don't think it is worth doing it, for extra .5 Mbits/sec. You can buy it for $48
It is ExpressCard.
http://www.shopdigi.com/product.asp?pf_id=CFEXP
 
Ah right - yeah, I'm fairly convinced that it's impossible to record with the RED onto any format other than CF at the moment. And I don't think any device would be easily made to support anything else. Given the limitations of technology currently, and the memory card formats and interfaces available.

ExpressCard, while potentially fast at interface level offers no fast memory devices (aside from the proprietary SxS format, although even the speed of that is unclear).

The vastly different nature of ExpressCard's interface (to SATA/CF in RED) means that it's not possible to make a simply format/interface converter.

However, if reading CF cards into a laptop is your aim, then there are many options, including PCIexpress-native ExpressCard readers, SATA readers and FW800. If you want, I can make you an eSATA CF reader to read the cards on to your computer, but that's probably somewhat redundant.
 
Luis, now I got it, you want to have RED accepting ExpressCard interface.
Sorry, RED is SATA box and it expects specific hardware at the end.
Will not mount anything like normal SATA will do.
And if we start fooling around and mounting God knows what RED will just lock mounting process to the RED specific hardware. You know RED doesn’t want to have trouble with not approved hardware combination. Didn’t they lock the CF cards already?
There is enough trouble to control Beta environment released to the public, they don’t need the hacked environment to control on top of it.

What I am after is the fast CF card reader. FW800 is nice but ExpressCard 2.5 Gbits/sec is even nicer.

Just ordered this card for $48 so I let you know how fast it loads full 8GB to the hard disk.
 
this may be a lil off topic but can anyone tell me where i can buy express card to e-sata and express card to cf card readers from?

I dont want to order online i'm on a shoot right now and just looking for ways to speed up my transfer process...

Thanks for the help.
 
LIONSDEN_DOMINICK said:
this may be a lil off topic but can anyone tell me where i can buy express card to e-sata and express card to cf card readers from?

I dont want to order online i'm on a shoot right now and just looking for ways to speed up my transfer process...

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

You'll have to find a local computer parts boutique if you don't want to order online. Certainly can't walk into a Best Buy and get those things. At least not most of them anyway.
 
LIONSDEN_DOMINICK said:
this may be a lil off topic but can anyone tell me where i can buy express card to e-sata and express card to cf card readers from?

I dont want to order online i'm on a shoot right now and just looking for ways to speed up my transfer process...

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

If you want CF card to ExpressCard reader to read CF cards on your Laptop equipped with ExpressCard, here it is:
http://www.shopdigi.com/product.asp?pf_id=CFEXP
 
Lexicon said:
You'll have to find a local computer parts boutique if you don't want to order online. Certainly can't walk into a Best Buy and get those things. At least not most of them anyway.
Click to expand...

I have been calling all of the larger electronic stores and your right none of them have it! and thanks Andrew i found the website shopdigi.com is actually located off of the 605 so I called them and hoping for a call back.. Just hoping that they would allow me to pick up the express card rather then order it online.. I'll keep searching and post any store locations that sell the item in the LA area.

Thanks For Help..
 
Express-Card CF card reader test

Express-Card CF card reader test

So I got this Express-Card CF reader and it is working as advertised.

See the picture of my transportable setup, the ExpressCard is plugged on the right side of the Dell laptop with 8GB RED CF card in it.

See pictures and specs of this card in above posts in this thread.

I transferred 4.7 minutes of 4K 2:1 24fps footage (7.4MB) to the hard disk in exactly 3 minutes (175 seconds to be exact)
Also, it plays real time ½ res High of 4K 2:1 format. Didn’t test other formats but playing straight from the CF card is kind of cool, not that I do recommend this to do.
MAKE BACKUPS, ALWAYES.

BTW what you see on the screen is the black granite wall.
I will post footage of it since it has incredible blacks and yes it is noise free.

I have seen Gunleik whites and some other post with hospital whites, superb.

Now since I have seen many complaints about noise, especially in the shadows, I made this little experiment with blacks.

I will post it tomorrow, now I am tired after running around with RED on my shoulder in 90F for the whole day.

Andrew
 
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