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Portable SSD Reader & workstation - Options?

Johnny Friday

Johnny Friday

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Can anyone point me to some previous links or threads on what other portable Estata/firewire/USB 2.0 workstations for 1.8" SSD reader or Multi readers are available.

I currently have two RED 1.8" SSD readers...but now looking for another MULTI READER device that may accept CF cards as well and over esata & other inputs...I saw a few threads last month on devices with some not working well and others getting 2 thumbs up....just looking for a few backup options to check out and add to my kit.

Thanks...
 
Hey, how are those Redmag stations working for you? I just bought one. I guess you are feeling the need to download multiple Redmags.
 
the redmag stations are terrific. Very BEAFY and not one issue with them.....I just need a backup device and looking for a multi-card reader with SSD - CF etc......So i can go into the wild and bring one device with me....instead of the two i travel with now.
 
For now, the only way to read the RED 1.8" SSDs is with their RED STATION reader.

There are multi-readers out there that handle CF along with SD and other common, crappy consumer formats. I don't know of any multi-readers that connect via eSATA or FW800, let alone any that are actually built rugged or even compatible with the RED 16GB CF cards.

For RED 1.8" SSD Mags, the RED STATION is the only game in town. For CF, your best bets are the RED STATION, LEXAR FW800 reader... followed by the SanDisk and Hoodman CF readers. I think the Hoodman is actually the SanDisk in a different package. For compact backup devices, a lot of people like the Nexto CF readers. They're a reader with an internal HDD / SSD so you can pop in a CF card and offload it to the internal storage. I've never used a Nexto with internal SSD storage... I've used HDD ones and had some issues on remote shoots. I wouldn't trust an HDD-based Nexto, any farther than I could drop it.

IMO, if you're looking to stay as mobile and compact as possible, then just take lots of media with you and a couple different cases/bags to divide it up. Offload the SSD's later... They're compact and rugged. No reason to tote around other gear with inferior storage media just to offload footage that's probably just fine where it's at -- on the 1.8" SSD's. Seriously, when you shoot stills with a DSLR, do you offload those cards in the middle of a jungle? Nope. At least I hope not. I'm starting to view the RED SSD mags much the same way. If I'm not on a controlled set with proper crew and the luxury of a DIT station, why bother? yes, the SSD mags are expensive. So rent some more... If it's just myself, maybe an assistant too, and my EPIC, 6 x 256GB SSD's can just about get me all day unless I'm just happily shooting anything and everything that moves. ...Which sometimes I need to do, I guess I haven't had to cross that bridge with EPIC just yet.
 
Jeff,
thanks for the reply....for the life of me i thought i saw a thread some place where there were "other" external fw800/estata devices that could read the 1.8" SSD cards...actually i don't care about the CF cards, but i thought i recall that device as an all im one external station....Believe me i'd love to take a big batch of SSD cards with me...but 99% of my shoots are multi day shoots out in the field...usually on a boat, camped on an ice flow or some far off place...I'd say average time i spend is 7-15 days out in the field....shooting daily easily 500 or more GB's daily and as much as a TB....so having my portable setup is key for me as well as for review. I usually take with me my portable 3.5" HDD reader and 4-6 HDD's that are 2TB or now 3TB.....just not affordable nor wise for me to carry so much ssd media.

....well, i'll have to get another RED 1.8" SSD reader then....was just looking to see what other options were out there.....if none...then i'm happy with the RED reader.....
 
RED's SSD cards are using their own proprietary connector design.
 
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