The Perfect SD-to-CF Adapter

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mbi.panasonic.co.jp/oembatteries/english/e_pc/out_epc/sdepc.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.mbi.panasonic.co.jp/oemb...t_epc/sdepc.htm</a><br /><br /></div>If you've got a Pocket PC with an SD card slot and a camera with a CF slot, memory interchange is maddening: most SD-to-CF adapters cause the SD card to stick out, and as such won't fit in a camera.<br /><br />Enter the new Panasonic adapter (BN-CSDABP3) with a unique fit that encloses the SD card completely.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/pc_sd350_ad.jpg" /><br /><br />Unfortunately, this unit is not yet available in the US; it's a Japanese-only part. If you really need it, the <a href="http://www.dynamism.com">Dynamism</a> folks can import it for you, at a higher cost ($89 ea.) -- email them ([email protected]). (By the way, if you've never checked out Dynamism before, do so. Truly nifty site.)

[mpattman]

In the UK Expansys has the following product available:

Datafab 2-in-1 SD and MMC to CF Adaptor (£32 UKP)
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=FA-CFSD

[karlth]

This won't help if I want to watch some pictures from the camera's CF card on a SD only PocketPC?

[sarnath]

I just bought one thats just like these for 23 dollars here:

http://www.mittoni.com/securedigital/adapter.html

[innersky]

I just bought one thats just like these for 23 dollars here:

http://www.mittoni.com/securedigital/adapter.html

does it work with Canon camera's?

[kzemach]

I just bought one thats just like these for 23 dollars here:

http://www.mittoni.com/securedigital/adapter.html


Cool- so, I can't tell from the picture, but does this one have the SD slide in from the side, so that after inserting the SD it's still a Type I form factor??? Please confirm.

Thanks!

[sarnath]

Not sure, but I don't see why not..........I will test it out when I receive it

this is what is says on the site:

Secure Digital SD / MMC to CompactFlash CF Card Adapter

The SD to CF adapter allows users to plug a Secure Digital or MultiMedia Card directly into a CompactFlash CF card slot. Weighing just 116g the CompactFlash MMC / SD adapter is a convenient 50mm x 42.8mm x 3.3mm adapter that enable you to read and write to Secure Digital in PDAs and other digital devices that only accept CompactFlash.

Fully compatible with Secure Digital and MultiMedia Cards. Truly plug and play operation to transfer data quickly at 8MB per second easily without the need for any drivers. Compatible with CompactFlash Type I Socket.

Who would need to buy a SD to CF Adapter
Consider the situation where you have a Palm handheld computer (that accepts a Secure Digital SD card) and a printer or digital camera that only accepts CompactFlash cards. The SD MMC to CF adapter will allow you to reuse your Secure Digital and MultiMedia Card in the same device -- and access the same files without the need for a single driver.

[Janak Parekh]

Keep us posted on these deals, but I'm 90% sure that on these the SD cards stick out the backside of the CF adapter. This prevents the camera memory door from closing.

--janak

[jmulder]

This won't help if I want to watch some pictures from the camera's CF card on a SD only PocketPC?

What if you used the CF adapter and an SD card with the camera, then took the SD out of the adapter for use in your PPC?

Just thinking the other way round...

-Jim

[Mobile Bob]

Thank you, Janak. And welcome aboard Pocket PC Thoughts. :way to go:

Why does it take Panasonic so long to offer these items in North America?
I want my 1GB SD Card right now! Actually, I would be thrilled with a 512MB SD Card, but not until the prices fall much lower.

[sarnath]

I just sent a email to the company(Mittoni)about their Secure Digital SD / MMC to CompactFlash CF Card Adapter. To me anyway, it wouldnt make sense to make this so the sd/mmc card sticks out of the adapter because you wouldnt be able to use in certain devices. Oh well lets see what they tell me.

[nobody]

Looking at the picture of ExpandSys and Mittoni adapters, I think SD card will stick out of CF card. It seems that there is a slot for SD card oppositing the CF pins. If you stack up SD on top of CF card, you can see that there is no way that SD can fit entirely inside CF card that way.

[kzemach]

This won't help if I want to watch some pictures from the camera's CF card on a SD only PocketPC?

What if you used the CF adapter and an SD card with the camera, then took the SD out of the adapter for use in your PPC?

Just thinking the other way round...

-Jim

This is exactly how it works. I used a 256 MB SD card in the adapter, then put that in my Casio QV-4000UX, which takes CF Types 1 and 2. After shooting some pictures, I remove the SD card from the CF adapter, and can view the files in my Handera 330 (OK, so it's a Palm device, cut me some slack, but hey, they've had dual expansion long before anyone else did!). Also of note, if I have the SD card in the CF adapter, then put that in a CF to PCMCIA adapter, then put that in my XP notebook, no less than THREE "found new hardware" pop-ups appear....

And yes, I can read the files on the SD card through that tortuous path.

[kzemach]

Looking at the picture of ExpandSys and Mittoni adapters, I think SD card will stick out of CF card. It seems that there is a slot for SD card oppositing the CF pins. If you stack up SD on top of CF card, you can see that there is no way that SD can fit entirely inside CF card that way.

Which, one should note, would actually be a GOOD thing if you wanted to say leverage an SD bluetooth card in a CF slot in a PPC; you'd NEED it to stick out the back!

[Janak Parekh]

Which, one should note, would actually be a GOOD thing if you wanted to say leverage an SD bluetooth card in a CF slot in a PPC; you'd NEED it to stick out the back!
... but this is irrelevant anyway. I'm pretty sure these adapters are only for memory, not I/O devices. I don't think CF and SDIO are electrically compatible.

--janak

[possmann]

I was hoping that someone would come out with this as I'm looking to pick up a Nikon digicam - 5000 series (I'm thinking) and this was a bit of a concern. I would imagine that the price would drop over time - especially if we get some other vendors doing the same thing. Surprised why it Panasonic that did this first - I would have expected Viking or SanDisk to lead...

[Bob Anderson]

Surprised why it Panasonic that did this first - I would have expected Viking or SanDisk to lead...

Well I think the reason Panasonic developed this is that they are a driving force (if not the "inventor") of the SD format... so obviously... if they want to sell more SD memory (and earn royalties) they've got to make it easy to bridge the technologies :D

I think it's great that an adapter like this exists, it will make it easier to use all of my devices interchangeably and I won't feel like I'm pumping money into a single proprietary format that will leave my other accessories out of the picture (Sony - nake note of this with your "new and improved" memory stick! :wink: )

Now, if I just had my iPaq 5450 with that darn built-in SD slot... I could start buying SD memory :D

[mookie123]

why can't they put the SD insert hole on top of the CF adapter instead of side?

wouln'd it be better for all those SD card that "stick out"?

[JonnoB]

I just bought one of these cards... we'll see how well it works when I get it. I need something like this. I am still using an HP 568 while my wife and kids use devices with SD only (e310, iPaq) or have dual slots (Maestro, e740, etc). I need to be able to swap cards with them easily.

[Janak Parekh]

I am still using an HP 568 while my wife and kids use devices with SD only
... is the SD-well-actually-MMC-slot-enabled-battery that bad? ;)

--janak

[JonnoB]

I am still using an HP 568 while my wife and kids use devices with SD only
... is the SD-well-actually-MMC-slot-enabled-battery that bad? ;)

--janak

To be honest, no retailer ever carried any even though I wanted one... I was going to order it online, but then I heard complaints about it reading MMC devices, but not many SD devices. It is pretty tought to find high-capacity MMC cards.

[jayman]

I am trying to work out whether the following products will work
together by looking through their specs. I cant seem to see any
reason why not. If anyone out there can see an obvious problem
please let me know.

Pocket DV2 camera
O2 XDA
Panasonic SD card
Panasonic SD to CF converter.

Thus my hope is - I can use the camcorder / camera to take stills / video
in avi/ jpeg onto the SD card housed in the SD-CF converter inside the camera and then remove the SD card and insert it into the xda for viewing.

thanks in advance for your views.

[marlof]

To be honest, no retailer ever carried any even though I wanted one... I was going to order it online, but then I heard complaints about it reading MMC devices, but not many SD devices. It is pretty tought to find high-capacity MMC cards.

I had no problem with the battery and my Panasonic 256 MB SD card. But I do find the battery makes my Jornada a little bigger than I care for.

[JonnoB]

To be honest, no retailer ever carried any even though I wanted one... I was going to order it online, but then I heard complaints about it reading MMC devices, but not many SD devices. It is pretty tought to find high-capacity MMC cards.

I had no problem with the battery and my Panasonic 256 MB SD card. But I do find the battery makes my Jornada a little bigger than I care for.

That won't be a problem.... I already use the big battery. Good to know about the 256mb SD card.

[brntcrsp]

Next thing we need is for someone to develop a SD -> Memory stick adapter. I would love to use the memstick slot on the vaio for something other than a proprietary memory format, and I see SD as the Next Big Thing &trade; in terms of memory expansion for devices.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Great! I've been waiting for one of these. Lets hope they ship it properly soon in the US and Europe.

[sarnath]

this is the update on the Secure Digital SD / MMC to CompactFlash CF Card Adapter from mitton:


Thank you for your enquiry. The current model as displayed on our site with have the card stick outside of the adapter.

We have a new model arriving that allows the card to slip into the form factor of a CF Type II card entirely, it will be ready on approximately the 4th January and will be on our website just prior to this date.



Im going to wait for this one and im waiting to see how much it will go for.

[Janak Parekh]

Next thing we need is for someone to develop a SD -> Memory stick adapter.
If this is even possible, it's going to be ugly. The memory stick is shorter heightwise but longer. You'd have to have a stub stick sitting in the slot and then the SD card would have to float outside entirely. :?

--janak

[Covert]

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but this Panasonic card has been available for quite some time now (approx. a year). I was thinking a long time ago about how useful it would be if it ever made it to the states - I had an EM-500 (SD) and an E-125 (CF).

I'm relatively sure it was even pointed out on Pocket PC Thoughts before...

[st63z]

Great news about Dynamism! But please also let us know when it's available locally and for a cheaper price. We (including me) have been periodically asking for this Panasonic adapter ever since PPCThoughts posted its pic, what, almost a year ago?

I agree w/ the other posters, it's too bad we can't seem to make the SD slot opposite the CF pins but not have it stick out (dimensions won't allow it). THAT would be the perfect adapter.

Ditto it's too bad MemStick width is too narrow for SD! That Sony is shrew :) If MemStick was just a wee bit wider, I can start buying all those cool Sony gadgets (assuming there would be an SD adapter)...

[st63z]

One thing though, SD memory speed would have to improve to match CF speed. Using today's SanDisk 256-512MB SD card inside this Panasonic adapter inside a CF digicam, you would REALLY notice a performance hit writing to the card. (Even assuming this adapter doesn't artificially bottleneck SD transfer speed w/ insufficient number of address lines)

I'm still waiting on benchmarks of the Panasonic "5x faster" SD cards...

[Steven Cedrone]

Hmmm...

I'm sure Master O'Mayhem will be back with these when he comes back from his next trip to Japan (end of Jan, I think)...

I wonder if he'll bring back any extra???

Steve

[Janak Parekh]

We have a new model arriving that allows the card to slip into the form factor of a CF Type II card entirely, it will be ready on approximately the 4th January and will be on our website just prior to this date.
Still, that's type II, not type I. Many digital cameras only support the latter.

Covert: I know the product's probably not new, but it hasn't certainly been here, and a lot of people (including me) found it to be new news. Hopefully more attention here will make Panasonic think about bringing the product here (why they haven't already is a good question).

--janak

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Covert: I know the product's probably not new, but it hasn't certainly been here, and a lot of people (including me) found it to be new news.
I don't know who's "bubble" is being burst, but this newsbit generated 4 pages of posts... I'd say it was a worthy bit of information, regardless of whether it's been out for a year or not.

I'm going out to Japan in a week... I'd surely be interested in purchasing if priced right... wouldn't have known to look for it otherwise.

[Master O'Mayhem]

Hmmm...

I'm sure Master O'Mayhem will be back with these when he comes back from his next trip to Japan (end of Jan, I think)...

I wonder if he'll bring back any extra???

Steve

Just think how many i can fit into my suitcase..... :) I will let try to get a few. they will prolly be about 30 bucks.. thayts just a guess.... And no i am not taking orders...

[st63z]

^ But.. what about me, your new BEST friend???

512MB 5x-speed Panasonic SD cards, $30 each, I'll take 10!

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

this is the update on the Secure Digital SD / MMC to CompactFlash CF Card Adapter from mitton:

Thank you for your enquiry. The current model as displayed on our site with have the card stick outside of the adapter.

I just received the Mittoni SD-to-CF adapter:

1) The adapter itself is nearly twice the height of a standard CF card
2) Half of the SD/MMC card's body sticks out of the adapter

I'll be looking for the Panasonic adapter myself when I go to Japan next week...

[WolfDaemon]

Luckily, my camera supports Type II, so I'll get the Mittoni when it comes out. They've already created the web page:

http://www.mittoni.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1238

Expected availability date is Jan 8

- WolfDaemon

[JonnoB]

Luckily, my camera supports Type II, so I'll get the Mittoni when it comes out. They've already created the web page:

http://www.mittoni.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/1238

Expected availability date is Jan 8

- WolfDaemon

I just received my Mittoni via Air Mail. Will try it out this afternoon.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

I'm here in Japan (on break) and just purchased the Panasonic SD-to-CF adapter. It costs about 5,000 yen which is roughly $40USD. I also have the Mittoni adapter which I received a week before coming. I will try to post pictures, but in short, the Panasonic adapter IS perfect!! It's standard CF size and the card slides in fully through the side. I've already tested it successfully with my iPaq3870 w/ Silver Slider.

The Mittoni adapter works but its at least 50% longer than a standard CF AND the MMC/SD will not insert flush into the adapter (about 50% of the MMC/SD card sticks out the end) making this solution very clumsy looking.

[st63z]

Imagine tho if they can fully fit an SD card inserted lengthwise into the CF adapter (i.e. opposite the CF pins as someone else mentioned).

That way you don't even need to take out the CF adapter from the CF slot when swapping SD cards, so the adapter becomes truly transparent...

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Imagine tho if they can fully fit an SD card inserted lengthwise into the CF adapter (i.e. opposite the CF pins as someone else mentioned).

That way you don't even need to take out the CF adapter from the CF slot when swapping SD cards, so the adapter becomes truly transparent...
I imagine that would be really difficult, especially since CFs are not that much longer than MMC/SD. Of course you could lengthen the CF somewhat, but I assume you mean an adapter that maintains CF standard size AND the holds the MMC/SD fully flush AND allows the MMC/SD to be inserted lengthwise...

Would be ideal though...

[st63z]

Yep that's what I meant :) You're right, it was discussed earlier in thread that dimensions apparently won't allow this, but hey, if we're talking ideal perfection here, heh...

[Freezer]

I think the one on www.flash-card-store.co.uk/readerstore.htm
works that way round...

Not sure though

[JonnoB]

I think the one on www.flash-card-store.co.uk/readerstore.htm
works that way round...

Not sure though

nope, it is the same. By the way, it is not too bad. The card does stick out a bit, but to have a way to read/copy files is very useful.