Whether you record on SD, microSD, CompactFlash, or CFexpress, Lexar's latest card readers have you covered
(Image credit: Lexar)
Lexar is on somewhat of a roll lately, releasing not one, or two, but three new memory card readers. The latest is the Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B USB 3.1 Reader, which as you may have guessed, is exclusively for CFexpress cards. At just 56.2 x 47.28 x 12.85mm, its neat design is little bigger than a CFexpress card itself, and thanks to a detachable USB-C cable, the reader will easily slip into a jeans pocket or stash in any kit bag.
USB 3.1 Gen 2 connectivity ensures a maximum 10Gbit/s transfer rate, with Lexar claiming read/write speeds of up to 1050MB/s - that's quick, though even this fast connection may not be enough to fully exploit the maximum 1750MB/s read speed of Lexar's Professional Type B CFexpress cards. However it's still plenty quick enough to transfer ultra-high res RAW files or 4K video faster than ever. The reader is backward compatible with USB 2.0 if required, and a USB-C to USB-A cable is included for use with older computers.
Lexar Professional Multi-Card 3-in-1 Reader (Image credit: Lexar)
Also new in Lexar's card reader lineup is the Lexar Professional Multi-Card 3-in-1 Reader. This supports SD, microSD and CompactFash cards and is capable of simultaneous file transfer for offloading images from two or three cards at once. USB 3.1 connectivity ensures wide data bandwidth for super-fast read speeds of up to 312MB/s for UHS-II SD cards and 160MB/s with CompactFlash. Included is a USB-C to the standard, rectangular USB Type-A capable, ensuring maximum computer compatibility.
Finally, there's the recently released Compact Multi-Card 2-in-1 Reader. About the size of a USB thumb drive, this cute device plugs straight into your computer, with no cable required. Separate slots for SD and microSD cards allows simultaneous transfer from both, with up to 170MB/s read speed possible thanks to USB 3.1 bandwidth.
Ben is the Imaging Labs manager, responsible for all the testing on Digital Camera World and across the entire photography portfolio at Future. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight. He's also the team's man-at-arms when it comes to camera bags, filters, memory cards, and all manner of camera accessories – his lab is a bit like the Batcave of photography! With years of experience trialling and testing kit, he's a human encyclopedia of benchmarks when it comes to recommending the best buys.
