bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

I checked Amazon for card readers. Even the ones with 4.5 stars had 7% to 10% 1-star ratings that gave me the jitters. Reason: those 1-star ratings reported damage to memory cards, or damage to their computer's USB port, or readers that died in just a few months after purchase.

Moreover, the readers I looked at were all priced at around $30 or less (mostly less... much less). I suppose that's because a reader is a fairly simple mechanism. However, such low prices evidently do NOT motivate the manufacturers to spend money on quality control.

Okay, I could live with some damage to my computer -- fixing that merely costs a bit of inconvenience and money. I could also live with reader-failure after a relatively short period of time. BUT the idea of potentially having a memory card destroyed by the reader is bad bad bad.

I know I could read cards directly from camera to computer -- it's slow, but I will do so if necessary. I also know I could replace my aging computer with one having a built in card reader. But.....

QUESTION: Is there a card reader out there that DOES have good quality? (I don't mind paying for quality. There is stuff where you can take a chance and go cheap, but a memory card is definitely NOT one of them!)

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

I usually don't read too much into Amazon customer reviews on the far right and far left of the spectrum. There are probably occasional card reader failures, but it's very difficult to attribute all failures to the card reader itself. Users can, and will do more damage due to their lack of understanding than the technology they are blaming it on.

I know I shouldn't assume, but this card reader looks pretty decent:
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Reader-Adapter-5Gbps-Simultaneously/dp/B01ARAH6O0/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=sd+card+reader&qid=1566868460&s=gateway&sr=8-4

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I have 3 multiple format card readers purchased from Wal-Mart. The newest 1 is at least 5 years old. I've never had a problem with any of them reading CF or SD cards. I don't think I paid more than $10.00 for any of them. I think a lot of the 1 & 2 star reviews on Amazon are from folks who also yank cables out of the wall and can't understand why they don't last.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

All I can say is that I have had very good luck with Sony gear over the years and this one has performed well so far.

https://www.amazon.com/Sony-MRW-E90-BC2-XQD-Reader/dp/B01IRRI5CC/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2F76Y9UPKVIAF&keywords=sony+xqd+card+reader&qid=1566869616&s=gateway&sprefix=sony+XQD+c%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-3

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I suspect 1 star ratings on Amazon for card readers is due more to OHG (Operator Head Gap) than a flaw in the equipment. . . Just sayin'

jim quist Loc: Missouri

Here you go
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=lexar%20card%20reader&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=

jcboy3

There is always the possibility of a hardware failure in anything. It is also more likely that failures will generate a negative review. So the percentage of negative reviews is not the actual product reliability.

That said, I have never had a card or card reader failure. Generally, I use Sony and Lexar cards, and I use Lexar card readers almost exclusively. Pick a name brand; your odds of success will be better.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

I use the Lexar Professional USB 3.0 Dual-Slot Reader (UDMA 7)
Very reliable.

Purchased from B&H

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1141181-REG/lexar_lrw400crbna_professional_usb_3_0_dual.html

Checked reviews and no card failures comments. Some reviews are false. Says can't use with Apple.
I use mine om a MacBook Pro and IMac with no issues.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

I have been using the same card reader for several years with no problems at all. I bought this Sunpack 72-in-1 high speed card reader after lightning ran in on my pc with a card slot. I don't think this one was very costly, probably less than $10.00, but it was so long ago that I'm not certain of the price.

bellgamin Loc: Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Oi vey, the 2 B&H Lexars linked above have fairly numerous & equally disturbing negative reviews because of damaged memory cards & damaged computers. I guess it's a crap shoot but, fortunately, the odds are pretty good that nothing will go wrong. I'll buy 1 from my local Walmart & hope for the best.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Here is my read of the ratings:
(1) damage to memory cards: User Error, mechanical problem.
(2) damage to their computer's USB port: User Error, mechanical problem.
(3) or readers that died in just a few months after purchase: Stuff happens. Stuff fails. Send it back for a refund.

Relax. Don’t force things, if the card or reader is exhibiting resistance look at what is wrong don’t force it.

John Maher Loc: Northern Virginia

The U-Green has been good for me also. The cord is longer than I would have preferred (22") and it is thicker than most (3/8"). Overall, seems to be well built. But I don't jerk any plugs out of anything.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

My experience is that catastrophic failures can occur but even the cheapest equipment has a such a low failure rate that they are all too low to compare, including this cheap simple thing that has never failed me.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I gave away all my old card readers (mostly 2.0 USB). I replaced them with a Lexar 3.0 and Delkin 3.0 readers. Both have performed flawlessly and are always connected to one of my PCs.