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What's inside a SD Card to CF adapter?

Have you ever wondered what's inside a Secure Digital Card (SD card) to a CompactFlash (CF) adapter?

First of all, yes, SD Card to CF adapters does exist. They are very rare and hard to find for purchase. There are two types: 1) SD Card to CF adapter; and 2) SD Card to CF II adapter. The first type of adapter allows you to insert a SD Card into a CF Type I adapter, however, the SD Card sticks out from the CF adapter. However, this first type of adapters works in CF Type I slots. The second type of adapter allows the SD Card to be fully inserted into the CF adapter. But because the CF adapter is Type II, it only works with CF Type II devices.

I've always wondered about the internal guts to anything I can get my hands on. As a child, I have been known to take many things apart, but never able to put them back together. Well, luckily in this situation, I didn't have to take apart one of these SD Card to CF adapters to see what's inside, because its internal is shown in the picture below.

Attached Image:

facfsd1_inside.jpg

Chieh Cheng
Mon, 27 Jun 2005 18:40:05 -0700

The core of the adapter is a Phison PS3001B Controller IC. I looked around on PHISON Electronics Corp's web site, but couldn't find any specification for this chip, but it's probably very similar to their adapter and card reader integrated circuit chips.

The picture above was found from the "Secure Digital SD to CF CompactFlash Card Adapter Type I" web page, where you can purchase the adapter.

Chieh Cheng
Mon, 27 Jun 2005 18:58:32 -0700

The inside of the SD Card to CF Type II adapter is shown in the picture below. It's very similar to the Type I adapter with a single IC chip as its core. It's apparent from these pictures that an IC chip is required to make the conversion between SD Card and CF interfaces. The IC chip takes up space, so a Type II form-factor is needed if a SD Card is to be fully inserted into the adapter.

This second picture is taken from the "Secure Digital SD to CF CompactFlash Card Adapter Type II" web page, where you can purchase the Type II adapter.

Attached Image:

facfsd2_inside.jpg

Chieh Cheng
Mon, 27 Jun 2005 18:59:50 -0700

I bought a MINOLTA COMPACTFLASH ADAPTER FOR SD MEMORY CARDS SD-CF1 from Amazon. This CF card could accept a SD Card and is a Type 1 card! I am quite amazed. I will review it shortly.

Chieh Cheng
Mon, 11 Jul 2005 13:56:06 -0700

Hi: I have been looking for the opposite. To insert in a SD slot an adapter to read CF cards or MemoryStick cards. So as to connect CD or MS cards to a lifedrive palm.

Craige
Thu, 11 Aug 2005 13:33:49 -0700

Hello,

I'm looking for a SD to CD type I as described here. Does any one know of one for sale?

Fred

Fred Tischler
Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:42:12 +0000

Hi Fred,

If you don't mind using microSD's instead of SD Cards, you might consider getting a microSD to Memory Stick Duo Adapter and a Sony MSAC-MCF1N Memory Stick Duo Adaptor for CompactFlash Slot (replacement is AD-MSCF1). These adapters seems much easier to find right now. And you will still be able to use your microSD with your SD Card devices.

Chieh Cheng
Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:56:34 +0000

These guys sell it for 50 USD

Secure Digital SD to CF CompactFlash Card Adapter Type II
A bit expensive for me...
Im also not sure what they mean by "standard SD up to 4GB".
SDHC starts from 4GB. SD to my knowledge can only get up to 2GB.

anoymous browser
Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:48:38 +0000

Actually, here too for 19&

SD / MMC to Compact Flash II Adapter
A word of warning:
If it the SD card sticks out you may not be able to use it, inside a camera for instance.
Also it appears that all do not support SDHC. I will be happy to be proven wrong since this is what I am after... a cheap SDHC within a cheap adapter.

anonymous browser
Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:53:42 +0000

I was looking for quite enough time to find a CF to SD type I adapter. I needed type I because I own some devices that accept type I only. They are pretty hard to find but I found finally a place where I could get one:

Panasonic BN-CSDABP3/P
http://www.semsons.com/pasdadandcfa.html $54.99

It is rather expensive comparing with type II adapters, but it is high quality japanese product, it comes with PCMCIA adapter to use in laptops, you get also a free USB CF reader. When you don't have much choice and you need it you happy that you could get it for any price. It says to work with up to 2Gb SD cards and compatible with any Windows including Vista and MacOS including MacOS X 10.1.2.

Vital
Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:29:05 +0000

LOL when i am well 16 (not really that kid anymore)
but even when i was jounger and even i also take some electronics apart to try to find out how they work.
but i either couldnt fix it anymore :P

Masterpj
Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:59:33 +0000

Following your recommendations I bought AD-MSCF1 adapter and it turned out to be type II, can't fit it into my device...
Funny thing is, sony website states that AD-MSCF1 is type I adaptor 3.3 mm, and it actually is type II 5mm...
Are there any other adapters left for cf type I? I just want to use microSDHC cards in CompactFlash Type I slot, is there anything can be done to achieve that?
Thank you!

Mark
Fri, 08 May 2009 11:58:19 +0000

After further research it seems there is only one good adapter - MINOLTA SD-CF1
Does anyone know where I could buy MINOLTA SD-CF1 adapter? Can't find it anywhere, even used...
Thanks a lot!

Mark
Fri, 08 May 2009 13:21:58 +0000

http://www.delkin.com/products/adapters/sd-to-cf/sd-to-cf.ht . . .
Here is another opne to add to your list from Delkin Devices.
Conveniently adapt Secure Digital to CompactFlash
Converts both SD/SDHC to CF
Plug and Play - No drivers required
Hot swappable
2 year limited warranty

David Gleeson
Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:26:30 +0000

Thanks David. I just happened to need one of these as my SDHC memory card collection grows. Delkin sells the adapter directly for $29.95. Or you can get it from Amazon for $24.95 with free Super Saver shipping:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001MXKYGY?ie=UTF8&tag=came . . .

I also found this adapter on Amazon for $17.99 and qualifies for the free Super Saver shipping:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YZGCIU?ie=UTF8&tag=came . . .

Though your order needs to be $25 to qualify for the free Super Saver shipping. Maybe consider adding a microSD memory card to your order to qualify.

Chieh Cheng
Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:25:12 +0000

I'm about to order and read the details more carefully. The $17.99 adapter above is a CompactFlash Type II adapter, while the $24.95 Delkin one is a Type I adapter. I think I will go for the Delkin one, which provides better compatibility.

Chieh Cheng
Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:52:17 +0000

I just got the Delkin adapter from Amazon. To my surprise, it is a CF Type II adapter as well. I guess my quest for a SDHC Card to CF Type I adapter continues.

Chieh Cheng
Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:46:24 +0000

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