Introduction

We've just received a production sample of the recently announced Panasonic SD CardBus PC Card adapter (BN-SDPC3E). This works in the same manner as the 32-bit CardBus CF adapters we've seen in the past. With more and more devices using SD cards and now even some digital SLR's faster access to SD cards will become more important. If you use a laptop or notebook the Panasonic SD CardBus adapter is now the fastest method for reading (and writing to) SD cards. (Windows only at the moment).
Panasonic SD CardBus PC Card adapter (BN-SDPC3E)
Installation is straightforward enough, install the supplied drivers and insert the PC card, you can access the SD card as a normal removable drive which only appears once the SD is inserted. (Note that in the picture above the SD card is not inserted into the adapter, when inserted it fits fully inside).
Adapter / reader Performance
As you can see from the figures below the Panasonic SD CardBus adapter is easily the fastest reader here closely followed by a generic USB 2.0 reader. Card used for the measurements below was the 1.0 GB SanDisk Extreme III SD card.
Reader - Speed

• Panasonic SD CardBus:
  Write speed: 9,529 KB/sec
  Read speed: 12,533 KB/sec
• USB 2.0 SD card reader:
  Write speed: 7,536 KB/sec
  Read speed: 8,802 KB/sec
• Delkin CF CardBus + SD adapter:
  Write speed: 3,818 KB/sec
  Read speed: 4,504 KB/sec
• Firewire CF + SD adapter:
  Write speed: 2,752 KB/sec
  Read speed: 2,890 KB/sec

SD Card Performance in SD CardBus adapter
A fairly remarkable difference in performance between the SanDisk and Lexar and then the 'budget priced' 128 MB Kingston card.
SD card - Speed

• 1.0 GB SanDisk Extreme: III
  Write speed: 9,529 KB/sec
  Read speed: 12,533 KB/sec
• 512 MB Lexar Hi-Speed:
  Write speed: 5,680 KB/sec
  Read speed: 7,252 KB/sec
• 128 MB Kingston
  Write speed: 1,225 KB/sec
  Read speed: 6,696 KB/sec