Bkup photo retainers/portable storage devices
El Gato
Registered Users Posts: 1,242 Major grins
I am planning an extended trip, and I looking into obtaining a smaller, portable backup (bkup) device to off-load my raw images while in the field, and not requiring bringing a laptop with me for the bkup.
Does anyone have a recommendation as to a specific vendor/product that will allow as easy as possible, bkup of images from compact flash (CF) cards, to this temp storage device, so that I can view images (if at only to be sure the settings, camera etc., are working as they should be) as well as to off-load these images from the CF card, in order to use the CF card on the following day's shoot?
I'm planning to bring at least six, 4GB cards with me, however, I want to off-load each day's photos to a bkup device versus retaining the images on the cards and potentially running out of CF cards, or worse case, loosing images or needing to delete images to make room, for new images.
I'd appreciate any info or recommendations that you may have.
Thank you n advance.
Does anyone have a recommendation as to a specific vendor/product that will allow as easy as possible, bkup of images from compact flash (CF) cards, to this temp storage device, so that I can view images (if at only to be sure the settings, camera etc., are working as they should be) as well as to off-load these images from the CF card, in order to use the CF card on the following day's shoot?
I'm planning to bring at least six, 4GB cards with me, however, I want to off-load each day's photos to a bkup device versus retaining the images on the cards and potentially running out of CF cards, or worse case, loosing images or needing to delete images to make room, for new images.
I'd appreciate any info or recommendations that you may have.
Thank you n advance.
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Comments
If you're in a wilderness area, there are a bunch of backup devices on the market these days, but I've always thought that in those situations, a non-powered option is usually the best, i.e. more memory cards. Of course, memory cards aren't perfect, but they have the virtue of not requiring electrical input to hold their data, which is important when you're somewhere with no power. A powered backup device is also a good idea, providing that the charge will last through your entire trek, but using the powered device as your only storage medium, and wiping your cards for re-use while you're still in the field, is risky. Leaving your pics on both the memory cards AND on your backup device is the best bet.
I don't have any experience with portable backup devices, but I've always been impressed with the Epson series. I think the current model is the P-7000, which offers 160gb of storage and a 4-inch LCD screen. Of course, it's $700, but if you're going to be in the field for a week with no access to electricity, and you need to back up a lot of pics, it's a nice option.
http://www.amazon.com/Epson-P-7000-Multimedia-Storage-Audio-Video/dp/B001DKATYI
If you're in a hotel of some sort with power, there is no better option than a daily laptop dump to an optical disk (CD or DVD). The laptop will allow you to view, organize, and store your photos on the hard drive, and so long as you have a burner, you can also burn disks of the photos. A laptop gives you all sorts of options.
* You can burn multiple copies of the photos, mail one copy home and keep another copy in your luggage or hotel safe.
* You can burn copies of the photos to disk and also copy them onto flash drives.
* If you have internet access, you can upload your photos to an online backup site like SmugMug.
* You can view and post-process your photos each night, and return for re-shoots as needed.
* If you have internet access, you can use your laptop to communicate, check weather, share your photos, and keep journals of your trip. You can also look up any relevant info on your location, such as photo ops, dining and shopping ops, and of course, solutions to any special shooting situations which may arise.
WillCAD:
Many thanks for your reply and info provided.
I'll have access to power, and looks as if the best bet will indeed to bring along a laptop, to do as you indicated, sort, store, back up and burn to CDs.
Again, thanks for replying.
El Gato
www.globaltrekk-photos.com
It would take 5 CD's to hold images from each .4GIG card.
Sam
While we are traveling I do not do any photo processing; too tired at night to do more than backup the files. I use ImageIngester to rename and keyword the files. Next I use SyncToy, windows, to copy the files to the two external drives. After they are copied over, I check the files on the HD to make sure they are there. I also backup my GPS track files while backing up the photo files.
Stone Coast Photography Facebook
First off....I would kick up my amount of CF cards (personally right now I have 13 - 8gb cards and 2 - 16 gb cards and that is not enough.), I would rather lose a cf card rather than lose a portable storage unit........
But if you want a couple of portable storage units that do not require a laptop to use then there is several on the market....just google Portable photo storage and you should get tons of place to check prices....2 of teh currently top rated from what I have heard is: Sanho Hyperdrives and Wolverine Portable Multi-media storage.......the problem I see with these or laptops /w external drives is : 1- theft 2- need power to constantly charge batteries 3- theft 4- they are not nearly as cheap as extra CF cards 5- weight any type of Drive or laptop Drive combo is going to weigh a lot more than Twice or three times the storage in CF cards.....
again I would plan of 2-4 CF (8gb minimum) cards per day ...... I can easily shoot ~~64 gb per day on a local outing......I would not consider taking a 2week (normal vacation) with less than 200gb of cards, if that vac was staying nice secure hotels then the laptop and 2 -2tb drives would go for backing up, making sure the Hotel personnel stayed out of my room while there..........