Photographic Safarie Trip: I have a photographic trip to Africa scheduled and need some guidance as to how best to store and transport images safely. Within the US, a laptop works...

DMF

I have a photographic trip to Africa scheduled and need some guidance as to how best to store and transport images safely. Within the US, a laptop works well; I am not sure I want to carry one on an overseas trip. Does anyone have experience with this challenge or any ideas how to handle it? DMF

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

DMF wrote:

I have a photographic trip to Africa scheduled and need some guidance as to how best to store and transport images safely. Within the US, a laptop works well; I am not sure I want to carry one on an overseas trip. Does anyone have experience with this challenge or any ideas how to handle it? DMF

DMF, I've never been to Africa, but unless you are staying in mud huts with no electricity, somewhere there is going to be a laptop. Take a 500gb portable device and download into it.
If it's a tour, see if the leader will have a laptop that can be used.

I have not used one, but places like BH carry those little storage drives with card readers. That would be ideal.
Have fun. ;-)
SS

PS, will you be there for the migration? That would be awesome.

DMF

Thanks SS, I will look into both. DMF

DMF

Thanks SS, I will look into both. DMF

amehta Loc: Boston

If you take an external hard drive to use with other laptops or computers (like at an internet cafe), you might want to take a card reader, so you don't have to connect your camera to a random computer. It may be locked down so it cannot load the software needed to access your camera, but it should not have a problem with a standard card reader.

amehta Loc: Boston

What is the file size of your images, and how many pictures do you think you will take on this trip? USB memory sticks have gotten pretty big, you can get a 64GB one for $30-40.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

DMF wrote:

I have a photographic trip to Africa scheduled and need some guidance as to how best to store and transport images safely. Within the US, a laptop works well; I am not sure I want to carry one on an overseas trip. Does anyone have experience with this challenge or any ideas how to handle it? DMF

I got a little Acer netbook. It's small, light, and has loads of storage. I carry a small external hard drive, too. I copy to both devices, but never delete from the 16 or 32GB cards. If one gets full, I use another.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

DMF wrote:

I have a photographic trip to Africa scheduled and need some guidance as to how best to store and transport images safely. Within the US, a laptop works well; I am not sure I want to carry one on an overseas trip. Does anyone have experience with this challenge or any ideas how to handle it? DMF

I've been to Africa four or five times for work and am heading back this Friday. Assuming you are staying in a hotel, guest house (bed and breakfast) or game lodge you and your laptop will be fine will be fine.

You need to bring a wall plug power adapter specifically for where you are going. Some places may have one to lend, but I bring my own. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC_power_plugs_and_sockets

If you need more help feel free to ask! Steve

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I have a Samsung 10" net book which I take every where for this purpose, it has a good battery life and is quite small and light. You could pick a used one up quite cheap.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

johneccles wrote:

I have a Samsung 10" net book which I take every where for this purpose, it has a good battery life and is quite small and light. You could pick a used one up quite cheap.

I considered getting one of those little external hard drives with an LCD and SD slot, but the price and ratings turned me off. For the same price, I got the netbook.
:thumbup:

mlj Loc: Anderson, SC

jerryc41 wrote:

I got a little Acer netbook. It's small, light, and has loads of storage. I carry a small external hard drive, too. I copy to both devices, but never delete from the 16 or 32GB cards. If one gets full, I use another.

I agree with Jerry. I have learned the hard way regarding memory cards. Do not erase them. Also, having a portable external hard drive would be ideal. Does anyone know about the use of "cloud storage" in places such as Africa? Is that secure?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

mlj wrote:

I agree with Jerry. I have learned the hard way regarding memory cards. Do not erase them. Also, having a portable external hard drive would be ideal. Does anyone know about the use of "cloud storage" in places such as Africa? Is that secure?

If you have a Wi-Fi connection, you should be able to upload to any cloud service.

hdp26 Loc: Upstate NY

Sometimes less is better. Why not just take enough memory cards and not have to keep up with another device that requires electricity? It is always a challenge just to keep the batteries for the camera charged. Most of the camps in Africa that I stayed in did have internet access. Cloud storage is not dependent of location but more on the provider. Travel light.

Swamp Gator Loc: Coastal South Carolina

jerryc41 wrote:

I got a little Acer netbook. It's small, light, and has loads of storage. I carry a small external hard drive, too. I copy to both devices, but never delete from the 16 or 32GB cards. If one gets full, I use another.

Are you serious?
You don't delete and reuse memory cards?!?

Isn't that sort of like never doing laundry, and instead keep buying new socks and underwear?

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Swamp Gator wrote:

Are you serious?
You don't delete and reuse memory cards?!?

Isn't that sort of like never doing laundry, and instead keep buying new socks and underwear?

Do laundry while on vacation? And why would you have to buy new underwear and socks? Do you keep losing them? :D

When I'm traveling, I want to make sure I come home with all the shots I took. I leave them on memory cards till they're close to full, and I copy them to both a small hard drive and a netbook.

When I get home, I was my clothes and reformat the cards.