Backing up files while traveling - problem: I bought an SD cards reader adapter to connect to my Android phone with a USB C. I was planning to upload my photos, using the phone, while...

Cubanphoto

I bought an SD cards reader adapter to connect to my Android phone with a USB C. I was planning to upload my photos, using the phone, while traveling to my cloud drive.
The phone gives me an error: drive is corrupt. Then it wants to format it. The card is fine. It is fine in the camera and computer.
Any ideas?

Another way to back up my photos without having to bring my laptop. This is an 18 trip and trying to minimize the load.
Thanks in advance.

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

If you're just going to use the SD card in your phone - then let the phone format it, then upload your images to the cloud. IF you want to use the SD card as a backup on your computer - then format the card with your computer and transfer the images on your phone to the SD card as connected to your (? laptop) computer.

Cubanphoto

Merlin1300 wrote:

If you're just going to use the SD card in your phone - then let the phone format it, then upload your images to the cloud. IF you want to use the SD card as a backup on your computer - then format the card with your computer and transfer the images on your phone to the SD card as connected to your (? laptop) computer.

The SD card is used in my camera and I want to back up the photos. I won't have a computer with me.
Someone said to use an SSK drive. I don't know what it is yet

Merlin1300 Loc: New England, But Now & Forever SoTX

SSK appears to be a manufacturer of external hard disk drives (HDD).
https://www.amazon.com/SSK-Portable-External-Wireless-Auto-Backup/dp/B07T3KD58D
I am NOT sure how this would help you - if the camera is reporting the SD card as corrupt.
Again - I'd recommend formatting the card in the camera, then upload your days images to your cloud account.
If you're happy with the cloud results - then reformat the card in camera for the next days shoot.
Upload, reformat, repeat.

User ID

Merlin1300 wrote:

If you're just going to use the SD card in your phone - then let the phone format it, then upload your images to the cloud. IF you want to use the SD card as a backup on your computer - then format the card with your computer and transfer the images on your phone to the SD card as connected to your (? laptop) computer.

This can cause big trouble.

kymarto Loc: Portland OR and Milan Italy

Don't think this will work, as your phone most probably cannot read the file structure of the card.

Cubanphoto

Merlin1300 wrote:

SSK appears to be a manufacturer of external hard disk drives (HDD).
https://www.amazon.com/SSK-Portable-External-Wireless-Auto-Backup/dp/B07T3KD58D
I am NOT sure how this would help you - if the camera is reporting the SD card as corrupt.
Again - I'd recommend formatting the card in the camera, then upload your days images to your cloud account.
If you're happy with the cloud results - then reformat the card in camera for the next days shoot.
Upload, reformat, repeat.

Maybe I did not explain myself. The card only shows to be corrupt when I try to use it with the adapter on the phone. The card is fine with the camera and computer. I don't want to take the computer with me. Thanks for the link.

david vt Loc: Vermont

There are a couple of solutions of a small stand alone piece of hardware (stand alone SSD) that will do just what you want, including being able to transfer via wi-if to the cloud. Has a normal SD slot for the transfer from the card.

If you keep the cards (which I would recommend as another level of backup), then you have those, the SSD, and the pictures on the cloud, and can sleep easily each day of your trip

Suggest you search the archives here for “backup traveling”. And, some of the fine folks here with better memories than I will undoubtedly chime in.

Have fun

Cubanphoto

david vt wrote:

There are a couple of solutions of a small stand a... (show quote)

Thank you. I will search the archive ( once I find how to do it🤣). As you said there can be a solution.

mikeroetex Loc: Lafayette, LA

Cubanphoto wrote:

Thank you. I will search the archive ( once I find how to do it🤣). As you said there can be a solution.

SD Cards are cheap. Buy four or five 32GB cards and you should be ok for 18 days, unless you are using a spray and pray method of shooting. In fact, unless you are going to shoot sports and/or birds, two may suffice.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cubanphoto wrote:

Maybe I did not explain myself. The card only shows to be corrupt when I try to use it with the adapter on the phone. The card is fine with the camera and computer. I don't want to take the computer with me. Thanks for the link.

Maybe the adapter cannot work with a large card? How old is the adapter?

bikerguy

Cubanphoto wrote:

I bought an SD cards reader adapter to connect to my Android phone with a USB C. I was planning to upload my photos, using the phone, while traveling to my cloud drive.
The phone gives me an error: drive is corrupt. Then it wants to format it. The card is fine. It is fine in the camera and computer.
Any ideas?

Another way to back up my photos without having to bring my laptop. This is an 18 trip and trying to minimize the load.
Thanks in advance.

I use an on the go plug that reads SD cards and has USB ports with my Samsung phone and tablet. I backup my SD card each day to 2 flash drives. I have done this for years without any problems. I would not travel without being able to have at least two copies of my images. I have also used a Kingston Mobilite and 1 tb hard drive within my backup scheme. It is slower but works just as well. Neither system requires a laptop.

I am not in favor of using one SD card each day because you have no backup if the card is either lost or damaged.
I would rather have two copies and not need the second then need the second and not have it. I have had quality SD cards fail during a trip.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I must live dangerously.
i went to another country and only took the camera and cards.
No method for card backup.
Guess I should have taken another camera too in case my primary failed.

RightOnPhotography Loc: Quebec,QC

Two years ago my wife and I went on a car trip around Europe, 12 countries in 30 days.
Prior to our trip, I had exactly same question in my mind. I went to the Craigslist and bought a 10" Windows laptop with a slightly cracked screen for $75. When we returned to hotel after the day of sightseeing, I downloaded images from SD card to the laptop and kept the images on the card until it was full and took another card the next day. Doing this way, I had two copies of my images, just in case. I brought home around 3500 images. On this trip, I had one FF DSLR with me, but in the future, if we ever be able to travel again, I will bring two of my mirrorless bodies, just in case.

MrPhotog

Since a computer ( not a phone) seems to be the best device for transferring files from camera and SD card to other storage devices and places ( hard drives, thumb drives, cloud, etc.), perhaps you should look for a cheap and small computer. This would be mostly dedicated to file transfers, so screen size, processing speed, and large RAM are not critical.

If you have the time to play with it, a Raspberry Pi based computer could do the trick. A tablet device or pad running Google Chrome might be as cheap and faster to learn. These all have wifi (and usually SD slots) built in. If your phone and carrier permit, You could tether this to your phone for an internet connection to permit uploading an additional, shareable, backup to cloud storage.

I’ve purchased tablets like this for as low as $39 to use with talking books and ebooks. Many schools are using Chrome based computers in primary grades, and with this being the back-to-school season there are sales.

Might be a cheap, light, small tool to add to your travel bag.