Back up in the field: I am going on a Safari in March and would like to know what you use to back up photos from an SDHC card. Weight limits prohibit taking a laptop. Have read about...

KAK

I am going on a Safari in March and would like to know what you use to back up photos from an SDHC card. Weight limits prohibit taking a laptop. Have read about the WD My Passport Wireless Pro USB 3.0 External Hard Drive and depending on the site get mixed reviews.

blackest Loc: Ireland

A possibility is a phone or tablet which supports USB OTG although that can be complicated by needing a powered usb hub to attach drives too. Too be fair a small netbook might be easier to work with. something like an aspire 1 they are not fast but then you don't need much from it built in sd card reader weigh a couple of pounds and can be bought on ebay for around $50. That and a 2.5" Hdd would be easiest.

Quite a few have an internal hdd of around 160Gb and maybe 140 gb would be free. SSD versions are lighter

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

That is an excellent choice, I use the WD Wireless 2TB drives regularly when out in remote areas. Don't use the wireless feature unless plugged in and the direct SD transfer will work much longer. Good battery life but the wireless is really a battery hog.

KAK

Thanks for your speedy replies and glad to hear someone had a good experience with the WD Wireless drive.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

KAK wrote:

Thanks for your speedy replies and glad to hear someone had a good experience with the WD Wireless drive.

I love them and would never travel without them.
Good luck and have a good trip.

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

KAK wrote:

I am going on a Safari in March and would like to know what you use to back up photos from an SDHC card. Weight limits prohibit taking a laptop. Have read about the WD My Passport Wireless Pro USB 3.0 External Hard Drive and depending on the site get mixed reviews.

When I am on a trip that limits what I may take with me, I just take extra sd cards. They are not that expensive and when one fills up, I store it in the original plastic container it came with and start with a new card.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

I'm with orrie Smith, SD cards are cheap enough now that theres no need for a separate download device. And they're a lot smaller and lighter and never need to be recharged like a hard drive does.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

KAK wrote:

I am going on a Safari in March and would like to know what you use to back up photos from an SDHC card. Weight limits prohibit taking a laptop. Have read about the WD My Passport Wireless Pro USB 3.0 External Hard Drive and depending on the site get mixed reviews.

The WD breaks, so you had better buy two - it would be a shame to not have redundant backup.

I use a RavPower FileHub Plus - WD03 - much simpler, can write to any USB device (I use a pair of 256 gb thumb drives) and only costs $40 at Amazon. Bought it for a trip December 2014, and have gotten more than my money's worth. It's battery charger for a phone, ethernet bridge, dedicated WIFI router, repeater, and it has an SD slot. Only negative is that it writes at USB 2 speeds, which I did not find to be much of a problem. The device, cables and two memory sticks fit in a cargo pant's pocket. Best thing since sliced bread.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I use Eyefi SD cards, my photos are transferred to my phone or tablet as I take them. Personally although I have a Seagate Wireless Plus hard drive I only use it for storage as the wireless function is not that good.
My tablet and phone both have 128 gb sd cards on board so that is ample storage for most people, I also have a small netbook PC for final back up but I don't always take it with me on short trips.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

blackest wrote:

A possibility is a phone or tablet which supports ... (show quote)

I agree, I use USB OTG all the time, it's quite easy when you get used to the method, normally I use 64-128 gb micro sd cards and that's more than enough for my purposes.
I cannot get an external HDD to work with OTG, so I don't use mine for that purpose.

blackest Loc: Ireland

johneccles wrote:

I agree, I use USB OTG all the time, it's quite easy when you get used to the method, normally I use 64-128 gb micro sd cards and that's more than enough for my purposes.
I cannot get an external HDD to work with OTG, so I don't use mine for that purpose.

It is a current problem the phone/tablet doesn't supply enough power to spin the hdd, so if you use a powered usb hub the hub supplies the current and the drive can spin. Still awkward you might be able to use a battery to power the hub...

danorman2

Look at a Digital Foci. Comes in different sizes , is small and rechargeable.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

Does your camera take two cards? It was suggested to me that I shoot on one, then copy to the other for a backup. I didn't do that, but I guess it does work. Normally I just carry lots of cards, but I always worry about losing them. I don't like carrying computers through airports, but I do take when on car trips. Then I can spend all evening sorting through the pics of the day!

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

KAK wrote:

I am going on a Safari in March and would like to know what you use to back up photos from an SDHC card. Weight limits prohibit taking a laptop. Have read about the WD My Passport Wireless Pro USB 3.0 External Hard Drive and depending on the site get mixed reviews.

I've never used the wireless version, but the WD My Passport is a good product. As for bringing extra memory cards or using memory sticks, those are good ideas, but anything very small can be easily lost unless you put it into a case of some kind. It seems to me that it would be prudent to bring more than one backup system, and use them both. Keep them in different locations among your gear so if something happens to one, the other is still safe!

This is what I use for SD memory cards: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/824937-REG/ruggard_mct_sd4bl_memory_card_case_for.html
If you have CF cards, there are cases for them, as well. The thing I like is the light color, makes it easier to find in a dark camera bag or suitcase. The WD's I use also come in colors besides black for the same price. For memory sticks I use a small jewelry box with a lid that snaps firmly closed.

Hope this helps!
Susan

RonH Loc: Shoreview MN

I have a Colorspace UDMA3 and like it very much. Has been to Cuba with me and worked well. No matter how cheap cards are they can get corrupted or damaged which happened to me. I backed up a card and put it away on my trip. When I got home I couldn't read the card and had to go to my backup drive to get the images. Cards alone are not enough no matter what anyone says. Of course you may not worry about having all of your images on a card become non readable but I do.