Xpatch Loc: New York, Antigua, GT.

Is there a cloud storage service that can store my RAW files?

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

I wouldn't use a cloud service for primary storage, or primary backup. Maybe for secondary backup.

tradergeorge Loc: Newport, Kentucky

Cloud services do not tell you what types of files you may or may not store there. The only problem you may run into is the time it takes to upload them and to download them when you need them for routine use. Also, you will soon run out of space on most services and be required to pay higher prices for more space.

In other words, every service out there would be suitable to store your RAW files, as long as you are willing to pay the freight, and endure the time to upload/download.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I use a 4 terabyte independent hard drive for my primary back-up, and Carbonite for my cloud back-up. I have had to copy my independent backup to a new hard drive on my PC, replacing a fried hard drive. I hope that I never have to rely on my cloud back-up.

Searcher Loc: Kent, England

There is another catch. You may not be able to see the image on the cloud account. Just an icon and the file name
if the cloud site does not have inbuilt raw converters.

Mr PC Loc: Austin, TX

Computer guy here. External hard drives, multiple local copies on different computers and, wait for it, Carbonite. I've got 600GB at Carbonite and they haven't squawked yet. As Searcher pointed out, you need your native application to view them. If disaster struck, they have a plan where you can have them send you an external hard drive with your stuff, for a fee of course. When you get into major amounts of data, that's better than a 3 month download, especially if your ISP has monthly caps.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

What you can do is get the Western Digital "My Cloud" Nas drive which is an external drive (you have choices of sizes) that gives you the ability to have your files locally but access them from anywhere that has internet access and that means you can upload to if from home or vacation and download from home or vacation.

http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=1140

I know of a couple of photographers that have it and love it, I am getting a 4tb soon.

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

Carbonite will back up your raw files, but if you have very many, it takes soooooo long. Not a bad solution, but not as a primary backup.

Xpatch Loc: New York, Antigua, GT.

That's what is happening to me with Dropbox,it was suggested tome but I'm having second thoughts

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

There is no such thing as a perfect primary backup. Backup locally you may suffer a disaster, Initial backup to cloud takes time. I recently had to switch and the new backup is estimated to take 33 days. But any cloud backup will take a raw file. Carbonite, CrashPlan, and many others offer unlimited storage for low yearly fees $79 or less. CrashPlan offers a service where they ship you a drive, you fill it up, you ship it back for your initial backup significantly reducing that initial backup time.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I agree. This is why I use multiple drives for backing up Pictures and other items that are over and above my normal backup. I have essentially a 3 week plan, I have 3 multi-terabyte USB 3 external drives. Drive A gets all images backed up to it week 1, Drive B, week 2 and drive a is stored in a lockbox in the house. Drive A moves to lock box drive B is kept in computer room. Week 3 Drive C is backed up to, drive b moves to lock box and Drive A goes to the bank security box. Each week the process is repeated. I am soon going to add an NAS "My Cloud" to the Mix as my Primary storage drive for all photos between the 2 desktops and my laptop which will greatly simplify the backups. This will mean that I will move all images from all 3 computers to the NAS drive and then it will be the sole location for doing my backups from. IT will then be a one stop backup each week, meaning I just have to plug the usb drive in and back up from the NAS to it rather than going to each of the 3 computers. This insures that should the worst case (hurricane, fire, tornado) happen the worst I would lose is 2 weeks of photos. Should a drive fail then I have all but the current week somewhere.

Capture48 Loc: Arizona

If this works for you, then its good. I am however not willing to take a two week loss so my backup plan covers the period from the time the shutter button is pushed until forever.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I've been using Backblaze for quite some time now. It's relatively inexpensive, and no limits on uploads. I use them as a tertiary backup.
--Bob

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

Two weeks is worst case and that would be if the house burned and I couldn't rescue the one in the lockbox in the garage, 1 week, or the one by the computers current. If we have a hurricane or tornado, my business insurance is going to cover the loss of two weeks worth of data because I can prove prudence of intent in backups. Also note that Any special images are backed up elsewhere. This is just daily shooting.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

The cloud is a wonderful thing, that is until they're temporarily off line for maintenance or server issues, you've lost your Internet connection, the service screws up and your files go missing, you forget to pay your bill, or the provider goes belly up. It's your data. Put it on the cloud if you want to. I do. But...I also store my raw files on my computer, (3 terebyte hard drive) and on two external backup hard drives. In other words my files, including all my raw files are effectively in 4 places. The only reason I have them on the cloud is for access away from home or in case of a fire. Any data worth keeping shouldn't be left to the vagaries of the cloud. Get at least one large external backup device and use it regularly. Then you can use the cloud for extra security in case the external drive fails. Sh!t happens. Redundant backups protect you.