Portable hard drive question
May 11, 2015 20:24:32 #
As I try to cover all my basis for a big vacation next year overseas, I'm wondering if there are portable hard drives made especially for photographers that have any kind of viewscreen? I mean, how else would you know if a SD card had finished downloading...This is all assuming I don't want to take my 17" laptop with me. It's not small or light and I'm already debating to myself about my A77/lens(es)/flash or bridge rental (SX50, RX100, etc).
May 11, 2015 20:41:56 #
Hello Planepics! I'm not aware of a portable drive that incorporates an LCD or screen of some kind. How would the portable be powered? I use a portable myself, but have configured it for use as a backup device rather than as data storage. My portable has a light that might turn off when the camera is finished downloading. When you download do you set your camera to delete all its images after "copies" have transferred? Doesn't seem like a secure way to transfer images - too many ways the transfer might get interrupted. Maybe some other HOGs have a solution.
May 11, 2015 20:48:27 #
Yes, absolutely! Look on the B&H site at the portable hard drives. Though I have not used one, they look really good.
Pay particular attention to the download speed. Some would take a pretty long time to download, say 16gigs.
It's been a while since I've looked at them. The faster ones were expensive. I'm sure they get cheaper all the time. Don't recall the brands but there are several. Could be reL handy since they don't need a computer. Or buy lots of cards!! Good luck. ;-)
SS
Pay particular attention to the download speed. Some would take a pretty long time to download, say 16gigs.
It's been a while since I've looked at them. The faster ones were expensive. I'm sure they get cheaper all the time. Don't recall the brands but there are several. Could be reL handy since they don't need a computer. Or buy lots of cards!! Good luck. ;-)
SS
May 11, 2015 21:18:54 #
A few years ago Epson made a series of backup drives with a screen to review the pics. They were great. Then for some reason they stopped making them. They took SD and CF cards or you could connect the camera directly to it. I have 3 full devices and wish I could get more.
I think the limiting factor was they had mechanical drives. They needed to go to solid state. Great product .
I use a Wolverene 1 Tb device now but no viewing screen. It's clunky and slow but hasn't failed yet
I think the limiting factor was they had mechanical drives. They needed to go to solid state. Great product .
I use a Wolverene 1 Tb device now but no viewing screen. It's clunky and slow but hasn't failed yet
May 11, 2015 21:31:45 #
SharpShooter wrote:
Yes, absolutely! Look on the B&H site at the portable hard drives. Though I have not used one, they look really good.
Pay particular attention to the download speed. Some would take a pretty long time to download, say 16gigs.
It's been a while since I've looked at them. The faster ones were expensive. I'm sure they get cheaper all the time. Don't recall the brands but there are several. Could be reL handy since they don't need a computer. Or buy lots of cards!! Good luck. ;-)
SS
Pay particular attention to the download speed. Some would take a pretty long time to download, say 16gigs.
It's been a while since I've looked at them. The faster ones were expensive. I'm sure they get cheaper all the time. Don't recall the brands but there are several. Could be reL handy since they don't need a computer. Or buy lots of cards!! Good luck. ;-)
SS
Hmmm, with the cheapest one (500 MB) at $150, going up exponentially from there, and taking 3 1/2 min per gig to download, I'll have to think long and hard about it. I have a 500 GB external drive for my computer I haven't used in a while and all it has in it is FlightSim X. It's powered by electric (wall wart/power pin) but has no card reader or screen. I could just get a card reader for $10 and just trust the download would go through...I'll go to my camera club meeting tomorrow and see if I can borrow one and experiment on some junk pics. As far as cards go, I could just as well do that either way (DSLR/bridge/laptop/HD) as I have a 4, an 8 and two 32GB cards.
May 11, 2015 23:13:13 #
May 11, 2015 23:13:35 #
May 12, 2015 02:22:37 #
I have one of the old Epson Multimedia Storage Viewers. It worked, and still works, extremely well. SD and CF cards plug right into it and the pictures can be viewed and culled on a very sharp and bright 4" screen. It operates on an internal rechargeable battery. Downsides: the charger is a monster of wires and power adapters, and it only holds 80 Megabytes. It was great with the 6MP D100 but with the 36MP D800E it doesn't hold enough pictures for a lengthy trip. I carry a macbook air and two 500GB portable drives.
May 12, 2015 11:29:57 #
I just bought a 2TB Seagate mobile backup with cable and case from Costco for $99. Works great. Does not have LCD screen. Backs up photos and videos from IOS and Android mobile devices also. Works on both Mac & Windows.
May 12, 2015 12:03:50 #
I recommend at least 2 hard drives for backup. If you images are all on one, there is too great a chance for losing everything. I have started taking 3 hard drives for backup and keeping one with me and the others in the motel room.
May 12, 2015 12:21:02 #
planepics wrote:
As I try to cover all my basis for a big vacation next year overseas, I'm wondering if there are portable hard drives made especially for photographers that have any kind of viewscreen? I mean, how else would you know if a SD card had finished downloading...This is all assuming I don't want to take my 17" laptop with me. It's not small or light and I'm already debating to myself about my A77/lens(es)/flash or bridge rental (SX50, RX100, etc).
Take MORE SD cards with you, transfer them when you return home - no 'gizmo' to haul around & fiddle with!
May 12, 2015 13:38:07 #
planepics wrote:
As I try to cover all my basis for a big vacation next year overseas, I'm wondering if there are portable hard drives made especially for photographers that have any kind of viewscreen? I mean, how else would you know if a SD card had finished downloading...This is all assuming I don't want to take my 17" laptop with me. It's not small or light and I'm already debating to myself about my A77/lens(es)/flash or bridge rental (SX50, RX100, etc).
Perhaps even more important, at least to me, would be to take along a hand full of new cards. Shoot them up and store them. If your camera is doing what it's supposed to do all your shots should be there when you get home.
Also don't forget the voltage converter - Europe is 220 and we're 110.
Good luck and have a blast.
May 12, 2015 14:55:21 #
I use a NexToDi drive, very happy with it. Has a small screen that gives status and various other functions, and lets you see the name of the files. It will just update its file from your card, as opposed to copying all the images, if you have not deleted images off your card. It is available in various sizes.
May 12, 2015 17:01:33 #
[quote=jimmya]
Also don't forget the voltage converter - Europe is 220 and we're 110.
You most likely don't need a voltage converter. Somewhere on the device or cord it will specify a voltage range usually it will be 110-240 volts which means you don't need a converter but you will need a plug adapter. All my cameras, battery chargers, backup devices, and computers work on this principle. They make some small compact adapters that will cover the entire world. Much easier to carry than a converter. Most average or better hotels usually can supply the adapter if you don't have one
Also don't forget the voltage converter - Europe is 220 and we're 110.
You most likely don't need a voltage converter. Somewhere on the device or cord it will specify a voltage range usually it will be 110-240 volts which means you don't need a converter but you will need a plug adapter. All my cameras, battery chargers, backup devices, and computers work on this principle. They make some small compact adapters that will cover the entire world. Much easier to carry than a converter. Most average or better hotels usually can supply the adapter if you don't have one
May 12, 2015 19:02:00 #
jimmya wrote:
Perhaps even more important, at least to me, would be to take along a hand full of new cards. Shoot them up and store them. If your camera is doing what it's supposed to do all your shots should be there when you get home.
Also don't forget the voltage converter - Europe is 220 and we're 110.
Good luck and have a blast.
Also don't forget the voltage converter - Europe is 220 and we're 110.
Good luck and have a blast.
I'll be going to Israel for 15 days (if you count a couple 1/2-day/night flights) and will be in the Golan Heights at a kibbutz the evening before and the morning of my 53rd (scary) birthday. I was en route to Alaska for my 50th on a cruise ship...I try to make it special.
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