avman Loc: Normal IL

I travel with my daughter to airshows and return home to process images collected from the shows we attend. Having decided to slooooow down and not kill her and myself this years adventures will keep us away from home for longer periods of time. I do not have a laptop or a tablet. I do have an android but wish to refrain running images through it to upload to a storage platform. I am merely looking at transferring images from my CF cards at the end of the day and reformatting cards for use the next day. Recently I observed some suggestions for methods of image transfer, but I would have some difficulty locating that thread. I am asking for suggestions to accomplish my task while out on adventure. Thank you for your advice......

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

In such situation, I find it easier to simply bring as many memory cards as I will need for the trip. When on card fills up, I replace it with the next empty card.
Much less can go wrong than constantly transferring images to some external device (especially a somewhat unfamiliar device!), and then formatting the card so it can immediately be used again. Deal with the task of getting the images off the card and into the computer at home after the trip.

Rhode Island Red Loc: Houston, TX

From the previous thread I know you'll get a lot of suggestions! There are a lot of options.

All of these dedicated back up devices just seem expensive for the amount of storage you get, but they would do the job.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Stand-Alone-Data-Storage/ci/3369/N/4000227848

You can get a laptop capable of doing the transfer for less than $200: https://www.amazon.com/Ideapad-Flagship-Celeron-Dual-Core-Personal/dp/B077RGJ6S7/ref=pd_sbs_147_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B077RGJ6S7&pd_rd_r=H6DPQ20EMEN6J89F1J7E&pd_rd_w=eFlla&pd_rd_wg=EyT0R&psc=1&refRID=H6DPQ20EMEN6J89F1J7E#customerReviews

I've seen a guy at an event transferring thousands of images form cards to an external drive using a cheap tablet. Pretty much anything with the USB connection can get it done.

Add an external hard drive to store the photos. Here is 2TB for less than $70
https://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Backup-Portable-External-STDR2000101/dp/B00FRHTTIA/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1517385927&sr=1-2&keywords=external+hard+drive&refinements=p_n_feature_two_browse-bin%3A7817230011

Don't forget your card reader, $15:
https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Reader-Adapter-Simultaneously-Windows/dp/B01ARAH6O0/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1517386119&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=cf+card+reader&psc=1

With that set up you have a pretty cheap transfer system, less than $300. You can transfer the photos directly from the external hard drive to your home computer after the trip.

That super cheap laptop is not likely to be up for editing, but you could check your emails and read some HOG post. You'd want to spend a little more if you wanted to do some editing while you travel.

If you really want security you'll buy enough cards for the trip AND back them up so that you have two copies.


On a side note, I'd always recommend that you format your cards in the camera.

Chris

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

I use a RavPower WD-03 - among other things it is has an SD card reader and a micro USB port that serves as a USB host to which you can connect a card reader for your CF card. On the output side you can connect any USB 2.0 compatible storage device. I use a pair of 128gb memory sticks for dual redundant backup, but you could use a mechanical hard drive if you have one.

I am not a fan of the portable storage devices that either have card slots or do it wirelessly. They are expensive and they use really inexpensive, bottom of the line hard drives, making them pretty unreliable. The last thing you need is a failure while on a trip, and not be able to retrieve the files you've written to them.

The WD-03 costs $40 at Amazon. Oh, and it is also a router/wireless access point/bridge, 6000mah phone charger as well.

You can get 128 gb USB2.0 sticks for $10 or USB3.0 sticks for $30 each. No moving parts, simple reliable solution. I've used this for the past 3 yrs without a hitch.

To use your CF cards you'd have to purchase a MicroUSB 2.0 OTG cable, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Insten-Micro-Adapter-Samsung-Galaxy/dp/B005QX7KYU

So you can connect your CF card reader.

Here is the like to the WD-03

https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Wireless-Portable-Companion-Streamer/dp/B016ZWS9ZE/ref=sr_1_25_sspa?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1517394396&sr=1-25-spons&keywords=wd-03&psc=1

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

WD has a wireless external drive with a slot of an SD card. You can get 2TB of storage for $150, but Amazon customers gave it 3 out of 5 stars, and 24% of people gave it just one star.
https://smile.amazon.com/Passport-Wireless-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B01F5LVTO4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1517397101&sr=8-4&keywords=wd+wireless+drive

I travel with a small Acer Netbook and a small external drive. A the end of each day, I copy files to the computer and then to the external drive.I come home with three copies of all my shots.

georgiapeach2 Loc: Georgia the Peach State

I own 3 Seagate 2TB I store almost all my pictures there included Google Cloud.
I am happy with this setup never lost anything yet this way.

jccash Loc: Longwood, Florida

I use the WD Passport Wireless

duane klipping Loc: Bristow iowa

Get more cards simple and easy as said above. All other methods cost more and take time. I have a laptop and lots of cards also. Do little transfers on trips.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

While I use a Dell XPS laptop and an external drive the WD Passport Wireless has a lot going for it. You can get 2T for $150.00. It has an on board battery that you can use to charge your phone. It has wifi you can use later to view the pictures on your phone. Here is more info from WD: https://www.wdc.com/products/portable-storage/my-passport-wireless-pro.html

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I'm sure it works well, but I don't see why it would be superior for traveling than using multiple memory cards. It takes up space, and it is one more gadget that needs charging during the trip.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I used one of these on a recent trip to Africa. That way I had my photos in two different places - one set on the SD cards and one place on thumb drives. It was easier to just work with the thumb drives when I got home.

tony.kokes

GNARBOX is a portable backup & editing system that provides the fastest way to manage your high-resolution media while on the go. Saw this on B&H

berchman Loc: South Central PA

This sounds like a great device, but one review complains that it asks a variety of permissions. Is this a problem for you? "The reason is because the u-hub app main function is to transfer file between the SD card to the phone/tablet, however it asks permission to location, record audio, take photo, access contacts AND phone call!"

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

When I travel I do not want to spend time storing my results until I get home. I want to experience everything when I travel. SO, I just take extra memory cards and worry about storage when I get home relaxing from my travels.

mrussell

I travel with a 10 inch Samsung Netbook and a 2Tb external hard drive. Total cost is about $700 but compared to travel costs and potentially lost images, it is a minor cost. A typical trip for me, 1 month in Europe, is around $5000. My gear costs in the neighborhood of $20000. So, I have no problem with the cost of the Netbook and external hard drive.