h_scott

Has anyone tried either of these products: Monument Photo Management Device or NEXTO DI Portable All In 1 Backup Storage (NPS-10)? If yes what has been your experience and would you recommend the device? I have read reviews on the Monument but don't find any yet on the Nexto product.

Having read previous threads I know that many people suggest bringing a handful of memory cards and backing up when you get home but I'm too paranoid to rely on that as a solution. I would also prefer not to have to carry a laptop abroad. If you have not tried these products but have another solution (other than more cards or a laptop) I'd appreciate your advice.

Thank you!

Quixdraw Loc: x

I carry a Kindle Fire for travel reading material and camera user guides. If you use micro sd, you can view, do minor edits, and save photos. Detailed info available on the net.

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I actually used 2 different backup systems last vacation, just to compare both in the field without using a laptop.

One was the more expensive WD Passport Wireless Pro and the other was the affordable RAV Power Filehub. I tested both before going and both worked well. The WD Passport is self-contained with it's own HDD and wireless hub to connect to phones, tablets etc. The Rav Power is also a wireless hub, but does not have an HDD. The Rav Power is a battery bank for emergency power supply and also has a USB port to power a portable HD to download to that drive with a single push of a button. Both have a single SD card slot and you can download via wireless or direct to the connected HDD.

The cost of both are similar if you have to purchase a portable hard drive, otherwise, the Rav Power is less than $50 on Amazon. Size for the WD is about twice the size of the Rav, but with a portable HD, they take up the same amount of space, more or less. The ones you mentioned I am unfamiliar with, but for the price, I am very happy with either of my current choices.

The software is a little different also. The WD Passport doesn't duplicate files if you re-download a card with newer files, but arranges the downloads by date in separate folders. The Rav Power downloads a card into it's own folder regardless of duplicates.

I also carried a Kindle Fire for reading and emails, etc. Didn't use it for backups, but did use it to view backed up photos.

bikerguy

I have used two different methods. I always bring my smart phone and a tablet. With either of these I can plug in an OTG that accepts SD and micro SD cards and has USB ports. I backup the SD cards daily to thumb drives. Alternatively, I use a Kingston Mobilite G3 (similar to the RavPower) and use it to back u either to thumb drives or a portable hard drive. Sometimes to both. I want to come home with at least two sets of files always carried is separate places. Currently I use an Oly EM1MII set up to copy all images to both SD cards. With this set up I only do an additional backup if I need to reformat a cards. Like you I am paranoid about card failure and/or loss.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

One thing I like about the Kindle is its ability to accept memory cards. I can insert a 512GB card and have loads of storage available. I currently use 32 and 64GB cards. I can easily add or upload data to and from the cards in a computer or transfer them from one Kindle to another.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

I like having a laptop with me when I travel. I also use 2 WD 1 TB HHD to do two B/Us plus the catalog on the internal HD

Bfree2 Loc: Grants Pass, Or

I always travel with an iPad. My older 10.5 pro works well. It fits into my sling bag, and when the days over I load and edit with Affinity.

TonyF Loc: Bradenton, FL

Quixdraw, I have a Kindle Fire. Can you tell me how you download a micro sd card to it? (I have a card reader that I use at home, but it has a full size usb that won't fit the fire.) Thanks,

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

My laptop is really thin - there is even a pocket in my 'Retrospective 7' camera bag that will hold it, although sometimes I carry all my non-camera gear in my suitcase.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

No. I don't use anything when I'm traveling. I have a number of memory cards and wait until I get home to move them to my processing computer, or develop them. I can't imagine a less worthwhile task than moving files from a memory card to a storage device while on the road. I'll process the images when I return to my lab.
--Bob

jdubu Loc: San Jose, CA

I agree, any cards I use are not reformatted until I get home. I verify everything I COPIED from the cards are correctly backed up to the hard drives. The cards are my original source and the portable hard drives are my backups. Each set of files are packed in different bags for the trip home.

worldcycle Loc: Stateline, Nevada

I carry a Dell XPS13. Small, light, great performance. I back up my cards every night to the computer and external hard drive. Not that much to carry for the extra insurance it provides. Plus you can do a rough down and dirty edit of the days photos to lighten the editing load when you get home. Really silly to rely just on a handful or more of memory cards (Can get misplaced or.......?) as your only backup.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Same computer I got 👍 .... but I got the Linux variant.

lev29 Loc: Born and living in MA.

Dear h_scott,
I'm only 59 yo and I love gadgets. But one of my college roommates, who has been an advanced amateur since high school and travels alot, brought my idea of buying Nexto this and WD that to a crashing halt by telling me one concept, "So now you're gooing to schlep yet another battery & charger system with you?"

So I thought about this, "Hmm. Let's see. There's my Apple iPad & iPhone with chargers & cables, though their batteries are built in. There there are my Sony mirrorless cameras; they all use the same batteries and charging system. My electric shaver has a built-in battery & transformer, which in turn facilitates use of a more modest sized a.c. electrical plug & cord."

So I suggest, h_scott, that you consider taking my approach regarding just how much dense electronic gear and batteries/chargers you want to haul along.

So what do I do? I have a 2-layer approach.

First, I take with me a small, lightweight SD card reader that plugs directly into my iPad. I can then view the images anytime and so long as I acquire JPEGs along with RAW, I can easily e-mail the former to friends and family.

Second, then using, for instance, SanDisk's iXpand flash drive, I back up the photos from my iPad onto it. This has the potential for freeing up the SD cards for additional photos should I need to.