Image Storage in the fiels.

[netadmin22]

I'd appreciate some inputs regarding devices such as Image Tank III for portable storage of images in the field. For several years I have used my laptop but it isn't that portable and power isn't always available.

[Scottes]

I've got an X's Drive II that I got for $90 without a drive. I installed a 20-G drive with a little bit of pain after finding the program and info on this.

It's simple but cheap. No verification, no viewing of any data info, nothing. You get an icon indicating that a CF card is in place, and a simple animation if it's copying. No frills whatsoever. It doesn't seem all too sturdy - no rubber corners like some of them - but doesn't seem fragile. It's adequate.

However, I love it, and loved saving hundreds of dollars over a fancy sturdy verifying model. It allowed me to buy glass. :)

[Longwatcher]

The Delkin/Nixvue Picture Pad is the high-end of field storage short of a laptop. My experience and research is that the Delkin version is slightly better (plus it is black so it matches my camera).

It gives you the ability to view D30/60/10D raw images (not sure on 300D) as well as tranfer files back and forth from a CF card in the field. [very handy to clear off a music card when I need that extra card and then reload the music onto the card for the flight home]

They have from 20GB to 60GB options. The negative is the battery power so I recommend the AA battery pack as an accessory. The other useful accessory is either the firewire or USB2.0 attachment.

I highly recommend it, but it runs a lot more then some other options. On the other hand you can make sure you have that really great image stored.

[where1]

I am using the X-Drive II also. The no frills system allows me to free up CFs in the field. It uses a different folder with each use. I use it as a backup place until I get the files backed up on to CD or DVD from the computer. So even if I go from CF to computer, I still put a copy on the X-Drive.
I did buy the 12Volt cord with it so I can use it in my vehicle when I forget to charge it before I go out.

[CyberDyneSystems]

X-Drive II here as well! :)

Very habndy,. all anyone needs is at least 2 CF cards of 512 or so,. and an X-drive to swap them around in :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

Oh!!!!!!

P.S. !!
I almost forgot!

There is a new X-drive "PRO" that will display the directory tree with files on the LCD and it is very reasonably priced!

For this that actually think they will have time to verify the transfer,. the new X-drive pro will solve this problem without the expense and battery drain of a color TFT to view images on.

If I weren't completely happy with my X-driveII,. I would be getting the X-drive pro :)

[Longwatcher]

Will the X-drive pro allow you to copy files back to a CF card?

[CyberDyneSystems]

Dunno?

But it does double as a 30 gig MP3 player! :mrgreen:

Here;
http://www.xs-drive.com/xsdrivepro/

[CoolToolGuy]

:?: While we're here, any comments relative to the Image Tank G2? That one seems to meet my needs. Any horror stories or raving testimonials?

Have Fun
Rick

[mjordan]

I have the 40 gig Image Tank G2 and have had no problems with it in the almost 5 months I've had it. I used it to put about 20 gigs of files on during one 7 day shooting session without a problem. I'd fill up a CF card, turn it on, pop in the card, start the upload and set it back inside my camera bag while I continued to shoot. It never failed to upload (although I did have to remember to look at it before it shut itself off so I'd see the 100% confirmation). The only nit about it is the CF card sometimes doesn't slide into the slot and onto the pins easy. There is enough wiggle room for the CF card that it sometimes took a couple of tries to get it to insert completely.

Battery consumption seems to be pretty low. Even after a day of writting to it I still had plenty of battery power left when I charged it up that night. I did buy the AA battery adapter rather than the rechargable external battery and I'm glad I saved the money. I have never had to use the AA battery adapter yet. And it will work and charge off of a car power port or car 12 volt cigirrett lighter. It's a USB 2.0 interface (I wish it was firewire) and though it's faster than 1.0 (I've uploaded on both), it still takes awhile to upload a days worth of saving onto a laptop or desktop. I just set it uploading and went to dinner.

So far, I like it and it was cheaper than a single name brand 1 gig card.

Mike

[Nolz]

i have a friend that has just completed a month's holiday in the states, took with him an X-drive II and it performed faultlessly almost 6 gigs of photos were taken and all of them transferred quickly and with ease.

was approx. $390 AUD which included a 30gig hdd....not a bad solution i think ;)

more recently though ive heard that you can get card reader attachments for your "apple ipod" which could make things a whole lot easier....ipods are tiny, and it also acts an mp3 player and organiser...also good for transferring any other files

[cowman345]

Just purchased an X's Drive Pro and I've never been happier, it's sturdy, reliable, and you can verify transfers (view file names, can't see images).

-dave

[timmyquest]

Maybe i can now justify the purchace of an Ipod :twisted:

[bugs]

I've got the ImageTank G2, and I've got to say: I'm very pleased with it. LCD for status reading, possibility to write back to CF later on etc.

I've got a NexIA mp3 player as well with voicerecorder. As it uses CF for storage too, I'm able to use the voicerecorder in the field while taking pictures. Download both pictures and voicedata to the ImageTank, and later when I'm going home, I can restore my music collection to a CF, stuff it into the player and I've got music again.

40 Gigs seems like plenty of space for RAWs and a few music compilations.

/Johnny

[Longwatcher]

Just purchased an X's Drive Pro and I've never been happier, it's sturdy, reliable, and you can verify transfers (view file names, can't see images).

-dave
Since you have one,
Same question I asked CDS, Can you transfer files back to a CF card from the X-drive?

[VicGlass]

I am on a tight budget and just needed portable STORAGE when I'm in the field. I don't care about any bells and whisles, just STORAGE. I bought a 40GB X-Drive II and it is better then sliced bread. Furthermore it has slots for both a Sony memory stick and Compact Flash and is a pleasure to use.

I paid $239 at insidecomputer.com which reliably processed my order.