Digital Photo Storage

[jalafata]

I had enquired about Nixvue, but see there are multiple competitors: Delkin Picture Pad, X Drive Pros, Flash Trax, to name a few. I'm interested in pros/cons or best device for starge on trips shooting raw with Canon 10 D.

[5 Type]

I've read alot about this, the one that interes me the most is :

VOSONIC X Drive Pro
http://www.vosonic.co.uk/vp300.html
http://www.vosonic.co.uk/xsdrivepro/mainunit.jpg

Pros
-Confirmation of transfert
- USB 2.0

Cons
- No display to view your pictures

[KennyG]

I had enquired about Nixvue, but see there are multiple competitors: Delkin Picture Pad, X Drive Pros, Flash Trax, to name a few. I'm interested in pros/cons or best device for starge on trips shooting raw with Canon 10 D.

I love my Flash Trax. Not only is the transfer easy to do (one button copy), but it has an image display that even supports RAW (without zooming though). Firmware updates are readily available and that should mean it will keep up-to-date with new image formats (1D MK-II for example).

[SWPhotoImaging]

Is the FlashTrax USB 2.0?

[iwatkins]

USB 2.0 ? Yes it is.

More info. here: http://www.smartdisk.com/

Cheers

Ian

[karusel]

I've read some of the specs of Flashtrax, it says it can zoom... does that mean it can zoom a jpg, but not a raw?

[iwatkins]

The way I understand it after speaking to the FlashTrax guys at Focus last month, you can zoom a JPEG, yes.

In addition, if the RAW has a larger embedded JPEG, you can zoom that as well. The Device does not display RAW, it only displays the JPEG embedded within. Therefore, his advice was to use larger JPEGs in the RAW image (can set this under Custom Functions on the 10D).

Cheers

Ian

[jalafata]

For IPOD (Mac) owners, I see where it can store photos, including RAW with a Belkin adapter. It looks more expensive than Flash Trax, unless you already own an IPOD.

[5 Type]

I've read that the IPOD is really slow to transfert from cf to hard drive.

[samdring]

Anyone out there tried the new Epson?

[iwatkins]

Sam,

Yes, tried it at Focus.

It does what it says it can and the screen is the best out there.

However, USB 1 only so transfers back to the PC are dog slow. In addition the actual machine is really slow, i.e. three or four seconds to flick backwards/forwards between JPEGs. Oh, and only a 10Gb disk.

The Epson guys I spoke to did even say that they are not pushing the product very hard as "it is a bit crap". Version 2 is slated for later this year with USB 2.0 (maybe Firewire), better battery life and a lot faster processor. Also a "pro" version was discussed, i.e. something a little more rugged and easier to use in the field.

Cheers

Ian

[ahmadof]

can anyone confirm the speed of the iPod alternative. Is it really slow, and does it transfer RAW?

[rockabillyrebel]

Just thought I'd mention this storage soloution of which I've just purchased. I'm just about to go on a 6 month vacation to the US & plan to take ALOT of pictures. I searched through the various digital storage products & finally settled on this one....

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/news/digpop/405.html

although I got the 24x speed version. I decided that 6 months worth of pictures all on one portable hard drive would be too much of a risk if the disk failed or suchlike! And I can't afford 2 means of back-up.

Yes this is a bit larger to carry (a great carry case is available for it) & yes I need to carry blank CD's with me but I feel the security it offers outways the portable hard disk method. At the end of the day I can back-up my CF cards to CD in the comfort of my motel room whilst enjoying a nice cup of tea (I'm taking my own supply of tea bags :)

Also I'll be using CD-RW discs so if I get chance to use a PC along the way I can go through my CD's. viewing, deleting or sorting as nessesary.

[ahmadof]

one question is though, how does it handle 1Gb cards. Does it span disks? Or, does it just crash? :wink:

[dn7elson]

one question is though, how does it handle 1Gb cards. Does it span disks? Or, does it just crash? :wink:

The specs say that trying to copy from a full 1GB CF will cause an "error", likely similar to a disk full error. I would suggest that this type of device is better left to 512 MB or less CF, although I would assume that if you downloaded a partially full 512 MB CF and then tried it again onto the same CD exceeding the CD capacity you would encounter the same error.

Hopefull, it will not corrupt the disk or CF when it errors.

[WestFalcon]

The Apacer Disc Steno 200 is a burner and has the capability of burning a 1 gb card by something called spanning technology. I think that it continues onto another CDR after filling up one. The older Apacer 100 would not do that. These are about $250-300 depending upon where you buy it from. I just ordered one and will evaluate it this week and let forum members know .

[whereismykit]

Has anyone ever tried this unit

IOMagic 20GB Digital Photo Library for $130 - $30 rebate = $100 w/ free shipping.


http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CT LG%5F001%5F003%5F009%5F000&product%5Fid=25%2D3104

[CyberDyneSystems]

Has anyone ever tried this unit

IOMagic 20GB Digital Photo Library for $130 - $30 rebate = $100 w/ free shipping.


http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CT LG%5F001%5F003%5F009%5F000&product%5Fid=25%2D3104

Thats the original X-drive,. it's drawbacks are,
USB1 only,
and no LCD screen so only leds to tell you when things are complete.... but at 100.00 with 20 gigs.. it is a schweeeeet price!

[whereismykit]

can you really see much on the small LCD screen. for the extra hundreds. is the LCD screen and fast dl worth the few hundreds more. I'm just wondering if those two things are worth it.

[Mikesht]

can you really see much on the small LCD screen. for the extra hundreds. is the LCD screen and fast dl worth the few hundreds more. I'm just wondering if those two things are worth it.

Plus if you are shooting mostly RAW (I do) and small JPEG, you will have to increase the size of JPEG for zooming, otherwise what's the point of that small screen? Which decreases the camera's speed I am guessing. What I do normally - I just look them thru in-camera and record on my Tripper unit, and sort it out back home. I do not think that extra small screen is worth it for me - but maybe it is very much so for somebody else.

[5 Type]

The LCD is not made to see the pictures, but to actualy have a confirmation of the tranfert.

X-Drive I
http://www.vosonic.co.uk/PICS/xdrive-1.jpg

X-Drive II
http://www.vosonic.co.uk/PICS/vp2060.jpg

[psk4363]

8)

Well thanks to the comments here and particularly KennyG and Ian, they solved one of my storage problems and convinced me to buy the FlashTrax (40Gb) - which I did yesterday - and very impressed I am with it too. The screen is excellent and the transfer speed via USB 2.0 is staggering. I've had it with me on an all-day shoot at a wetlands reserve and it performed superbly.

Anyone else contemplating a digital storage device I would readily recommend the FlashTrax.

Cheers,
Barry

[SWPhotoImaging]

I agree. My FlashTrrax is on order now.

[merlyn9]

can anyone confirm the speed of the iPod alternative. Is it really slow, and does it transfer RAW?

:oops: Well the best I can remember is with less than a full battery (well playing music while out with nature uses power?) moving a 512Mb CF took about 8-10 minutes. (Large RAW)

Pluging into PC has option to treat as an external storage device, like another hard drive...

BUT here's the kicker.... the total connectivity needs to be still, so you can't do this while walking around. Otherwise it stops, and you need to restart, thus creating duplicates.

Battery life is a turn off... I an highly considering taking this back just on that... & finding $$$ for the Fast Trax unit....
Apple makes this purchase real easy when they Throw $2500 credit limit at you! :roll: :roll: :roll:

[manncer]

:shock: :?:

Westfalcon- I too seem to think the Apacer might be good. Hope you can let us know how it works soon. 8)

Thanks,
manncer

[WestFalcon]

I received my Apacer Disc Steno 200......Read the manual and now I am sending it back. Short life!! The manual said if you hit a certain button or the power goes off during the copying of a disc....The original memory card data may be corrupted!!!!! :( That frightened me because I do dances and weddings and I can't afford to have my original card corrupted. Does anyone on the forum know if devices like the Flashtrax and Vosonic Xdrive II can corrupt your original card...That is too much risk for me.

[chris.bailey]

can anyone confirm the speed of the iPod alternative. Is it really slow, and does it transfer RAW?

You are just using an IPod as a hard drive and having tried it it is incredibly slow compared to the Flashtrax.