Field Back Up Drive

[SoccerRef]

I need a pocket sized, self powered HD that I can stick a CF into and copy the CF contents to the HD. Which one have you used? Please give me the good, bad and the ugly.

The application is simply this. I am going to be shooting soccer games along with two or three other photogs. At the end of the match I need to be able to get the photos off of the other photogs CF Cards. I have thought about just providing the photogs with my own cards and collecting them at the end of the day, but we really want to divide and conquer the post processing work as well. Therefore I need a copy and they need a copy of the photos.

Hope this makes sense...

[inthedeck]

Well, there are multiple options.

-Epson P3000, or 4000, available at B&H. Expensive, though.
-Jobo drives -- also available at B&H
-SmartDisk Photobank (available at staples) 40 GB drive, for about $120 plus tax...at least that's what I paid for it, not too recently. Seems to be OK thusfar...but I have yet to do a test for how long it takes to download a gig or two. For 512 MB cards, seems pretty quick...and it has a CF card slot built in. -- a link from SmartDisks site (https://www.smartdisk.com/b2c/smartdisk/ecom/ecomEnduser/default/default.aspx?pageName=items/xt_itemCatalog.aspx&param=totalLevel=2%26currLevel=2%26lField1=USCATVL S_5%26lValue1=PS%26lField2=USCATVLS_4%26lValue2=PB %26lField3=%26lValue3=%26lField4=%26lValue4=%26lFi eld5=%26lValue5=%26lField6=%26lValue6=%26lField7=% 26lValue7=%26numList=0%26startIndex=-1%26siteId=1)-- cheaper at Staples, though...and I got the last one they had...lucky me
-Wolverine Drives, available at B&H
-HyperDrives, available at B&H

All depends on the budget, and how many gigs. If you want a screen, or not. Etc. Good luck.

here's the link, to B&H by the way.... HERE (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=search&Q=&ci=3369) ...for all the stand alone data storage drives they carry.

[SoccerRef]

Thanks inthedeck...

The B&H link you provided is much appreciated. I had seen the Wolverine units on their site before, but for some reason, I couldn't find them again...

The Photobank by Sandisk or the Wolverine are probably my final runners. I like the larger sized available for the Wolverine units, I will probably go with one of them. The only thing that makes me a little nervous is the 6 Gig on a single charge.

I can EASILY fill a 2 Gig card at a soccer match... with two guys shooting, I could hit 6 Gig with no sweat. I guess I could buy a cigarette lighter power adapter and do the transfers in the parking lot, that is still more convenient than booting up a laptop. I'll keep looking... THANKS again for your link, it was very helpful.

[GyRob]

I was looking at this http://www.nextodi.co.uk/index-3d.html
Rob.

[SoccerRef]

GyRob...

That Looks PERFECT. Unfortunately, I can't find a distributor in the USA. I might have to save a little longer as well, as it is about twice the price. If you get one, let me know how well it works. Reliability and quality are usually worth paying a little extra.

[inthedeck]

Thanks inthedeck....

Anytime.

[SuzyView]

I have a used P-2000 I got from a friend here at POTN. It is great, but costs around $300. The newer models are faster. The best thing about it really is that you can see the images with a 3.7 inch screen. It's insanely sharp. I dump about 8 GB into it for weddings and then I transfer at home onto an external hard drive. From that drive I can make DVD's or CD's whenever. It's been very reliable. I am considering getting one of the Photobank type gadgets for longer trips, now that I have the 5D, and it fills a 4 GB card in 220 images. Be careful which one you choose, though. Some of the less expensive ones have a high number of failures.

[inthedeck]

I have had the Jobo giga mini for about 3 years, until it fell to it's death. Worked great, for a 'cheap' product (price and build). Once it took a dive, though...I don't think most devices would make it...especially from 4 feet up, falling rapidly onto a hard wood floor.

This time, it didn't make it...so, I replaced it the other day, after much deliberation, with a SmartDisk photobank (40GB vs 20 gb). I figure the loss of the Giga was harsh...but it wasn't all that expensive, and after having it for 3 years, it certainly paid for itself. Must have downloaded/uploaded over 60-80 gigs worth of info. with it, over the years.

RIP giga. :(