storage options...

[Celtic5549]

i know this has probably been discussed before but when i use the search i get so many non specific hits i thought i would lay it out again.
i purchase a dig rebel for my trip to germany. i have 2 256, 1 384, 1 512 and a gig microdrive. not being all that confident in the microdrive i wanted to know what you would all suggest as a means of backing up my pictures and storing them during the trip. i have seen a cf to cd burner in one of my mags but i can't find it and i know nothing about it anyway.
i am leaving in a week and a half so if i could get your help i would really appreciate it.
money is a factor.
thanks

J. Carey

[Radtech1]

Because I allways use a baseball bat when the job requires a chopstick, I bring my laptop with a CD burner. On my last Germany trip, (see various shots in Critique Corner) I burn at least 2 copies nightly, in addition to having them on the laptops HD. One copy of the CDs go in my carry on and the other copy gets FedExed to my home on my last day there.

Bigger than life, my laptop experienced a catostrophic failure which meant a clean install. I was glad to have the CDs. Granted I didn't need BOTH copies of the CDs, BUT, it felt a lot safer that way.

BTW, where are you going?

Rad

[cmM]

How about a laptop ?
(and a 220V -> 110V adapter)
That way you can do more things (view, select, even photoshop if you want to).

[robertwgross]

There are several ways to look at this problem.

When I travel to some place, I shoot mostly digitally, and I use 512 and 256 MB CF cards. At the end of each day of shooting, I normally transfer all of the images to my X-drive (portable storage drive), and then I format the CF cards in the camera to prepare for the next day.

Obviously, I have no backup. If the portable storage drive should fail, then I'm stuck. For that matter, if the original CF cards should fail, then I am stuck also.

What a few people do is to copy the CF files to the portable storage drive, and then SAVE the filled CF cards to another place to carry home. That way, you have all of your images on two differernt media, and that is pretty good. I believe that few people go to this trouble unless it was very important photography.

Some will use the portable storage drives that burn the files to CD-R. That works. Some will take their CF cards to a photo shop along the way and have the files burned to CD-R. That costs a little, but that works. You better test the CD-R before you leave the shop.

---Bob Gross---

[jimtfoto]

Celtic5549 ...
On a recent trip to Florida, my wife and I (we have 10D and 300D with 1 512 mb card each) decided to purchase a SmartDisk FLashtrax 30 gig storage device. We used this almost daily, downloaded to our laptop and burned two copies of the pix on CDs, later transferring to DVD. Paid about $800 Canadian for the Flashtrax. Think that model goes for about $400 U.S. and also believe they have at least a 40 gig model now available. For absolute piece of mind, I prefer the download to laptop and burn copies to CD routine.
... enjoy your trip

[bfaust]

jimtfoto
Tell us about your battery life on the FlashTrax. Mine is very short.

BF

[Celtic5549]

i don't have the money for a laptop. the camera was a gigantic purchase considering i already owned a 1D but did not want to lug it all over europe. i am interested in something portable. as i said i know i have seen a portable burner that burns directly from the cf but can not find the mag i saw it in. the flashtrax sounds like an alternative but it is still kinda pricey and it is a hard drive which could fail.
keep em coming...i love hearing what you guys have to say...

ps. berlin, prague, dresden, fusen, heidleberg, black forest...that is the basics of it...

thanks again

[robertwgross]

If cost is an issue, then my entire solution cost was about $120.

---Bob Gross---

[jimtfoto]

bfaust ...
agree with you ... the battery life is the only downside to the Flashtrax ... I usually charge it up on a Friday night (since I do most of my shooting on the weekend) and find that it usually sits at about 60 to 80 percent prior to charging, even if I haven't used it on the previous weekend. The heaviest day of usage was at Busch Gardens in Florida earlier this year ... charged it night before, shot for about eight hours and downloaded about 800 images to the Flashtrax in five sessions through the day. Once back to base, just plugged it in for download ... always keep the charger with me in case there's a problem (and a handy outlet!!!) ... wonder if there's a car charger available for it...

[Celtic5549]

is there somewhere i could get a better price or else i don't see how that solution is 150?
thanks
J

[chris maddock]

bfaust ...
agree with you ... the battery life is the only downside to the Flashtrax ... I usually charge it up on a Friday night (since I do most of my shooting on the weekend) and find that it usually sits at about 60 to 80 percent prior to charging, even if I haven't used it on the previous weekend. The heaviest day of usage was at Busch Gardens in Florida earlier this year ... charged it night before, shot for about eight hours and downloaded about 800 images to the Flashtrax in five sessions through the day. Once back to base, just plugged it in for download ... always keep the charger with me in case there's a problem (and a handy outlet!!!) ... wonder if there's a car charger available for it...

I ran a test on mine (20Gb model) as soon as I got it - I managed three full downloads of a 1Gb Microdrive, 1 full verification and "almost" 1 more full download before the battery died. It was very close to making the complete fourth download, only missing 7 images IIRC. Had I not done the complete verification I'd have easily got the fourth full download and probably another ½-¾ worth. I would expect better life when using CF cards, Microdrives do draw more power, I also understand that LiIon batteries aren't at their best until they've been charged and drained a few times.

That's fine for me - I don't anticipate being away from some power source for more than 2 or 3 full microdrives worth

There is a car adapter available - at least, there is in the UK so I'd assume it's available elsewhere, the Flashtrax isn't a UK product.

KRs
Chris

[Johnnynf]

Check out this link.

http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/s.nl/c.ACCT139057/sc.2/category.3/.f

If you can't get a laptop, it seems like these portable storage devices are your only choice. To save a little cost, youc an buy the storage device by istelf...with no HD installed, and buy a separate HD and install it yourself.

The only other way I can think of is to do what someone mentioned earlier and take your CF cards to camera stores along the way and have them burn CD's for you...but by the time you pay for all of that, you probably could have bought one of these portable storage devices.

Or you can just buy more CF cards...would be very expensive though.

I have seen those CF card readers that burn CD's...but they were just as expensive as the portable storage devices listed in the link above.

[Radtech1]

ps. berlin, prague, dresden, fusen, heidleberg, black forest...that is the basics of it...

thanks again

In berlin there are TONS of Photo-ops all over. The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is AMAZING. Be sure to take photos INSIDE!

Also, there is an english speaking walking tour. You can find out more about it from various travel sites, I believe it is called "Berlin Walks" TAKE IT!! This is not a sugguestion, but rather, comes with all the force of a commandment that I can muster.


In Fussen, I am sure you are going to Neushwanstein - From the castle, you can see a bridge crossing a gorge (to the south?). GET TO THE BRIDGE. There is a fantasitic view of the castle from there.

Also, while you are in the fussen area, Ludwigsberg is a nice site too, ask around, the one with the grotto is the one you want.

South of Heidleberg is a small town called Sinshiem (SP?) that has the most AMAZING museum of all thing mechanichal - Cars dating back to the original Karl Benz carriage plus a lot of detroit iron, planes - mostly from ww2 and the cold war, tanks, player organs, two concords (1 french, 1 soviet rip-off), chain saws, sewing machines, you name it. Granted not a lot of great photos there, as everthing is too crowded together, but an amazing place to see.

Have fun and post a lot!

Rad

[robertwgross]

I ran a test on mine (20Gb model) as soon as I got it - I managed three full downloads of a 1Gb Microdrive, 1 full verification and "almost" 1 more full download before the battery died. It was very close to making the complete fourth download, only missing 7 images IIRC. ...


Do you find this to be acceptable?

If I missed seven important images, I might be tearing out my hair.

---Bob Gross---

[samdring]

i don't have the money for a laptop. the camera was a gigantic purchase considering i already owned a 1D but did not want to lug it all over europe. i am interested in something portable. as i said i know i have seen a portable burner that burns directly from the cf but can not find the mag i saw it in. the flashtrax sounds like an alternative but it is still kinda pricey and it is a hard drive which could fail.
keep em coming...i love hearing what you guys have to say...

ps. berlin, prague, dresden, fusen, heidleberg, black forest...that is the basics of it...

thanks again

Massive vote from me for Apacer Disc Steno
CF card into Apacer - burn CD (1 or more copies dependent upon contents) - 512 card fits nicely thankyou onto one CDR - burns at 24x on my model and verifies the write - battery life excellent - Apacer is nice colour of blue-grey and the indicator lights are cute!!

Fits my bill for every lengthy trip or holiday

[Celtic5549]

i had just been looking at the apacer...i think it is a good option...
any other advice...
and thanks for the suggestions for my trip...

[chris maddock]

I ran a test on mine (20Gb model) as soon as I got it - I managed three full downloads of a 1Gb Microdrive, 1 full verification and "almost" 1 more full download before the battery died. It was very close to making the complete fourth download, only missing 7 images IIRC. ...


Do you find this to be acceptable?

If I missed seven important images, I might be tearing out my hair.


Of course not - that's why I tested it, to get an idea of the life so that I don't lose important images through not knowing.
If I know that I can get three full downloads, then I know how much I can do without access to power - car or mains. If I didn't test it, I could have gone out and used it, run it flat and filled my cards with no means of emptying them. Now I know the limit I can work with that in mind.

KRs
Chris