Alternative file storage?

[prov431]

I have heard of people using some kind of 'hard drive storage devices' that they carry with them while shooting...something that I assume you download your Compact Flash card to then keep shooting?
Can someone point me in the right direction for something like this?
Currently we are just swapping 3 Compact Flash cards around.

[dn7elson]

There are several here that use the FlashTrax.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/311663.jpg

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=311663&is=REG

[jboyd]

I use this one:

Delkin eFilm Picture Pad - 20GB hard drive

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=260631&is=REG

Jackie

[robertwgross]

These are known as portable storage drives. The ones with the screen allow you to review your images not too long after shooting. However, they take more battery power and weigh more. There are others without any screen, so they do the same storage job and take less power and weigh less. It just depends on your priorities.

About 18 months ago, I had purchased one of the original Vosonics VP-2030 X drive products (no screen), and it works fine. What was interesting is how many other places the same product has popped up with different brand labels on it.

---Bob Gross---

[cmM]

There are also much cheaper solutions... like this one: (I don't personally own one...still trying to decide between a laptop and a portable storage solution...)
http://www.compgeeks.com/details.asp?invtid=VP-2060
you buy a regular HDD separately, and there you have it. Of course, you won't have a screen or any other cool features....

[CyberDyneSystems]

Yeah.. the Geeks is where I got My X-drive...

By far the cheapest solution.

[robertwgross]

Yeah.. the Geeks is where I got My X-drive...


Ditto.

---Bob Gross---

[SDK^]

I have a Flash Trax and whilst the battery could last longer it's something I couldn't do without.

[psk4363]

My vote goes with the FlashTrax - superb piece of kit!

Cheers,
Barry

[prov431]

The Flashtrax !

That is exactly what I was after! Perfect! I order from B&H quite a bit, so that makes it even easier.
I have one question about the unit though...does it take standard batteries or is it a rechargable non removable style battery? It would be nice if it was just regular batteries so you could just pop in some fresh ones when it gets low.
Thanks for the help!
Dan

[robertwgross]

How difficult was it getting the Flashtrax to read a Canon RAW file and display it?

---Bob Gross---

[Canuck]

How difficult was it getting the Flashtrax to read a Canon RAW file and display it?

---Bob Gross---

Bob on the 10D not at all...just look thru the files, usually backup\20040606h\dcim\164canon\crw_6401.crw in this instance where 20060606 is the date archived and h is the 8th folder that day and 164canon is the folder and crw_6401.crw is the image #. I chimp after the fact as it is about 4x the size of the 10D screen.

I vote for the FlashTrax too.

[CoolToolGuy]

The Flashtrax !

That is exactly what I was after! Perfect! I order from B&H quite a bit, so that makes it even easier.
I have one question about the unit though...does it take standard batteries or is it a rechargable non removable style battery? It would be nice if it was just regular batteries so you could just pop in some fresh ones when it gets low.
Thanks for the help!
Dan

I have the Flashtrax, and my only quibble so far is with the battery situation. The battery is a specific unit for the Flashtrax, and the only charger that I have seen for it is the Flashtrax unit itself - you plug in the power cord (the AC adapter or the car cord) to the unit and charge the battery while it is in the unit. I would like to be able to charge a spare battery in the car while I am out trekking around with the Flashtrax. Other than that, the Flashtrax is working out okay for me.

Have Fun,

[dn7elson]

How difficult was it getting the Flashtrax to read a Canon RAW file and display it?

As far as I can tell, it doesn't display the RAW, but rather the embedded JPG. It is a conversion/display issue with RAW files the same as it is on the PC/Mac.

Reading/writing - it's just files to the HD so it doesn't "care" what format the graphic file is in, as long as it's a legitimate file.

[dn7elson]

does it take standard batteries or is it a rechargable non removable style battery?

Neither. It is a removable Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery. You can either get the A/C adapter, auto adapter or 2nd L-I battery for more use time. See the link in my post above for the B&H data on it.

You can also go directly to the manufacturer's website:

http://www.smartdisk.com

[robertwgross]

How difficult was it getting the Flashtrax to read a Canon RAW file and display it?

As far as I can tell, it doesn't display the RAW, but rather the embedded JPG. It is a conversion/display issue with RAW files the same as it is on the PC/Mac.

Reading/writing - it's just files to the HD so it doesn't "care" what format the graphic file is in, as long as it's a legitimate file.

Ah-ha. I suspected as much, since all RAW file formats are not exactly the same. I wonder how that would work with a RAW file that has no embedded JPG.

On a full-blown computer, there are DLL files that will allow you to view a Canon RAW file regardless of whether there is any JPEG. But these portable storage drives are not full-blown computers, so they have to leave out something.

So, your embedded JPEG has the custom settings included into it (e.g. color balance, sharpness, etc.). But the real RAW file does not have them. So, viewing your embedded JPEG shows you something different from the RAW file. Hmmm.

---Bob Gross---

---Bob Gross---

[drisley]

So, with the X-drive, you buy a unit, and then plug in a portable HD?
Do you need to install an Operating System, or just plug your Flash card in and transfer to the blank HD?

[robertwgross]

There are different models, originally made by Vosonics (Taiwan). I got the old VP-2030, and then there was the VP-2060, and then something else.

Originally, it was sold as a finished product. Then when they wanted to roll out the 2060, they dumped the 2030 units left. Computer Geeks sold the basic 2030 without any hard disk drive inside. Then they sold laptop-type hard disk drives also. No added OS necessary. Mine has an internal Lithium-ion rechargeable battery with a loose wall-wart to charge it.

It has several card slots on one side, indicators, and then a push button control to start it. A button marked "Copy" doesn't take too long to learn how to use.

---Bob Gross---

[drisley]

Very interesting. Now if I could only find one in Canada.

[drisley]

The Wolverine looks reasonably priced
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=NavBar&A=getItemDetail&Q=&sku=321610&is=REG &si=spec#goto_itemInfo

[robertwgross]

If you check it, this Wolverine product has the same case as the old Vosonics product. What would you like to bet that it has the same guts in it with a different name badge?

---Bob Gross---

[Zangarh]

Has anyone tryed the VOSONIC X'S-DRIVE PRO VP300 ?

Pros vs Cons ?

Z

[dn7elson]

I wonder how that would work with a RAW file that has no embedded JPG.

File storage only unless there is an embedded image.

But these portable storage drives are not full-blown computers, so they have to leave out something.

Yep. Otherwise, it would be a laptop (palmtop :lol: )

So, viewing your embedded JPEG shows you something different from the RAW file.

I am not sure that I would really want to make a final determination on an image based upon the 3.5" LCD display of a handheld device regardless of the amount of functional color management involved. To confirm that the image(s) did indeed make it into the "box" or to do a quick review of the day's shoot for general content would seem to be the most natural use for the LCD and review function.

[Whaler]

I bought a 20gig refirbished Image Tank form here:

http://www.jobodigital.com/products/digital_used_demo.htm

works great and for half the price. :D

[slin100]

Has anyone tryed the VOSONIC X'S-DRIVE PRO VP300 ?

I did some research on this and have one on order.

In short, it appears that it gets the job done. Its hard drive to PC Xfer rates are blistering with it's USB 2.0 port, but its CF to hard drive speeds are average. Battery power is on par for a digital wallet at about 2 hours tops. So, while it also has a built-in MP3 player, you're not going to be listening to tunes all day.
I've also heard that the audio quality is not that great, but that's not a big concern for me.

[robertwgross]

I've also heard that the audio quality is not that great, but that's not a big concern for me.

I would not expect much audio quality out of a 6 megapixel image file.

---Bob Gross---

[dn7elson]

I would not expect much audio quality out of a 6 megapixel image file.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I have yet to figure why the MP3 "feature" is given such a major role in the advertising. For someone wanting to use it for image storage, and given a limited battery life, why would you want to use it for MP3 play? Why not a stand alone MP3 player that you can clip to your belt and not worry about draining the HD battery mid-transfer?

I just must not understand..... :shock: :lol:

[Hall]

I've got a 40 GB iPOD. I've got about 4500 high quality songs on it. There is still more than 20 GB free space...

I recently bought a card reader that will connect to it. Whenever I go on vacation or away from home for several days and I know I will be shooting many pictures, I bring it along and transfer pictures as the memory card is getting full. (I saved money by only buying a 256 MB card with my camera. With the iPOD as backup, I don't need more than this one card.)

I will be going to the States (Washington DC) on a vacation soon and expect to fill up the iPOD with several GB of pictures. When I return to Norway, I'll be able to transfer them to my computer in a matter of minutes.

A great music device and great storage tank. Works for me! :lol:

[dn7elson]

A great music device and great storage tank. Works for me! :lol:

If the battery is up to the task, then I have no problem with it. It's where the total battery life is around 2hrs, when I wonder why risk losing the ability to transfer your CF files just to listen to MP3 files that can much more easily be listened to on a dedicated device.

[robertwgross]

When I am out trying to do serious photography, about the LAST thing I would want is some music playing in my ear.

---Bob Gross---

[dn7elson]

When I am out trying to do serious photography, about the LAST thing I would want is some music playing in my ear.

As much as I enjoy music, I tend to be the same. Rather hear the birds while walking through the swamp, or race cars on the track when I'm in "photo mode" :D

[Hall]

I guess it's a matter of taste. I don't find any problems with this.

The iPod usually stays at home. When I come home after taking pictures, I transfer them to the iPod the same evening. It's a firewire connection and the transfer is therefore very fast. I usually recharge my iPOD during the night and I can't remember last time the battery went flat.

The storage in the iPod is really a small harddisk comparable to the ones we all have in our computers. I don't have any problems with storing other things than pictures in my computer. The same goes for the iPod - it's no problem with me that music files and pictures share the same storage.

[dn7elson]

When I come home after taking pictures, I transfer them to the iPod the same evening.

I think that we are talking "apples and oranges" here. The initial question and responses thereto related to field storage and downloading from the camera CF chip into a storage device.

The iPod will indeed store just about any file as you would expect a HD device to do, and also has a great battery life (projected at 8 hrs) vs. the 2 +- hours that the CF storage devices boast.

How do you transfer the CF files directly to the iPod? I do not see an adapter to do this, nor a slot in the iPod for the CF. The storage devices in question here relate to field utilized, battery powered transfers without the need for any additional external device such as a laptop, docking station or PC/Mac.

[robertwgross]

Rather hear the birds while walking through the swamp, or race cars on the track when I'm in "photo mode" :D

When I'm walking a nature trail with my camera, I need to have my ears tuned up for "long range search". Other people see me scanning my head back and forth, from side to side, but some of that is for listening and some of it is for watching.

---Bob Gross---

[Hall]

dn7elson wrote:
I think that we are talking "apples and oranges" here. The initial question and responses thereto related to field storage and downloading from the camera CF chip into a storage device.

No, I think we are comparing apples and apples. The media reader connects to the firewire plug in the iPod. Both the iPod and the media reader operate on batteries. This is what the advertisement for the product says:

Simply connect the Belkin Media Reader to your iPod, and insert any of the six supported media types. Using software support that's already built into your iPod (with software version 2.1 or later), transfer the pictures quickly via FireWire technology and you're ready to start shooting again. When you get home, simply connect your iPod to your computer to retrieve the images. It's like having unlimited storage space for all your photos!

Here you'll find a link to the product to learn more about it:

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa/71102/wo/MC5V0sDOGgjk2LG20LTGOcdeczb/2.3.0.6.10.3.6.1.13.0

I use it all the time. It works great!

[dn7elson]

No, I think we are comparing apples and apples. The media reader connects to the firewire plug in the iPod. Both the iPod and the media reader operate on batteries.

Actually, Apples and Belkin since the separate CF reader is made by them :D It also adds $100 to the bundle.

What is the battery life on the separate Belkin CF reader? It uses AAA batteries.

[Hall]

:lol: Ok, agree Apples and Belkin. Or should we say "oranges and oranges"? :?

As far as the cost is concerned, I primarily bougth the iPod for playing music. It was only after owning it for a while that I discovered that I could also use it for other things. Today I'm the proud owner of iPod accessories like a microphone, a radio transmitter (enables me to listen to the iPod through my car radio) and a card reader. I my twisted way of thinking I was able to get a great storage device for only 100 dollars.

Battery life on the card reader? It only uses battery power during the few minutes it takes to transfer the pictures. I've used it since X-mas. I haven't changed batteries yet...

:idea: I see you're icon is a picture from DC. I'll stay in Alexandria, VA for a few weeks shortly. Maybe you could show me some good picture opportunities in the area, and I can show you how well my storage tank works? In addition, I'll show you some good picture opportunities in Oslo if you ever travel to this corner of the world.

[KennyG]

I have had a FlashTrax for ages and use it at every motor race meeting I attend. Before buying it I had read that the battery didn't last too long so I bought a spare. There is no worry about keeping the spare fully charged for months if you don't use it. Just as well, I have yet to use my spare battery. I have a DC-AC inverter in the car anyway, so I can charge batteries for anything I have with me.

My positives for the FlashTrax are - Easy to use, quicker for download from CF cards than others I tested, very fast to download via USB-2 to the PC (or Mac for those that have them), updates readily available from their site and it withstands all the knocks and abuse it gets from working photographers.

My negatives - Display a bit hard to read in bright sunlight, that's it.

As far as looking at RAW images on it, or any images for that matter, why bother sorting images 'on the fly' when you have so much storage to play with? The only reason would be to use it as a display device for clients or family, and to be honest, even the FlashTrax screen is still too small to fit that purpose.

The only device I see working sports photographers using is the FlashTrax and we all can't be wrong. Oh, not one of us use it for MP3's, so either we hate music or have something better to do with our time. :D

[Aylwin]

I just received my FlashTrax a couple of hours ago. I've already upgraded the firmware and played around with it a bit. Is this thing cool or what? :D

I tried to research a bit on what to get and this thread (and a few other ones) was influencial in my decision making. For me, it came down to either a device that would simply copy the images or a device that would also display them. Although I had no doubt the "copy only" devices would be very reliable, I decided that I'd be more comfortable being able to confirm that the images are really there. And since I only shoot in RAW nowadays, there really wasn't much choice on which to buy.

Oh, no harm in being able to play MP3's either. ;)

Aylwin