Hyperdrive Space versus Epson 3k/5k

[nutsnbolts]

I would like to hear from experience users which is more practical?

Obviously, one has the ability to view pictures and one has the ability to transfer at such a high rate.

Price aside, if you had a choice which do you think will provide more practicality...as a photographer, etc.

[nadtz]

I have the older HD-80, and for me minimal is good. I don't view pictures until I get to a laptop or workstation anyway, and the saving was substantial. Price aside Id still probably go with the minimal faster unit, but as always YMMV!

[JohnJ80]

I would like to hear from experience users which is more practical?

Obviously, one has the ability to view pictures and one has the ability to transfer at such a high rate.

Price aside, if you had a choice which do you think will provide more practicality...as a photographer, etc.

I have both the prior model (PD70X) and the Epson P3000. I think the P-3000 is more useful than the PD70X. Even though the P3K is slower, being able to view your image is a huge benefit. the reason for me to have one of this is to not have to bring my laptop. - that means I need a screen or might as well be just shooting film.

Incidentally, they both work together. You can use the PD70X as an external drive for the p3K for further backup and for looking at images on the PD70X.

J

[nutsnbolts]

Yes, I was debating and debating as to which is more beneficial for me. I initially started my pondering with just needing a portable hard drives to move my images from my CF cards and continue snapping away. However, after someone brought up the EPSON and stated that the viewer is great because it's not a small LCD that you can't barely see anything on (i.e. your camera LCD) the screen on the EPSON is actually useful.

There is even a video on the EPSON website about how they are gloating about their screen and how it's a useful screen and ... you get my drift so I think I did the right thing and dropped the cash.

Anyone else here have it and would like to contribute to some more input?

[JohnJ80]

The epson screen IS great. They have reason to gloat.

The download is not fast - about half the speed of the hyperdrive stuff.

I use to use the PD70X when CF cards were so much more expensive. Now, if you want to shoot all day, get more cards and then use the PSD for backup and storage on the way home or to proof a photo to make sure you got it - and it is very good for that.

When I've traveled before, I made copies of my shots off on DVD as well as kept them on the PSD. This coming trip, I will take the P3K and an external hard drive and use them together instead of DVDs.

J.

[ScottE]

I have a Hyperdrive Space 120 GB. It is very fast. It is easy to use. It is very compact. I prefer it over the Hyperdrive 80 that I had before.

I all you want to use this thing for is storing photos in the field it is very good. I use two back up storage devices for trips so I have two separate copies of all my images before I reformat the CF card. On is the Hyperdrive. The other lets my view my images and display them on a TV in a hotel or friend's residence. For display purposes I just replace by FlashTrax with a Vosonic 8390. This does not download as fast as the Hyperdrive Space, but the image quality for play back is excellent.

[midlife_crisis]

I've got the Espon 5000. For me the winning features are direct transfer from CF and SD, great 4" screen, large storage (80Gb) and video/audio playback. I have a fair amount of video on mine and tend to use it like it's an arcos. I don't think that it's transfer speed are slow

I've haven't come across any down side with the 5000, but if i had to mention one it would be the software that comes with it. I fired the software up once, that was enough.

I've not looked at the other item you mention.

[Cathpah]

I took a big gulp and went ahead and coughed up the cash for the epson p-5000 and i'm really really happy i did. The screen is absolutely unbelievable...unlike anything i've ever seen.

I also think this can be a helpful tool if you're trying to sell your photography, as you can hand the unit over to a potential buyer and they will be impressed by both your pictures and the screen.