Just got a 40Gb FlashTrax - First observations...

[dtrayers]

My laptop is company owned but I've been using it as a portable storage device. I really needed to get all the images off of it so rather than buying another laptop I decided on a portable hard drive solution. After a lot of research I decided on the FlashTrax for it's ability to display RAW images and the latest firmware shows a histogram.

I've used it for a day or so and I'm pretty satisfied so far. I did some speed tests downloading from CF cards and it's not nearly as fast as my Cardbus32 CF reader. With the Cardbus32, I can get 6.5 Mbyte/sec with a Sandisk Ultra II and 4 Mbyte/sec with a Lexar 4x. The same two cards download to the FlashTrax at 1.1 Mbyte/sec.

However, the speed from the FlashTrax to the computer using USB2.0 is pretty fast, about 9.6 Mbyte/sec. I use a PCMCIA USB2 card, so it might be faster on a computer with USB on the motherboard.

I don't have any feel yet for battery life and I haven't tested the MP3 player yet. I have to find the CD-R's with all my MP3s from my Napster days.

The view screen is not as sharp as the LCD on my 10D, but it is larger and can zoom in for detail. I like the speed zoom feature, where you can press a button and it divides the image into a grid, you highlight a cell in the grid and press enter and that cell fills the frame. You can zoom in on CRW images to. The degree of detail is based on the size of the embedded JPG image.

Let me know if there is anything in particular you would like me to test.

[CyberDyneSystems]

It can read RAW files?

Cool...

Do you know if it will read 1DMkII ".CR2" raw files?

[CoolToolGuy]

It can read RAW files?

Cool...

Do you know if it will read 1DMkII ".CR2" raw files?

I think it actually displays the embedded JPG.

[dtrayers]

Yes, it will display the .CR2 files. I assume it reads the embedded JPG.

You can go here for the tech support documents:

http://www.smartdisk.com/support.asp

I would post the direct link but it's some kind of wierd ASP thing and you can't get directly to the release notes.

[yb98]

Does it display the 300D raw files ?
Is the screen good enough to evaluate the sharpness of a pic ?
Thanks.

[Jon]

According to the documentation there (haven't seen one live and in person) it reads CRW from the 1Ds as that's a TIFF variant. The latest firmware will read the 1D MkII (.CR2) as well. But there's no mention of the D30/D60/10D/DReb or 1D RAW. Anyone know if they're the same as one of the others?

[CoolToolGuy]

From the Smartdisk web site:

Can FlashTrax display RAW format images on its LCD?
Yes, FlashTrax can display RAW format images from selected camera models from Canon (.CRW), FujiFilm (.RAF), Minolta (.MRW + .THM), Nikon (.NEF), Olympus (.ORF) and Pentax (.PEF). FlashTrax displays RAW files using the JPEG image embedded in most RAW files, so display time is quite fast.

The resolution of the displayed RAW file (and therefore the extent of zooming possible) depends on the resolution of the JPEG information stored in the RAW file by the particular camera manufacturer.



Have Fun,

[dtrayers]

I dug up a G3 raw file as well as a 300D raw file. The FlashTrax displays both just fine. I am confident it works with D30/60 files.

[Jon]

I dug up a G3 raw file as well as a 300D raw file. The FlashTrax displays both just fine. I am confident it works with D30/60 files.
Since you've bracketed the D30/D60/10D in time, I would be too.

[advdesigns]

For you guys that have a laptop just buy a HDD and a HDD case which has usb hookups and use that for storing your images. I have a 250gb HDD in a case that cost me $200. The case only costs like $29 then it just depends on what size HDD you want to put in it.

You can also buy the smaller, laptop HDD size case for those of you who like smaller. It's just more expensive for he drives.

Basically you could have a 160 gb storage device for less than the price of a 40gb storage device.

Just some info I thouht I would share.

[yb98]

For you guys that have a laptop just buy a HDD and a HDD case which has usb hookups and use that for storing your images. I have a 250gb HDD in a case that cost me $200. The case only costs like $29 then it just depends on what size HDD you want to put in it.

The problem is that you need to take the laptop with you...
the advantage of the storage device is that it has a battery and is autonomous (doesn't need a laptop). So it's smaller and not heavy.
I'd like to buy one, but not to use it as a permanent storage device, but only as a temporary device storage when shooting as I don't want to buy several compact flash cards... but I'm still hesitating between just this kind of storage device and jukeboxes which allows also to play mp3 files, see video files, etc...

[Aylwin]

The problem is that you need to take the laptop with you...
Exactly! That's why I bought the FlashTrax. I have a 3-week holiday coming up and I definitely don't want to bring my laptop. What's cool is that I'll be able to hook it up to the TV when I visit my relatives and we can all have a look at the photos I've taken. I also plan to pre-load it with older photos and maybe some short home videos. It's perfect!

The audio quality on MP3 playback is surprisingly good. At least it's much better than on my Pocket PC (yeah, who needs an MP3 player these days when everything has a built in MP3 player?).

Also, I can confirm that it views 10D RAW files... at least the embedded JPEG, anyway.

[yb98]

maybe some short home videos
have you tried with some divx movies ?
it seems it can read only MJPEG video...

[Aylwin]

have you tried with some divx movies ?
it seems it can read only MJPEG video...
No, haven't bothered. As you say, it only supports motion JPEG formats.

Before getting the FlashTrax, I was seriously considering the Cinema Disk. It's really cool and supports multiple video formats. The only advantage the Flash Trax has, which was the deciding factor for me, is that I can view my RAW files.

In short, the FlashTrax is a photographer's tool with a few bonuses while the Cinema Disk is a cool "toy" with many features but it's not for photographers who shoot RAW AND want to view them.

[CyberDyneSystems]

The other trouyble with the laptop solution may be the laptop one has.. :roll:


My againg laptop can certainly use a new HD.. I've thought about installing a 60GB or more.. and it would be the perfect portable laptop.. only 3.7 lbs... very portable.

BUT... it is an old Pentium266 "tillamook" ... :roll:

It is essentially useless for viewing large graphics as the load time.. even for full res jpegs only on ACDsee (one of the fastest image viewing apps out there) is pathetic... I
ve not even installed BB... but I can only imagine how slow it would be trying to cronk through a folder of RAW files! Ughh.

[advdesigns]

There has got to be a way to dump the files from the camera to the portable HDD setup I was talking about. Anyone know if it's possible? I mean could you put a code (VB6) or something to pull the files?

[dtrayers]

There has got to be a way to dump the files from the camera to the portable HDD setup I was talking about. Anyone know if it's possible? I mean could you put a code (VB6) or something to pull the files?

You could try this:

http://www.delkin.com/delkin_products_usb_bridge.html

[SWPhotoImaging]

I took my FlashTrax on a trip where a bunch of family was getting together for a few days at a seaside hotel, and each evening, we'd hook it up to the TV in one of our hotel rooms, and have a slide show of the days events. (The remote control was very handy for this)

It was a very cool tool for both storing the images until I got home, and sharing them on the spot while we were all together to view them.