File storage while vacationing

[ajax]

I am taking my first real vacation with my digital [G2]--heading to the UK and Paris. I anticipate taking a LOT of photos.

[What I lack in skill, I make up in enthusiasm.]

My dilemma is how to do this without spending a fortune on 128 mb flash cards? I do not have a laptop so I cannot free up cards by loading files onto a computer. Yet, I don't want to pass up photo ops because of the nagging dread of no card space.

I suppose I can buy another card or two while over there if necessary, but, I have this vision of me trooping Parisian streets hunting for a camera/computer supply store and missing the bus to the Louvre. :-)

Any suggestions?

[Conk]

Maybe look into buying a micro drive.

[Pekka]

See http://www.card-media.co.uk/comparison+chart.htm

[ajax]

Thanks, Pekka & Conk...I'll check that out. I appreciate the note back.

Ajax

[JAm001]

Hi Ajax,

You might consider using a 'portable storage' device like the Archos Jukebox Photo or the x-drive.

These devices allow you to transfer the content of a CF-card to de device thus allowing you to free-up the card itself. After your vacation you can attach such a divice to the computer and reveal all those Gig's of photo's.

These devices have been discussed in thread: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=5324

[eland]

Ajax

Jaap is right. The device is called a Memory Tank.
....................................

This may seem like sacrilege but the thought of coming back to hundreds and hundreds of images on the computer is not my idea of fun.

I'd take a film camera for general sightseeing shots.
Get them developed as you go.
You can always scan in the ones you want on the computer.

eland

[jasenh7]

Get a laptop. You don't need the latest and greatest thing. Just something to offload your images to. I picked up an old used IBM for $100 with a 2GB drive. Then bought the PCMCIA card adapter. I just take it with me on vacations and offload as I go. Someone you know might have an old one they are willing to part with or loan you.

[Jorge]

I was travelling around Vietnam this summer and even a place like that there's no shortage of internet cafés. Most of these places have a CD-writer available. So as long as you can get your data in to a PC this might be an option. I've met several people along the way in Vietnam who solved the problem this way - obviously you can't go about this excercise every day so a fair amount of portable storage capacity is needed. It's not the easiest option, but it's cheap and you don't have to carry a laptop. (When travelling in third world countries and/or staying in dubious places it's also a point to carry as few valuable items as possible.)

[phinea]

A word of warning about microdrives. As a recent convert and full of enthusiasm I went for broke and got a 1gig microdrive when I bought my S40 and thought all my storage problems were solved.

Well, not quite...

Firstly they EAT batteries, so if you're browsing around snapping away here and there (as I used to do with film) then the battery life is a couple of hours at most.

Secondly, as the drive starts to get populated it also starts to slow down and the latency between shots gets longer (I'm talking about after 40+ RAW images have been taken).

My plan B is to get an Image Tank/X-Drive or some such and maybe even swap the MD for 512Mb card.

It's an expensive hobby this!

[Longwatcher]

Just adding my experience.
I used a 30 gig Delkin Picture Pad recently on a trip to Jamaica. Other then battery life (and you can buy spare batteries). It worked great, very handy while traveling, Although I could not edit my photos, it does allow me to view them on a TV screen (if the TV has a video input port). Significatly reduced the need for more compact flash cards or large-capacity micro drives.

Advantages:
- Direct transfer of CF cards into the Picture pad (they have an adapter for other types of cards)
- Ability to view images on the picture pad or on a TV
- Don't have to take it out the bag at the airport (like you do with laptops).
- Great way to store other computer files as it functions as a portable hard drive.

Disadvantage:
- You can't edit the photos until you access a computer
- Battery life a bit short, you can transfer about 6 to 8 256 meg cards worth before it drains. Micro drives really suck power up. Of course if I would stop showing off the nifty pictures I just took the battery probably would get another 4 CF cards worth before the battery drained.
- Specialized battery