Going light in Europe -how to best store 3 weeks of digitals?

[InSituPhoto]

I'm travelling to Europe next month and need to make sure I don't exceed the very strict luggage requirements on the small airlines. I can't take my laptop, so I'm looking into options for ways to download and store digital images.

Does anyone use those portable drives that have LCD screens on them? I'm too skeptical to trust that something has my photos stored on it without seeing them. If anyone has any info about them, let me know. I am talking about approx. 2 weeks worth of photos, possibly more like 3. I have a 20D and shoot jpg.

I'll probably pare down the equipment to a body, two or three lenses and some parts. i'm looking over the other posts about camera bags, that's going to be a dilemma too.

[Jon]

The FlashTrax seems to be working OK for me in the week I've had it. You might consider also having an extra (cheap, slow, high capacity) CF card that you can copy your favourites back down from the portable drive onto as insurance against hard drive failure. But only take cards you're sure of! I had a SanDisk Ultra II go bad for the second time on me this weekend.

[mdr]

I would use 5x 1GB Lexar 80x CFs and a 40GB FlashTrax. It's got a screen, good enough to check the photo is there, not good enough to check whether a RAW is sharp.

[Wildewinds]

Have you checked out the Ipod Photo? All the functionality of an ipod with a color screen. 30gb for $350. 60gb for $450. Get the $29 card reader and you've got a sweet music playing picture storing device.

[Jon]

Funny, my FlashTrax will play music too, as well as display text files on a 3.5" screen. It also knows about Canon Raw formats.

[the.digital.guy]

Have you looked at the Epson P-2000. It is suppose to be the best.
That is if you can find one. Most places are sold out orthose that have them are selling them $30.00-$70.00 above "Suggested" Retail.

[gasrocks]

If you just want to travel light and don't need a screen to review pix - I'll suggest X-Drive II. I travel with 8.5 gb of cf cards and the X-Drive II (60 gb.) Was about $200.

[InSituPhoto]

Thanks all, I really do think I need visual confirmation that my photos are stored. I also like the functionality of some players to play movies and mp3's. that could provide some entertainment as well.

[EricKonieczny]

I love it and use it all the time. On a 8 day trip, I went picture crazy and took over 4000 pictures and downloaded around 2500 good ones into the Archos. 90% of the shots were in RAW. you can verify they are there, but not see the RAW pics, it shows up as a file. JPGs you can see and zoom, plus it plays music and movies.

I use it every weekend when i am shooting shows and clubs


http://buyeretail.com/product.asp?i=ARCGMINI400

[tim]

The newer X-Drive's can display Canon RAW, i'm going to get one of those at some point since I can buy them here for reasonable prices.

[Poco]

I have had the RCA Lyra RD2780 for over a year and I wouldn't go on vacation without it. It was much more expensive than X-Drives or even Flashtrax, but it can also play Divx movies (like some Archos models) for those long plane rides and mp3/wma. I think the price is much more reasonable now that there is a new model coming out.

It has a CF slot for copying the photos and a decent sized screen (with TV output for a slightly better view). I doubt it does RAW and I haven't tried since I just got my Rebel XT and have not had to use the Lyra since. It can be a bit flaky without the latest firmware updates, but on the whole was much cheaper than buying a lot of memory cards. Oh, and it doesn't play back motion JPG (AVI movies from Canon Digital Elphs).

[InSituPhoto]

thanks everyone, I'll definately look into those models. ONE very important question, do these things run on batteries, or are they rechargeable? If they are rechargeable, do they have a power pack or just a plug? I need to know if I can plug them in in Europe without carrying a huge power converter, !!!
thanks!

[Poco]

thanks everyone, I'll definately look into those models. ONE very important question, do these things run on batteries, or are they rechargeable? If they are rechargeable, do they have a power pack or just a plug? I need to know if I can plug them in in Europe without carrying a huge power converter, !!!
thanks!

The Lyra (and I believe similar Archos models) run on an internal rechargable battery. It doesn't last as long as I would like when playing movies or music. It comes with a 110v power adapter. Power converters are getting pretty small these days so I would take one anyway (and an 110v extension cord if you have more than one thing to charge). People have also rigged up external battery packs for the Lyra with a few dollars of equipment from Radio Shack since 4AA NiMh batteries provide almost exactly the right voltage.