Photo storage on the go?

[msr709]

I'm so confused, I need help. Is there something available where I can download the pictures from my Memory stick in camera to something other than a laptop while I am @ WDW? Besides buying more memory sticks) Is that what the "Flash USB Drive" is for or can they only be used with a computer/laptop? I'd like to empty out my memory sticks and save the pictures onto something that is NOT a computer or laptop (don't want to lug it around). TIA

 

[DizzyV6P]

I used the Epson P-3000. It was perfect for my Disney Med Cruise last August and I still use it whenever I go on vacation so I don't need to bring my laptop. It holds pictures, music, videos, etc... Very fast dumping speeds. I can usually dump a 2gb CF card in about 2 minutes.

 

[Chikabowa]

DizzyV6p - Quick question for you... do you find that particular model to be fairly rugged and hold up to travel use? My main concern for getting one is that I have read reviews (not on this model in particular) that mention these types of devices are fairly easy to break and, since you don't have a screen to scroll through, you often worry "did it download correctly?"

I would love to hear your review as I really want one!

I'd love to get one for vacations... but I'm afraid that I would go nuts without my laptop and e-mail for 12 days. Actually, not scared that I would go nuts.... I actually think I would go insane! But the idea of being able to dump my cards quickly and easily is enticing. So is not dragging a laptop through security!

 

[dr_zero]

I'm so confused, I need help. Is there something available where I can download the pictures from my Memory stick in camera to something other than a laptop while I am @ WDW? Besides buying more memory sticks) Is that what the "Flash USB Drive" is for or can they only be used with a computer/laptop? I'd like to empty out my memory sticks and save the pictures onto something that is NOT a computer or laptop (don't want to lug it around). TIA

Flash drives need a computer to work.

If you are staying at a hotel they might have a office area for travelers where you can use a pc and burn them to cd or could try a Kinkos.

For the price of some of the gadgets to store images you could buy a laptop that is a reason I havent got one myself right now.

 

[DizzyV6P]

http://www.amazon.com/Epson-P-3000-...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1216824579&sr=8-1

The Epson was designed for photographers so I believe its fairly rugged and very well built. I put an invisibleshield screen protector on it as added insurance. During the Disney med cruise, it survived numerous shore excursions, trekking through the ruins of Pompeii, walked the ruins of Rome and all its famous sites, went through the Vatican, the Beaches of Italy, Marseille, Paris, etc... I had it in the top compartment of my Lowepro 300AW most of the time. I shot over 2000 pictures during the trip and dumped it all onto the Epson. I even saved some movies for my 3 year old daughter to watch on the plane over... Out of all the ones on the market, I think Epson still makes the best ones that are specially designed for photographers. Fast download (dumping) speed is the key and the Epson's are the fastest on the market.

I didn't want to lug a laptop...even the 4lb Sony Vaio that I have through all my travels. If I'm out the whole day, I'd rather dump it all during a quiet period during a tour. Or, you can simply buy a lot of memory cards. Since I wanted to view my pictures and delete as I went along, the Epson was the best way to go for me.

Email? that's what my T-Mobile MDA is for My wife uses her Crackberry for all emails as well.

 

[boBQuincy]

Some of the new ultra-portable notebooks are small, light, and inexpensive. The Asus Eee is 2 pounds and some versions are less than $300. They have solid state drives which are much more rugged and reliable than hard drives.

Our plan is to use the Eee to copy our images to SD cards (a 16GB card is about $60) and use that as the back up. The SD card fits in a pocket so it doesn't have to be left in the room like the hard drives do.

 

[DueyDooDah]

My wife and I use the Creative Labs Zen Vision. I have the older model, which I've had for about 3 years and my wife has the newer Wide version. They 30GB and 60GB editions, holding more photos than you can take in two trips. We find them to be much more convenient than taking a laptop, and you get to listen to music and watch movies, too. We won't go to WDW without at least one.

 

[Abby's Dad]

I use a Wolverine FlashPac , small, durable, easy to use, and cost-effective. They have other models now that take a wider variety of memory cards.

 

[pjacobi]

On a trip to Alaska, I borrowed a friend's Vosonic portable hard drive storage unit. It uses a Linux OS and could display a Canon RAW image on the small 2" color LCD. I think it would take about 20 minutes to dump and verify a 2Gb CF card. That seems slow, but did not matter since I transfered data in the hotel room at night before going to bed. It runs on batteries but I mostly used it on AC in the hotel. I'm really glad I brought the device because I shot 12Gb and only brought 6Gb in cards.

For my next trip, I am not sure if I would buy my own unit or simply buy a bunch or 4Gb cards. The portable storage device could still be useful as a backup device. Perhaps my next camera will have multiple CF or SD slots for automatic backup.


-Paul

 

[noryen]

Just imagine it.... you're in the park and run out of space on your Memory card. Are you really going back to your room to download your pics to your laptop/portable storage device? Or would you rather stick in another memory card? Personally, I'd rather just use another memory card.

Memory cards are so cheap now that it's better to just buy extra cards instead of carrying portable storage. (Recently I got a deal on 3 Sandisk Extreme III 4GB memory cards for $10 per card after rebate).

IMO, making backups is the only valid reason to carry portable storage (i.e. keep a copy both on the memory card and on the portable storage device.).