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02/03/2004 08:03:27 PM · #1 |
I am currently stuck with only a 512 MB CF card and I'm thinking about getting a huge CF card to take with me on those long trips where I won't have access to a computer until at least the end of the day. I know the Microdrives from Hitachi are fairly cheap compared to the 2GB+ Flash versions, but obviously there's the problem with high elevation of the microdrive. I heard that it requires a certain amount of air pressure to work, thus at very high elevations (Not sure how high exactly), the drive would just not work...yikes. I might go to some exotic places in the future such as Tibet, does anyone know if this will be a problem? I'm not as concerned about the moving parts since I'm not going to be throwing my 10D around on the floor.
If I go with the microdrive, I'll be aiming for a 2-4GB version, when it becomes available, would this price difference be worth the compromises? And does anyone have had any experience with the elevation or any other problems that the microdrive have?
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02/03/2004 08:05:10 PM · #2 |
| Oops I drop my microdrive. Damn lost all 2 GB of photos. Doh. |
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02/03/2004 08:08:47 PM · #3 |
Most people would recommend that you carry multiply cards instead of one huge card. If the card becomes corrupt, damaged, or lost then only that card would be affected.
Also look into digital wallets as a storage option. They may be more reliable.
Message edited by author 2004-02-03 20:10:14. |
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02/03/2004 08:27:33 PM · #4 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
Also look into digital wallets as a storage option. They may be more reliable. |
I agree, I use an X-Drive that I found on ebay, doesn't require a computer and has 20-80GB Versions.
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02/03/2004 08:31:39 PM · #5 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
Most people would recommend that you carry multiply cards instead of one huge card. If the card becomes corrupt, damaged, or lost then only that card would be affected.
Also look into digital wallets as a storage option. They may be more reliable. |
I definitely echo the "multiple cards" idea; there IS safety in numbers!
As far as the altitude problem, remember this affects not only Microdrives, but ALL hard-drive-based storage, including digital wallets. All hard drives depend on air to float the heads above the platter(s), and if there's not enough air, crash go the heads! Many hard drives, including the microdrive, also use air bearings in the spindle, which depend on air to keep the metal parts separated.
Hitachi rates the microdrive for use up to 10,000 feet, which makes it OK for most areas in the US, and OK for use on aircraft, where the cabin pressure is normally equivalent to <7500 feet. A trip to Nepal, however, could be problematic, for both the microdrive and your laptop!
In conclusion, for elevations significantly above 10,000 feet, use solid state storage.
Edit: Darn fat fingers!
Message edited by author 2004-02-03 20:33:17.
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02/03/2004 08:37:38 PM · #6 |
The Kanguru 20gb model is comparable in price to the 1gb CF cards...
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02/03/2004 08:50:09 PM · #7 |
Also portable burners like the Digimagic DM-220 have started to come on the market. Insert your card and burn it onto a c.d. The best part is you can do multi-sessions.
Most people will burn their shots onto a cd when they get home anyway. Many of these devices are new so it may be good to wait to see if they have bugs or not.
Macintosh Ipod can be used to store photos. |
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02/03/2004 09:32:51 PM · #8 |
Thanks for the reminder kirbic. I had thought about getting a portable harddrive wallet, but they are harddrive based also... problematic for certain situations. It's quite surprising how often you would actually go to places that are 10,000 feet and higher, such as Yosemite at certain parts. And seriously, 10,000 feet isn't too high, I've gone to plenty of nice scenic places that are around 3,000+ meters, which is around 9,000 feet. Thus, I think I would go with the safety in numbers approach. But seriously, it's a pain in the ass to switch cards all the time, esp during an intense shoot. :)
But thanks for the tips everyone.
Also, anyone had experience with the Sigma 28-300mm f3.5-6.4 lense? Anyone know of any problems with it. I know it's not the ultrasonic focusing, but that's not a big deal for me. |
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02/03/2004 11:43:57 PM · #9 |
| I've used 1 gig microdrives for a year now. No problems yet... |
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02/04/2004 08:37:01 AM · #10 |
First, I'll take solid state over moving mechanical parts any day. People have sent their CF cards through the laundry machine and the dryer and successfully retrieved pictures from them. I don't know of any microdrives that have fared similarly. I use a 1GB CF card, and there are pros who shoot with a 1Ds and use 4GB CF cards because they shoot in RAW on an 11MP camera. :)
Second, your question about the 28-300/3.5-6.4 lens. Note that auto focus on Canon's "prosumer" bodies only works with lens that have f/5.6 or larger apertures (that is, their f-number is 5.6 or lower). So with that lens, it is possible that at the "long" end, the AF will not work on your 10D, or at a minimum may not be reliable. Also note that f/6.4 is pretty darn slow. A good test to see if you can "deal" with f/6.4 is to set your camera to Av (aperture priority) mode, and dial in 6.3 as the aperture. Try taking the same type of pictures that you would with the "new" lens you're considering and see if you get acceptable shutter speeds and pictures. If so, then the fact that is f/6.4 at the long end (meaning it is a "slow" lens) won't be that big of a deal (i.e,. you are always shooting outside in bright sunlight). Just realize that compared to a lens that has an f/2.8 maximum aperture, f/6.3 requires over 4 times the shutter speed to get the same exposure. So if 1/125th of a second was the correct exposure for a lens that can open up to f/2.8, you would need a shutter speed longer than 1/30th of a second at f/6.3... |
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02/04/2004 11:53:08 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
Oops I drop my microdrive. Damn lost all 2 GB of photos. Doh. |
Have you ever used a Microdrive? They can take a blow.
My IBM 340mb has dropped on concrete from belly button and table height twice. Still works. This card was also victim of me trying to push it into a CF-1 slot of a cardreader (I was so sure it was CF2, but it wasn't). This caused ripples on the stuff that says: don't peel off (I got it in quite deep).
I have been careful not to drop the Hitachi 1024mb.
Both cards have been used in all kinds of conditions. Heat, below zero, high and low humidity, mist, sports, photojournalism, nature, dpc, tripod work, bumpy & shaky stuff. They have been through several airport scanners (Amsterdam, Stockholm, Kopenhagen, St. Petersburg, sat in my backpack while I was riding on my motorcycle in all kinds of weather and any speed between zero and 210 km/h.
They must have been in my shoulderbag for miles and miles of walking in all terrains. (kaboink kaboink kaboink). I took them witm me on my mountainbike etc etc etc.
No problem. I trust Microdrives just as much as I trust CF1, Smartmedia and Sony Memorysticks.
The only thing you never ever should do is hold it close to a magnetic field.
As several others mentioned: Don't get all photo's on one card. This is not only about failure, but think of things like theft as well. CF-1, CF-2, whatever, loosing your pics because of failure /theft/ forgetting it to take it with you from ... / just loosing the card, sucks.
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02/04/2004 12:06:53 PM · #12 |
Here is an interesting article about Bill Biggart, a photographer who was with and died with the firemen in the World Trade Centre tragedy.
//www.impactdigitals.com/bios/biggart/biggart.htm
He used two Canon film bodies and an Canon EOS D30 with a Microdrive.
Most of the film was destroyed, but the Microdrive was able to give the people Bill Biggart's last photographs.
More about this in this link from that page:
//digitaljournalist.org/issue0111/biggart_intro.htm
Be sure to check out the gallery.
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02/04/2004 12:31:56 PM · #13 |
There's also a potential problem withe AA filter delaminating at real high altitudes - worth considering too.
There is an article at luminous-landscape I think on that for some Canon cameras
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02/04/2004 02:11:08 PM · #14 |
i found that my microdrive didn't start working properly until i threw it against the wall in frustration.
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02/04/2004 06:33:04 PM · #15 |
Hmm, seems like there's mixed reactions about the Microdrive. I think if I go with the harddrive wallet, I might as well get a huge microdrive since both would suffer similar limitations. Otherwise, I'll pick up a few 512MBs since they are pretty cheap right now.
But the 9/11 thing might change my mind about the usability of the microdrive.
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