Suggestions for portable media storage?

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

08/15/2005 10:30:58 AM · #1

One thing I discovered over the weekend shooting soccer... you just can't dump pictures off a card quickly enough.

It would take an hour to dump my 2G CF card to my laptop. Meanwhile, games are still going on and I'm no longer on the field. (I had 4G of CF cards with me, but once they were full, something had to be dumped)

Then later, I only have a WiFi connection from my laptop to my desktop PC and it took *forever* to move files off the laptop.

A couple of thoughts come to mind:

1) Get a USB 2.0 card reader and more CF cards (so as not to offload in the field and then be able to offload faster back home).

2) Or get a portable media storage device (something like the Epson P-2000) which can be offloaded "in my pocket" while I'm still on the field shooting, and later connect to the desktop at USB 2.0 speeds.

Does anyone have any recommendations for the latter? I'd love to get the Epson P-2000. It's a bit pricey. I'm just wondering if there are other/better deals (or ideas) out there?

Thanks,
David

Prof_Fate

08/15/2005 01:14:12 PM · #2

get more CF cards or an assistant. You need to be able to shoot an event onto CF cards, and have spares in case of who-knows-what catastrophe.

If you have an assistant you can relay the cards, but you still run the risk of overwriting/erasing a card, and more so if the DL of images was somehow bungled.

Not sure how to erase the images on the card - I hear that dioing it via a card reader can have issues in the camera, so best to do it in-camera. that takes time. if you have enough CF cards for the event, then that is not a concern.

After the even, the time for backup/transfer is not as critical. 2 hours???? for a CF-laptop transfer?? Time to get a new laptop! I can do a gig in 5 minutes or something like that. USB2.0, a $12 reader and an old desktop (4 years old). You can get USB drives cheap, so all yo uneed onthe laptop is speeed and enough HD space for 'today', the rest can go off to the USB drive for backp or transfer to a desktop later. See egghead.com or amazon.com - they have a simpletech drive, 160Gb for $130.

You can get even low end laptops for $500 to 600. One of those HD/USB devices for DLing photos is $400+ and it does only one thing. It's biggest advantage is size/portability. But with CF cards being pretty cheap you might just want more of those.

coolhar

08/15/2005 01:19:07 PM · #3

I'm limiting myself to one gig cards for the time being. It's a small step toward tackling the problem you have run up against. There is no way for you to transfer image files as fast as you sometimes need to take the shots when shooting in the field. Several cards can serve as a virtual buffer.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/15/2005 01:33:19 PM · #4

Flashtrax

Flash

Nikon D700

08/15/2005 01:54:01 PM · #5

I use 3 cards and a Wolverine 6 pack (20 Gb I believe). Can't imagine an event (or vacation) that I would need more (although I rarely shoot RAW). If one were primarily a RAW shooter, then 3-500's and a Wolverine would be good. There are other storage devices out there, some perhaps with more updated features.

bfox2

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/15/2005 02:02:17 PM · #6

On your laptop are you using USB 1.0 or 2.0? Like the others have said, if you are only using 1.0, I would STRONGLY suggest getting a USB 2.0 card that fits into the PCMIA slot (like this) which should solve the problem of speedy downloading pretty cheaply. I got one for $35 at Bestbuy.

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

08/15/2005 02:09:51 PM · #7

Doing a quick search for Wolverine Sixpac, I discovered that many updates have occurred. They now have 20GB, 40GB, 60GB, 80GB and 100GB units. The 40's are 189.00 at B&H with the 100's at 309.00. The Epson P2000 looks like a very nice unit, however I do not need the color image display and prefer not to pay for that feature. The Wolverine's have USB 2.0.

pacpinto

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II

08/15/2005 02:17:10 PM · #8

Or you could buy a CF-PCMCIA adapter for your laptop. You get a "native" port for your CF cards directly on your laptop, ready to use as soon as the laptop boots, no wires, no hassles. Also, I would say it is a bit faster than USB 2.0; however, as a second option, an USB 2.0 adapter would be a very nice solution.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/15/2005 02:29:29 PM · #9

I use the 20Gb x-drive II for back up.
It takes 3 to 5 minutes to download a full 512 card.
It's not exactly "pocket-sized" but isn't too large to carry when necessary.
There is no image preview on it, so you have to go on faith. I've never had a problem in the past year.
I bought it this time last year for $200 (US). If I were buying today, I'd get the 40 Gb which is probably not much more expensive than last year's 20 Gb was.
As for erasing images, I pop the CF card back into the camera and just format it--it does a wonderful job of wiping out a card. :-)

madison461

Canon EOS-30D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

08/15/2005 02:32:44 PM · #10

I have a burner/disc steno by Apacer (look in B&H catalog online). It is small, can run on it's own rechargeable battery and comes with an AC adapter. Can be used to replay the images on TV also. I have a 256 mg card that takes about 5 minutes or less to burn to a CD-R and LOVE IT!

Here is a picture of it with a review:

Apacer Disc Steno

Cheryl

Telehubbie

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/15/2005 02:38:10 PM · #11

I use an Archos AV320 Multimedia Recorder with the compact flash reader. It's got 20 gigs which I keep only 10 gigs to temporarily hold photos, and the other 10 is for mp3's/videos. They have better ones out now since I got this, but this one suits me just fine.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

08/15/2005 04:00:28 PM · #12

Originally posted by madison461:

This is cool! And now available for DVD's

Linky link

Message edited by author 2005-08-15 16:00:54.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

09/23/2005 06:01:46 PM · #13

I know this is an old thread, but I didn't feel like starting a new one....

So I think I just bought a 40GB Flashtrax for $260USD (with shipping and taxes to Canada it comes to $375CAD)...I think I got a good deal on it.

Just a question...what do you Flashtraxers think about the battery life? I just bought a beautiful iPod but I think I'll use this for music and photos but have heard the battery life is kinda crappy...

Your thoughts?

Message edited by author 2005-09-23 18:02:17.

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

09/23/2005 06:11:37 PM · #14

Originally posted by thatcloudthere:

It's a good deal, I got the 80GB model and yes the battery life is crappy. But most of the time I don't need to dump my cards to it in the field, I do that when I'm at the hotel where I can plug it in.

thatcloudthere

Canon EOS-1D

09/23/2005 06:14:44 PM · #15

Originally posted by doctornick:

Hey Nick, I had a feeling you'd be the first to answer...you are definitely their best spokesperson here at DPC!

I figure if it works for the good doctor, it must be a decent product!

nemesise1977

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 APO Macro Super for Canon

09/23/2005 06:34:05 PM · #16

//us.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=210&subcategory=211&product=12985&campid=20621

I rave on these, battery life is about 12 hrs or so and is bettre build and quality than Ipod junk. Has a cf reader built in. Just turn the thing off when you arent dl photos to it. Is smaller and more portable than a laptop. and when not using it as a cf dump you can use it to listen to MP3's :)

Message edited by muckpond - fixed link.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/23/2005 08:01:33 PM · #17

Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E1/WFT-E1A will mate up to the EOS-1Ds Mark II, EOS 20D and EOS-1D Mark II camera. Nice toy for the rich folks.

Message edited by author 2005-09-23 20:01:46.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/23/2005 09:05:48 PM · #18

I had forgotten all about this thread...

For what it's worth, I bought the Epson P-2000. And with it, I managed to shoot over 7200 pictures in a single day (about 600 pictures per game, 12 games in one day). The only way that was possible was with the P-2000. With it, I was able to dump one card while shooting the next. When that card filled, I swapped and repeated the process.

I also discovered that NOT ALL USB 2.0 card readers are alike!

Some USB 2.0 card readers are merely "2.0 compatible". Others, generally in "tiny little words" say that they are "hi-speed". Those are the ones you want!

My first two USB 2.0 card readers would take an hour to dump a 2G CF card. Then when I tried the hi-speed USB 2.0 reader, it took about 12 minutes to do the same thing. Awesome improvement! This shouldn't be such a big secret. I wonder how many others have "slow" USB 2.0 readers and don't even realize it?!?

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

09/23/2005 09:55:23 PM · #19

Virtually all USB I devices are "USB II Compatible" -- you should be able to plug either type device into either port and have it work, but you'll be limited to the speed of the slowest component.

Thanks for the warning!

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/23/2005 10:06:04 PM · #20

The kind of CompactFlash should also influence the speed when reading and writing.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

09/23/2005 10:15:45 PM · #21

Originally posted by faidoi:

The kind of CompactFlash should also influence the speed when reading and writing.

My 2G card is a fairly slow card (at least, I expect it is, since they aren't proud enough to print a speed rating on the card). But card speed had nothing to do with my 1-hour download times... that was purely because of the card reader.

BTW, if anything, I think my Epson P-2000 actually dumps the 2G card even *faster* than the card reader does (only a little ... maybe about 8-10 minutes to dump the card). But more impressive is that it took only about 30 minutes to dump 20G from the P-2000 down to my computer. Proving to be far faster than if I had carried 20G worth of CF cards.

dewed

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

09/23/2005 10:30:26 PM · #22

All of must be shooting RAW with 10 gig cameras. I couldn't imagine going through 4 gigs of memory at a soccer game. I just bought a Sandisk UltraII tonight. havent used it yet. writes at 9 MB/s instead of the 2 the plain old Sandisk does. I think my slow download speed is probably equipment problems instead of a slow card. I'll let you know.

david