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DPChallenge Forums >> Hardware and Software >> Best Backup For Photo's?
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 12/09/2006 03:13:05 PM · #1
I've got approx 40GB of photo's already backed up on 2 Harddrives.
I'm wanting to burn them onto DVD's but what is the best way, using as few blank disks as possible, obviously,?

Thank youuuuuu.
:)
 12/09/2006 03:33:36 PM · #2
Didn't you just answer your own question? Just keep them in SOME type of order. Whether by type of shots (portraits, action, etc) or, my preferance, by date taken.
 12/09/2006 03:38:23 PM · #3
Use a dual layer burner, you get twice as much on each disc.
 12/09/2006 04:12:40 PM · #4
I've got a Dual layer burner, how do i utilize it?
I am sure i want t backup onto DVD but would like any different methods, to use as little space as possible using compression etc.
 12/09/2006 04:19:18 PM · #5
dual layer burners create backups that can be stored in the smallest physical space. single layer discs have the lowest cost per gigabyte (less than half the cost). 40gb will take up approx 5 dual layer discs and about 9 single layer discs. either way, i suggest you consider keeping a backup copy off-site, if possible. whether it's in a safe deposit box, at work, or whereever, it gives an added level of protection against loss.

as to the step-by-step way of burning the files onto dvd-r, it depends upon 1- mac vs pc vs linux (although i assume if the answer was linux you would be answering the question rather than asking it), and 2- what cd/dvd burning software you have for your computer, and 3- how you organize the files on your hard drive

(edit: added the word "physical" to the first sentence)

Message edited by author 2006-12-09 17:27:46.
 12/09/2006 04:22:22 PM · #6
Well I use Nero to burn onto my Sony AW-G170AB2 in windows.
I think it'll just be best of doing a straight backup then, as i only have single layer disks.
 12/09/2006 04:33:19 PM · #7
If it were me ... I would buy a 100-250GB usb external hard drive and back them up to that. Then unplug the drive and set it on a shelf, ready for the next backup. For $80-$100 it is hard to beat. If you are super paranoid, buy two drives and keep one off site.
 12/09/2006 04:34:28 PM · #8
Funnily enough i'm going to do that aswell. But i will use that for other things aswell. Just curious about this method.
 12/09/2006 04:41:17 PM · #9
As most of you know my PC (6 months old) crashed 3 times within 3 weeks....it is now getting rebuilt for the second time in a month. It contained 2 x 300GB hard drives on a RAID system....that saved me when one of the hard drives crashed. But when the second hard drive crashed...the only thing saved me is the 500GB external hard drive. Not only did it save my work but while I am on the old slow pc, I can plug in my external hard drive and access my images. I still do a double burn onto DVD but the external hard drive took the brunt. I had it set to do a nightly backup...only on my images as to do a backup of my entire system took near on 24 hours each time. So the major backup was done weekly.

Food for thought.
 12/09/2006 05:41:13 PM · #10
Just copy them to a DVD. You can't compress these files much, if any at all.
12/09/2006 07:40:57 PM · #11
I like the 100-500gb external harddrive idea, i didn't even know they came in those sizes for that price! Im gunna get one next paycheck lol
$70cad for 250gb sounds good to me lol Or go all out and get this badboy lol Assuming each image is 7mb you could hold roughly: 146,265 images, give or take a few hundred lol,

Message edited by author 2006-12-09 19:50:12.
 12/09/2006 09:25:26 PM · #12
I have two 300Gb external Seagate drives. One comes with me to work and one stays at home. Every so often (monthly) I sync the two from my home drive (which is where I put new photos). Given how cheap external drives are now I think they're an excellent storage system. Just don't rely on one of them.
 12/10/2006 02:32:05 PM · #13
If you're a pro (and by this I mean people paying for your photos) you must have at least 2 copies of your files!

And this is not beeing paranoid, is beeing carefull.

My workflow is:
- after the job done: 1 copy of original raw to dvd
- 1 copy in external drive
- 1 copy in hd of pc
- after the job complteted and I don't need to edit the photos: 1 extra copy to dvd, erase the files from the pc, trhis way I get 2 dvd copy and external hard drive.

I don't know in the us but if I'm knot mistaken in europe you will need to mantain copies of works for at least 10 years. And the most cheap dc/dvd woun't last this much. So you will need once in a while to see how they are.
 12/10/2006 06:06:10 PM · #14
i do pretty much the same as Nuno except i make 2 copies to DVD/CD and then onto external (250GB Firewire)

then when job is complete i make another 2 copies of the final product before scrapping it off of my workstation..
 02/04/2011 09:37:31 AM · #15
I used to use offsite backups but they\'re expensive and fragile. Using online takes up a LOT less space, doesn\'t break, and keeps files easily accessible. I have ZenOK Online Backup as it includes data warranty and security apps. for Windows XP.
 02/04/2011 10:12:51 AM · #16
What's a back-up? I just buy bigger hard drives when they fill up. You mean there's another way? ;-)
 02/04/2011 10:20:22 AM · #17
I now have a 1 TB Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex external drive that will work with both my PC and my Mac (somewhere around $100) and I use this as my main storage. I then back it up every night to my Mozy online backup, which is currently pretty cheap. However, when my year runs out I guess I'll have to figure something else out, because they've gone to a monthly pricing and now they do not have an unlimited plan. So, while I paid under $50/yr for unlimited, when I renew they will want way too much to store my almost 400 gig of photos.
 02/04/2011 10:29:57 AM · #18
that 250Gig almost five years ago before this thread was bumped to hyperspeed, was probably more expensive than my 1.5TB now. It's a media player with NAS. so all my devices connected to my home network is connected to it. My backups are accessible to all my laptops and desktops. Every now and then, i connect another HDD to it for redundancy copies. PLus, since its a media player, i can view my final edits on my LCD tv.
 02/04/2011 01:07:28 PM · #19
The most efficient backup is a second hard drive, kept off-site for security. Second best is optical media (CD or DVD) burned as ordinary data, not using backup or archiving software. If you really want to use as few discs as possible, pay a bit more for a Blu-Ray burner and get about 25GB/disc.

Online backup systems are slow and can get expensive if you want to back up everything (originals, working files, edited files, etc.). Note that you can probably set up your own "online backup" by installing a second computer (an old one will do) with a big hard drive at a relative or friend's house, and then copy your files to it over the internet with FTP or a utility program like Timbuktu. (This assumes you both have always-on broadband service!)

If you just want to back up your final print images, send them to a printing site (I use Costco and Kodak) where they will be stored, and you can have them burn a backup/archival CD or DVD ($2.99 at Costco).

Personally, I copy the originals to an external HD, then to CD-R, and only after that do I erase them from the camera card. I always want the originals to exist on two forms of media.

I've been bad about backing up the working/edited images, but I now have a DVD burner, and will hopefully be starting to back those up soon.

Message edited by author 2011-02-04 13:09:39.
 02/04/2011 01:10:16 PM · #20
More hard drives is always the answer! Sorry, I'm on one today.
 02/04/2011 01:18:59 PM · #21
Besides an external disk, I was (until last week) very happy with Mozy, but they changed their price recently, so, after my current subscription is over (2012), I have to pay 80E per month instead of 5E with my 800Gb amount of photos (E=euro). That's a 1600% change in price, can't afford that and I can't tell them, probably too many people want to do that.
 02/04/2011 02:01:34 PM · #22
Carbonite has served me well. The "cloud" storage became an essential component of my backup plan, as I considered all possible threats and perils. It was the "unlimited" storage at a flat rate price which attracted me to the service. Yes, initial uploads can take many days (weeks), but once there, Carbonite backs up automatically in the background. It's idiot proof, which is an important feature for someone at my stage of senility.
 02/04/2011 03:35:16 PM · #23
Looks like Carbonite is a good replacement of what Mozy once was. Thanks for the link!
 02/04/2011 05:25:08 PM · #24
I started with Carbonite and hated it. Fussy software. The Mozy product was solid. There when you needed it, and not there any other time. What a shame that they shafted their customers. I'm currently considering LiveDrive...
 02/04/2011 10:37:04 PM · #25
if you have photos you don't want to lose off-site back-up is the only way to guarantee you have a real back-up. Mozy or Carbonite or something similar. DVDs are not a guaranteed archival medium and if the house catches on fire you still lose them.
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