Portable Digital Storage Devices...

[lightstar]

Hi all,

I'm travelling on the road for a few months, and I'm not carrying my laptop.

Was just wondering what is a REASONABLY PRICED, and GOOD, small portable hard drive / bridge which allows me to transfers data from a memory card to an external hard drive.

I don't need a fancy LCD screen, or to play MP3s... I do need it to recognize RAW though (I shoot with a Canon 40 D)

I'm currently in Thailand, so if anyone can suggest a good model available in Bangkok / Thailand, with a rough estimate of price, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks.

[The Vulcan]

Take a look at this site

http://www.fotosystems.com/Product/hyberdr...hyberdrive.html

Good luck

[Nordlys]

I use this one.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/30/epson-r...-photo-viewers/

Price is rather steep at 30,000 Baht (P-5000, 80GB).

Or alternatively simlar concept device from Canon.

http://www.canon-europe.com/for_home/produ...s/M80/index.asp

BTW if you're using it just as a backup storage device (e.g. no need for LCD viewing or playing music) why the need for it to recognize the type of file?

[lightstar]

I use this one.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/30/epson-r...-photo-viewers/

Price is rather steep at 30,000 Baht (P-5000, 80GB).

Or alternatively simlar concept device from Canon.

http://www.canon-europe.com/for_home/produ...s/M80/index.asp

BTW if you're using it just as a backup storage device (e.g. no need for LCD viewing or playing music) why the need for it to recognize the type of file?

Both the Epson and the Canon are very, VERY nice! But way more than what I need! And way more than I can afford! I don't want to view videos or even pictures...

I just want to download to free up space on my memory card while I'm out taking photos. It's gotta be RAW cause that's what I shoot in... No RAW and the device is useless to me!

I don't even know if either of those are available in BKK... the ones I found today (Am currently out in the Boonies) are:

Cenda (no LCD)

Hyperdrive Colourspace

Vosonic VP5500

All empty shells - hard drive to be installed separately.

None of them as sexy as the Canon and Epson models...

[The Vulcan]

I use this one.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/30/epson-r...-photo-viewers/

Price is rather steep at 30,000 Baht (P-5000, 80GB).

Or alternatively simlar concept device from Canon.

http://www.canon-europe.com/for_home/produ...s/M80/index.asp

BTW if you're using it just as a backup storage device (e.g. no need for LCD viewing or playing music) why the need for it to recognize the type of file?

Both the Epson and the Canon are very, VERY nice! But way more than what I need! And way more than I can afford! I don't want to view videos or even pictures...

I just want to download to free up space on my memory card while I'm out taking photos. It's gotta be RAW cause that's what I shoot in... No RAW and the device is useless to me!

I don't even know if either of those are available in BKK... the ones I found today (Am currently out in the Boonies) are:

Cenda (no LCD)

Hyperdrive Colourspace

Vosonic VP5500

All empty shells - hard drive to be installed separately.

None of them as sexy as the Canon and Epson models...

This was the link I posted!

[Nordlys]

I just want to download to free up space on my memory card while I'm out taking photos. It's gotta be RAW cause that's what I shoot in... No RAW and the device is useless to me!

You set the RAW mode on your camera, not with the back up storage device. You develop the RAW file into JPEG with a software installed in the local disk of your PC after you copy the RAW files from the storage device. What the storage device does it as its name suggests, transfers and stores the image files (or whatever the type of files), basically as an external HDD with a card reader. You can't convert RAW files to JPEG with storage device like you do on your PC. So there really isn't a point of asking if the storage device supports RAW files unless you want to open the files stored in it (e.g. to view RAW files in it on its LCD screen, or to listen to MP3 files stored in it as a portable MP3 player), especially if you're not interested in a device with a viewer screen.

That said, it does help to have a viewer screen because you can delete pics that are N/G which maybe too subtle to be detected with your camera's LCD (e.g. detect blurs etc), therefore allowing more space than with devices that are without viewer screen because you can't delete any N/Gs till you bring the device back home and copy them all to your PC.

I never carry my P-5000 on the field with me though as I have more than enough combined CF and MicroDrive card space of nearly 30GB, which is more than enough memory for how long my two camera batteries can last for a day. And I only carry my EPSON with me on extended trip away from home and leave it in a hotel as if I lose my camera (in the bag) in the field, chances are I lose P-5000 too along with all the photos backed up and memory cards in camera and camera bag.

Edited June 8, 2008 by Nordlys

[astral]

http://www.fotosystems.com/Product/hyberdr...hyberdrive.html

A pretty useless web site in my book.

What currency are they quoting?

What is the storage capacity of the two units shown.............

[jukapot]

Surely there are places where you can rent a computer to surf the internet and pay an hourly fee. Not only can you transfer photos to your portable external hard drive but even yet establish a website where you can upload your pictures.

[Greenside]

You can buy a Photobank device (the name is becoming generic, by the way) at most decent computer centres in Thailand (Panthip for example) for around 1500 baht. Add to that the cost of a hard disk of your choice, say 1000 baht up and you're away.

Three warnings:

• Make sure the device you buy has a slip-in replacement battery - I've just had to replace an old Digimate unit because of the difficulty of finding new battery.
  
• Check the screen is readable in bright light (you don't need fancy OLED coloured graphics, by the way!)
  
• Get one that takes SATA drives in case you need to change it somewhere down the line.
  

I've have had several over the years and it's an essential bit of travel kit. My latest is a CENDA brand and came to 2600 baht with an 80 Gb SATA drive.