Memory card to Portable HDD

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

n30_mkii

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Ive noticed a couple of device floating around that will allow you to insert a CF memory card into a portable HDD of sorts, allowing you to transfer to a HDD for backup whilst out and about.

I.E
The device is a card reader to HDD backup, with battery power

Does anyone use one of these devices?

Or is it in anyway possible to transfer directly from camera to portable HDD via some sort of special adaptor?

Thanks

Just thinking this will be usefull for my trip later this year, where i will not have access to a laptop or other means of backup...So my alternative would be to take lots of memory cards...
 
Depends if you want to be able to view RAW files. I have used both a XsDrive, and currently own a creative Zen Vision W. I cannot view RAW files on the Zen Vision W, but it is a great all round media device, and I carry a digital version of my portfolio on it. Transfure speeds on the Zen vision W is about 6-8 minutes for a full 2 gig card, depending on card speed, and 15+ gigs of transfures and MP3 playing on one charge.
 
n30_mkii said:
The device is a card reader to HDD backup, with battery power

Does anyone use one of these devices?

Or is it in anyway possible to transfer directly from camera to portable HDD via some sort of special adaptor?
Click to expand...
The former is very much possible as already noted, the latter however isn't. To transfer from camera to a portable HDD via USB would require one of the devices to operate as a USB master (the role normally performed by the PC), as far as I am aware no such devices exist.

I've used a couple of these sorts of things. The first one I had was really simple, just an HDD and a card reader, no display to confirm that the copy had taken place. I had a bad experience with it when it decided to wipe a day's shooting (about 1200 shots) without warning so it got replaced. I then got a 40Gb Flashtrax which is a nice wee piece of kit, it actually tells you what's been copied and you can check the content on the attached screen but it's slow - a 2Gb card takes over 20mins to copy onto the HDD. I still use it but only for the TV out capability, it's great for showing photos to relatives etc.

I did think about getting something like an Epson P2000 but then I looked at the price of CF cards in comparision and decided that if I was going away for any length of time I would be going somewhere that I could use a laptop (I like my creature comforts too much). Therefore I just bought a stack of CF cards instead.
 
rpstewart said:
the latter however isn't. To transfer from camera to a portable HDD via USB would require one of the devices to operate as a USB master (the role normally performed by the PC), as far as I am aware no such devices exist.
Click to expand...

Have a Google for OTG USB hard disks (On The Go USB), they allow you to plug in a USB device & back it up.

I can't give any links as they are competitors :(
 
Yeah i have just discovered a few of these type devices. Didn't know they even existed. Has anyone seen one that has an lcd status screen but is fairly cheap?

Would be nice just as an extra backup, even if i do take more cards with me.

A model with an internal rechargeable battery would be prefered

Please suggest any models below, please do not link to competitors though...thanks
 
mrgubby said:
Have a Google for OTG USB hard disks (On The Go USB), they allow you to plug in a USB device & back it up.
Click to expand...
Interesting. Seems they've been about for a while but nobody is making much noise about them which is a bit strange because it could be a perfect solution if your camera can dump files quickly over USB.
 
There seem to be two contenders, for straight copying with no real confirmation or lcd display...

AMS Venus GoGo

or

Thecus YES Nano

There are also a few with LCD displays, for progress etc but there are not many reviews.

The AMS Venus GoGo (Jou Jye Venus) seems to be pretty good, with LED's for various status's and it has an internal battery etc. Shame overclockers dont stock these types o devices, as I expect they would be pretty popular with the photography section.

matt
 
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why not just shove the card in? I've got a usb2go iriver 20gb h320 thing, it's pretty good, although it only displays jpgs smaller than 300k which is pretty useless. But as a straight forward image dump it's pretty handy.

That said I use my 2.5" + imageDump device instead, as it's quicker and easiler to use IMO. One button, makes new directory, copies all, done. No messing about. Takes about 20seconds for 256mb.
 
rpstewart said:
I then got a 40Gb Flashtrax which is a nice wee piece of kit, it actually tells you what's been copied and you can check the content on the attached screen but it's slow - a 2Gb card takes over 20mins to copy onto the HDD.
Click to expand...
That's what I use but it doesn't seem to be that slow, never actually timed it though. My other gripe is the screen, it's not great, certainly nothing like as good as the P2000.
 
That said I use my 2.5" + imageDump device instead, as it's quicker and easiler to use IMO. One button, makes new directory, copies all, done. No messing about. Takes about 20seconds for 256mb.
Click to expand...

What device would that be?
 
rpstewart said:
The former is very much possible as already noted, the latter however isn't. To transfer from camera to a portable HDD via USB would require one of the devices to operate as a USB master (the role normally performed by the PC), as far as I am aware no such devices exist.
Click to expand...

If you have an iPod, Apple make a convertor device which enables one to plug a camera straight into a compatible iPod. I have one, and it's fairly slow (several minutes to transfer 1GB from camera). However, it does the job and is ideal for me as it is a very rare occasion for me to fill more than a few gigs of CF.
 
FranchiseJuan said:
I have the same comment as some of the other people in that thread. 30 min battery life? :eek:
Click to expand...

30-40mins does sound a bit rough. It only took me about 20-30 seconds odd for 256 Hyper XD card. Haven't tried my high speed compact flash yet. So You're looking at transferring a good few GB before the battery runs out.

As others have said, I usually empty a card or two on the move, then charge it every night.

Obv there are better ones out there, but this is only like £15 without the hd. So you can't go expecting something of equal spec to a £100+ one. ;)
 
Well if you consider that you need to add a HD, then it is about £50 including a 40/60gig HD, when you can get a slightly older design XsDrive 80gig that can do 3-4 hours on one charge, and does MP3 and FM radio with cheap replacable batteries for about £100. But I guess it can be nice option if you get a notebook HD lying around.

Actually having a look at the newer version (V3) with the replacable battery is actually a very nice option, and only a few more pounds.
 
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I used one of the older XsDrive's which had no lcd display so there was no way of my telling if the files had copied. Got too nervous to use it when I went to Canada for 5 weeks, so I invested in the next model up (XsDrive pro) which had an lcd display that has a mini file explorer so you can check through the directories and files to make sure they copied correctly. You can't view them as jpgs but just seeing the file there with the right size is enough to keep me happy. Lasts for ages and I've copied gigs and gigs to it on a day out with no worries. You can buy just the unit and fit your own size laptop HDD in seperately. Mine's got a 20gig drive and all in all cost about 80 quid 2 years ago

There are newer versions of the Xdrive out with proper lcd's to view the pictures but they're very expensive but I guess a worthwhile investment ?
 
boycee said:
It's called "Digimate II"

It's sold in loads of places, obv can't link them.

Review here
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=535598&pid=588292727&st=0&#entry588292727

Runs on built in battery, and storage depends on what 2.5" hd you shove in it. One button, simple and does the job.
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I've got 1 as well.
Bought the chassis from an OcUK competitor & bunged a 2.5" HDD in - took about 5 minutes to open the box, read the manual & get it up & running.
Mine certainly has better battery life than in that thread & it takes about 6 minutes to dump 1Gb from the CF to it.
Advantage of that type of device over the Thecus is that assuming that you have a 2nd CF card you can keep on shooting whilst it dumps the files - useful for motorsports, airshows etc..
 
BUFF said:
I've got 1 as well.
Bought the chassis from an OcUK competitor & bunged a 2.5" HDD in - took about 5 minutes to open the box, read the manual & get it up & running.
Mine certainly has better battery life than in that thread & it takes about 6 minutes to dump 1Gb from the CF to it.
Advantage of that type of device over the Thecus is that assuming that you have a 2nd CF card you can keep on shooting whilst it dumps the files - useful for motorsports, airshows etc..
Click to expand...

Yeah i was sure the battery was no where near as bad as they are saying, and the transfer rate is hardly that bad! I also love the fact that it always makes a new directory, as often I forget to wipe all my card lol, or accidently reset the file numbers.
 
I am sure that this is not a problem for most of you, but the problem with devices that transfure 1 gig cards in more then 6 minutes, is that 2 gigs can take more then 12 minutes.

When shooting sports (depending on the sport) I can easily fill another 2 gig in that time, and in situations where I am shooting basketball, and I am already on my second 2 gig card, and I need to transfure the first 2 gig card in the half time breake it just can't be done in a typical 10 minute half time break.
 
2Gb cards are pretty cheap these days, an extreme 3 CF can be had from an online store for £25, so it seems to me you would need to be taking lots and lots of pictures to make one of these worth while?
 
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