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General discussion

I need a backup solution for digital photos while traveling overseas

Jul 17, 2009 7:33AM PDT
Question:

I need a backup solution for digital photos while traveling overseas


I am going to Europe for three weeks in October with several friends and we each have digital cameras with varying types of memory cards. I would like to be able to download their photos to one backup storage device so we can capture a composite of all of our photos and make a book of our vacation together and keep them backed up just in case. I am considering either the Picture Porter Elite or the Colorspace UDMA hard-drive-type devices. I would appreciate any advice regarding either of these backup devices or others I might consider. Open to ideas and suggestions. Thanks!

--Submitted by Jane R.


Here are some featured member answers to get you started, but please read all the advice and suggestions that our
members have contributed to this question.

Travel portable storage --Submitted by hjfok
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_102-0.html?messageID=3085604#3085604

My solution --Submitted by South.lodge
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_102-0.html?messageID=3083785#3083785

The 'no PC' answer --Submitted by gcmsuser
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_102-0.html?messageID=3083839#3083839

Backup options --Submitted by XSYLUS
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_102-0.html?messageID=3083562#3083562

Look at the Archos devices --Submitted by guiri_too
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_102-0.html?messageID=3083595#3083595

Digital camera card backup device? --Submitted by Kanga bill
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_102-0.html?messageID=3083651#3083651

Laptop + burned DVD's = 100% results --Submitted by rlessmue
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7593_102-0.html?messageID=3085841#3085841

If you have any additional suggestions or advice for Jane's please click on the reply link below and submit it. Please include as many details as possible in your answer and if referring to a product recommendation--please provide a link to the product whenever possible. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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digital photos while traveling overseas
Jul 17, 2009 10:53PM PDT

Whatever storage solution you decide upon, be sure that all cameras in your party are synchronized to the same date and time! This simplifies the final selection process greatly if you combine image files into one master file. Then, when you sort the master file by date and time, everyone's photos of the Eiffer Tower, Louvre, etc., are adjacent to each other, making comparison, selection, and avoidance of duplication easier. Be certain that the "AM" and "PM" settings are accurate.

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Vault for viewer?
Jul 17, 2009 11:12PM PDT

I'm sure you'll receive some excellent advice but for me there's a few aspects you've left out of your question. Is size an issue? For inistance do you want to carry the storage device with you as you take pictures or simply want say leave it in your room and tranfer your files at the end of the day?

What is your price range? The devices you've mentioned show up in a search as costing more than most entry and mid level digital cameras. It's seem cheaper just to buy more memory. Also, how much storage are you looking for? Since I went digital 10 years ago I tend to snap snap snap photos of everything and anything and weed through them later - well, mostly I just keep them all. I also tend to switch to lower MP mode when I know I'm just shooting for shootings sake.

Do you need to view your photos from the device? Storage solutions with color screens for viewing photos are much more expensive than those without. Honestly, for the $300-400 I saw your mentioned devices listed for you can purchase a good used laptop or a new netbook; both with plenty of storage. An added benefit is that you'd have a portable computer to view your photos AND videos as well as have the ability to edit your photos and work on your album.

Another possible solution is to research the area you'll be taking photos in. There might be readily available locations with centers or kiosks available where you can take your memory cards and have the files copied to DVD storage. This would be the most cost effective long term solution (although I wouldn't trust just the DVD as a permanent backup of the photos - copy them to a drive when you get home just in case) since if you purchased a dedicated photo storage device would you have use for it after this one trip?
http://forums.cnet.com/5224-7593_102-0.html?forumID=58&threadID=350394&messageID=3083489&tag=nl.e497
Good luck in your quest.
Danneauxs

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Card Backup
Jul 17, 2009 11:28PM PDT

I use Wolverine products. I especially love their ESP series.

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how about a simple solution?
Jul 17, 2009 11:39PM PDT

What about a simple flash drive? The storage has gotten large on these.

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I used an Ipod
Jul 18, 2009 12:11AM PDT

In a similar situation I used a 5th gen Ipod (classic). You can get a camera cable for a typical rip-off price (~$30) or maybe for less now. Then you can download from any camera with a USB connection to the Ipod. The Ipod looks to the camera like a computer and to your computer when you get home like a disk drive. During my trip my Ipod's software went bad, but a reset got it going again without losing any data. You also have enough room for music on the airplane.

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Seagate
Jul 18, 2009 12:36AM PDT

When travelling, I have used a Seagate FreeAgent 250 GB portable storage device to download photos. It is about the size of a blackberry and can hold quite a few images. They make these in a larger capacity, as well.

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I took my laptop to Italy...
Jul 18, 2009 12:36AM PDT

For my honeymoon in Italy, I took my laptop for (among other reasons) storing my pictures each day. Since you'll probably need a power adapter anyway, you can charge up the laptop battery during the day while you're out sight-seeing, then download each of the cameras to the hard drive when you get back to the hotel. It makes it very easy to backup and organize things since each person can have a folder for their own photos, you can write backup disks with your DVD writer, you may have image editing/organization software on the laptop already, and you can easily transfer to your desktop when you get back home.
I also carried a couple extra SD cards in the camera case right next to the batteries...I needed them a couple days in Rome when I took so many pictures my wife commented that I would only recognize Rome if I saw it through the screen on a camera. lol

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Backup digital photos while traveling overseas
Jul 18, 2009 1:10AM PDT

I would use my Box.Net account and take USB cord with me so I could use/find/borrow an occasional computer with which to download pictures straight from my camera to the Box.net account where they would be for download when I got back home.
Anyone familiar with the chances of finding a comptuer in your travels for this? Since I've never been to Europe, much to my regret, I cannot even guess at the chances of this. Would they be available at local post offices, embassies, Internet cafes, etc.?

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Photo back up while traveling
Jul 18, 2009 2:55AM PDT

We love the Picture Porter Elite and have used it for 2 years now. We shoot Nikon Raw files which are large. We have also used the Picture Porter with friends on the same trips and have loaned it to others to take. The built in card reader read everyone's card without an issue, giving every download a specific file name automatically so there is no concern about overwriting a file and losing photos. What is also nice is that it does not require a lot of recharging if all you use it for is downloading photos. You can use the current transformer to charge your camera batteries every night and not have to recharge the Picture Porter.

Because it is not a computer it is not scanned at airports like a laptop and remains in your carry on.

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digital photo backup
Jul 18, 2009 3:12AM PDT

Hi and have a great trip. I`m from Germany and have visited Europe many, many times. There are numerous ways to do this. Myself; since my laptop goes with me, all my pics go to my 25gb sky drive.

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back up
Jul 18, 2009 3:19AM PDT

get your self a external harddrive back it up in their, hope it help,most external harddrive is cheap now and you can put alot of information in it. have fun traveling.

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Have you looked at Picasa, a Google product
Jul 18, 2009 3:46AM PDT

The answer I think is Picasa. A simple Google product that allows you to build a web photo site, public or private, from any digital source. Have a look. Yes, you have to download the program to your machine, and it will tirelessly seek out all your images. But once found it organises them by date, and without duplication, by using simple database logic. (It is over there, so I give you the pointer to look over there.)
Seriously though, if you look at my public Picasa albums you will see what I mean as you can also download any of my photos you want, and only what you want to your own machine.
Yes, I am over 60 and yes, I like Google products, Microsoft....and so far OK.

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On-Line Storage
Jul 18, 2009 4:16AM PDT

Personally, if you're going with a number of people and talking of large amounts of pictures, I would seriously consider taking a compatible laptop along (instead of a storage device) and uploading your photos every so often to an internet storage site. Your pictures will be safe and can't be dropped in a river or stolen when you're not looking. Even without a laptop, you can go to one of the many photo-copy shops (they have them throughout Europe)and have someone there upload them for you for a small charge. Kinko's should be able to give you some helpful hints and ball-park pricing before you leave. European countries are definitely used to digital camera-wielding tourists (they also usually have much faster internet connections).
Make sure, of course, to have your on-line storage set up before you leave (duh).

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Ever think of a personal webpage
Jul 18, 2009 4:48AM PDT

They are inexpensive and you can cancel when you are done or if you like it, keep it.
You can upload from any internet connection and sore them on a central server. Give the URL to friends and family and they can see where you are and what you are doing. Even post notes to you. When you get home you can download then to your computer at home. All or just the wants you want to keep, cnacel the web page or keep it for your next trip.

Ridgewalkernc

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carbonite
Jul 18, 2009 7:23AM PDT

carbonite.com charges an anual fee but its unlimited storage made simple. Leo Leporte the techguy on kfi am 640 recommends this.

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I use DVDs to backup my photos
Jul 18, 2009 7:35AM PDT

Whenever I go on vacation, I take a dozen blank DVDs with
me with cases. I can usually find a computer to download
my photos on (i.e. a cybercafe or a hotel computer). I then
make duplicate DVDs of my photos. I sometimes mail one copy
home, just in case. If I am going to a place where I don't
think I will have access to a computer, i.e. the Amazon,
I take my notebook with me which has a DVD burner.
Since I always backup my photos to DVDs, doing it on vacation
saves me time when I get home. I have never had a DVD go bad on
me but I have had drives bite the dust.
I hope this is helpful

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Back Up Solusion For Digital Photos
Jul 18, 2009 8:32AM PDT

Ever think about a flash drive if you are going to use a desk top or a lap top computer.

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mofoto is a great option
Jul 25, 2009 5:13PM PDT

I use the 500GB mofoto portable photo backup for my Canon 5DM2 and Canon HF S100. I burn through memory pretty fast so having 500GB available without having to carry a computer is nice. Mofoto fits nicely in my small camcorder bag ... something that a netbook does not do. I also like the drop protection sensor since I'm always afraid that I'm going to drop it while trying to manage my camera and the backup device.

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Digital photos backup
Jul 18, 2009 8:53AM PDT

We recently traveled to Dubai from New Zealand and toured for 4 weeks with a 1 week stop-over in Australia on the return trip, we took over 1000 photos, as memory cards were an avoidable expense and we had photos from other peoples cameras, we purchased a USB 'flash-drive' memory stick to store all the shots on and downloaded them on our return to the computer

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Storin travel pix
Jul 18, 2009 9:37AM PDT

Why not buy a USB multiformat card reader and 32GB 64GB or 128GB compact flash card as your picture repository? The card will be about the size of your wristwatch face, and probably thinner than the watch. Your camera cards and your friends' must pass through a computer to achieve the storage, but this won't take long -- depending of course, on the size of your group.

Card readers are very cheap so you can if you want to carry a redundant one, too.

I suggest compact flash because low-mass secure digital cards, I recall bitterly, can be blown out a window with great rapidity.

The main issues of achieving your dream, regardless of what technopath you choose are:

1. All camera cards to be, by preference, Class 6 or 8 -- the fastest-processing levels.

2. All to be tested extensively before the trip: there are too many sad stories from travellers coming home with no usable images on their cheap no-name cards.

3. Clear, disciplined and agreed pre-trip protocols for group participation in your planning. That will probably be the hardest part of the whole adventure.

No special software is needed to do what you want. Internet cafes along the way come with OSes that accept simple file transfers by wire. That's all you really need.

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PDA Makes Great Photo Organizer, Plus
Jul 18, 2009 11:46AM PDT

My favorite photo organizer is a Palm Personal Data Assistant (PDA). I simply pop the HD card out of my camera and pop the card into the PDA. The photos show up immediately on a screen that is easy to see, edit, and organize. The card goes back into the camera with the photos safely stored on the PDA and ready to fill up again with new shots. The nice thing about the PDA as a photo storage device is that it is the swiss army knife of digital devices. In the small package is a tool with nearly as much versatility and functionality as a laptop. All in the "palm" of your hand. If you really want to cut down on size and the number of devices carried, the Palm Centro also works as an international phone.

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Epson P-5000 Multimedia Storage Viewer
Jul 18, 2009 12:10PM PDT

I highly recommend purchasing an Epson viewer. The P-3000 (40 gb) , P-5000 (80 GB) and later models which are higher capacity hard drives, are excellent for backup. The other benefit is that there is a viewer, so you can see the photos on the 4 inch LCD with great visibility. I have had smaller backup drives as well, but without the viewer. With no viewer you don't know what you have, and they are not nearly as useful as being to view your photos on the device. With the viewer, you can show friends and family your photos without having to have a laptop or computer, or printing them all out. I have been travelling with my P-5000 for several years, and find it an excellent addition to my equipment. It comes with an AC adapter, but runs off rechargeable battery. With the proper energy converter for the country you are travelling to, you can use it where ever you go to charge it. It comes ready to accept SD and CompactFlash Memory cards, and since I also have Olympus XD, I purchased an additional USB connector for my Olympus cameras. I imagine you can purchase adaptors for the Sony memory stick, but I haven't checked that out myself. You can purchase various generic XD models that plug into the USB or the Compact Flash slot, or get a USB connector direct from Olympus. It comes with a Hi speed USB 2.0 interface to share with other USB devices. They are not inexpensive, but then when you want reliable quality for your photos, I believe it is worth the purchase price to have the viewer along with the back up drive.
Gerry

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Digital photo backup
Jul 18, 2009 4:20PM PDT

Several years ago, I bought my wife an X's-Drive S. 40gb, 3 card readers, small screen admittedly, but also takes audio and video. About half the size of a paperback and came in a shockproof carrying case. It's been all over the world, never failed and doubles as a potable hard drive at home. It's out of date, ugly and I wouldn't change it as long as it works!

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back up on Picassa.... Google is everywhere
Jul 18, 2009 7:39PM PDT

All of my photographs are on picasa... their system is great. If space is a problem, you can buy extra storage online from picasa

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MemoryKick is a great pocket-size storage/ viewing device...
Jul 18, 2009 9:37PM PDT

I highly recommend the MemoryKick portable storage / viewer. http://www.memorykickusa.com/ It's perfect for what you need.

It will store all your photos -- has a built-in card reader that reads all types of memory cards, so it will work for your camera and all your friends' cameras. I carry it everywhere -- it easily fits in my pocket and operates on a built-in rechargeable battery (international plugs are available) and weighs almost nothing. It has a viewing screen, so you can all look at the pics from that day, or a week ago. It can also write photos back to other devices (computers, flash drives, memory cards) so, if one of you takes a great picture that you want to share with a local, or email to friends back home, you can do it. It allows you to organize your photos into various albums, so you can start creating your book them while you're there.

It also stores and plays videos! At least a few of the cameras you'll have with you probably shoot video.

Plus, it's an MP3 player, so you can bring along your music to listen to.

Have a great trip!

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Photo Backup
Jul 19, 2009 12:29AM PDT

It may be a bit of a hassle, but the only absolute reliable backup is an online photo upload center and a hard drive backing that up. Also, another solution (albeit clunky) could be compressing and emailing using Google Mail, as it has impressive capacity. Either way, enjoy!

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Keep it simple
Jul 19, 2009 12:31AM PDT

Assuming you are taking a laptop, a USB card reader capable of reading all the cards is all you need.

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Digital photo storage
Jul 19, 2009 1:05AM PDT

Hi Jane I looked at many of the storage and display devices but ended buying a Toshiba net book (NB100) This gives you 160 Gb of storage twice the capacity of most storage devices, a larger screen, the ability to email pictures and being USB capable you can buy a cheap memory card reader that will read all your cards. The size is a little larger than storage devices but the price is the same especially the 9" NB 100 (now replaced by the 10" NB200). Considering the advantages of a netbook I think it is a much better deal. Other netbooks are similarly priced but beware of the solid state hard drive modules which have much smaller capacities. Roger.

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Get an Eye Fi Card
Jul 19, 2009 9:56AM PDT

Just by turning on the camera you can upload your pictures wirelessly by wifi to a hard drive or to any number of on line sites. If you get the right one, it will even tag the pictures to show the time and location each was taken.

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Backup Device
Jul 19, 2009 6:51PM PDT

I am a professional photographer. I use the Wolverine. It can copy many kinds of cards. It has never failed on me.
chaim