Portable Digital Image Storage Device

[LotusGTR]

I'm traveling to Europe for a month and will be taking the trusty 350D to take a record. I want to download, store, view and cull images on a daily basis. I also want to be able to show my fine work to friends and relatives, on screen. I'm traveling with my wife and daughter so we'll be traveling with the kitchen sink, so this device needs to be light and compact.

I'm looking for suggestions. So far I've got an Acer Aspire 1 Netbook, a DVICO TVIX 2230 Portable Media Player (they actually called it that) on the list of possibles.

An iPhone would be awesome but I understand you can't download straight from the DSLR to the device........so no good for this application.

What do you guys use? What can you recommend?

Cheers,

Nick.

[Mr. Oizo]

CompactDrive PD70x

Basically a hard drive with memory card slots, you chuck the memory card in, press a button and it transfers to the HDD.

It's not as baller as the Epson ones with the screen, but it does the job.

Here's a review my friend did:

http://www.phidong.com/archives/000405.php

Or if you want to go all out, go for the Epson P-3000 / P-6000 / P-7000 series

[siddr20]

I just got back from a 2 month trip from europe.

However i was backpacking around (staying in hostels) and i deff had no time to upload photos on a daily basis.

It might be different case for yourself as you will be traveling with family and you will actually get some time.

I found the easiest thing to do is actually carry a fair few memory cards.

Just fill it up and use the next one

But otherwise i could suggest a portable hard-drive and any laptop. Probably the easiest option.

Portable hard-drives are light and compact these days.. So im sure you can find a pocket size one easily.

[Mr. Oizo]

Whoops, didn't realise you said you were only going away for a month.

I went for a month with only an 8GB memory card, and a 16gb flash drive and I used up about 4gb on the memory card.

That's with an 8mp 20d, so 2.5mb to 3mb file sizes.

How many pictures do you plan on taking?

[LotusGTR]

Could be anywhere from none to 200 per day depending on activities. It's not just storage that is the issue. I don't want to get home after a month and spend an eternity de-duping and culling shots. I want to do it as I go. I also want instant feedback on the shots I've taken. No point in getting home and finding out all your shots are crap, especially if you experiment a little to try and learn as you go (as I intend to do). So, it must be / have the following:

A screen

Software that allows you to download directly to the device

Some sort of file management system so I can organise the shots

USB ports

Memory capacity (though I do have a 80gb external HD)

Small and light

I'll check out the Epson P-3000 / P-6000 / P-7000 series as recommended as it seems to be the only device other than the Acer Netbook that's going to give me what I need. It also has the benefit of internet connectivity, and, well, all the benefits of a PC.

Thanks for the feedback. Any other suggestions?

Cheers.

[siddr20]

When you go away on holidays and esp a month in europe i doubt you will even want to touch a computer or any device once you get back home(hotel, hostel, room etc) to upload pictures and view them etc.. Perhaps for the first week but i guarantee you it wont happen after.. Just enjoy your holidays

I reckon if its only a month then buy a few memory cards.

There are plenty of internet cafes in europe too (as your backup incase you dont get your portable device).

But anyways im just providing other suggestions as above..

Enjoy your trip Cant wait till i go back to europe again.

[LotusGTR]

I know what you mean but I've always found with travel I'm really keen to see my photos. It's kind of an end day ritual with a beer. Remember I'm with family so plenty of hanging around time. I'm not racing off to eat out or go to a bar, chasing girls etc (the old days). You've got airport and transfer time too. I like to see the shots as I go as previously mentioned. Also, when I'm back, I'll be eye deep with work so won't get to touch them in a month of Sundays. I guess if I were travelling light and in and out of hostels and living the fast life I'd go with your plan....I'm mostly staying with relatives in England and in Paris for a week in an apartment with WiFi, so this all helps too.

The camera does sometimes get in the way though. You gotta watch out you don't spend all your time capturing the moment and not being part of it.....

Cheers.

When you go away on holidays and esp a month in europe i doubt you will even want to touch a computer or any device once you get back home(hotel, hostel, room etc) to upload pictures and view them etc.. Perhaps for the first week but i guarantee you it wont happen after.. Just enjoy your holidays

I reckon if its only a month then buy a few memory cards.

There are plenty of internet cafes in europe too (as your backup incase you dont get your portable device).

But anyways im just providing other suggestions as above..

Enjoy your trip Cant wait till i go back to europe again.

[zei20l]

i know this thread is a few months old now, but you could also do what i did and get an ipod photo (i found a 60gig on ebay) and get the camera dongle ($5 on ebay) and use that to store photos on. i used that while in europe last year.

[Mr. Oizo]

i know this thread is a few months old now, but you could also do what i did and get an ipod photo (i found a 60gig on ebay) and get the camera dongle ($5 on ebay) and use that to store photos on. i used that while in europe last year.

That doesn't work with a lot of cameras