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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Flash Card to External Hard Drive
Derek Montgomery, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 8:42 PM on 08.24.09 |
->> I was wondering if anyone had used this device or something like it...
http://secure.serverlab.net/shop/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=9120...
I'm looking for an external hard drive type of device that I can directly download compact flash cards too. I have an Epson P-3000, but that is getting a bit old and the battery dies after downloading about 25-30 gigs. Perhaps the newer models of the Epsons have better battery life?
I'm just looking for some feedback if any of you out there have tried such a device. What I'm looking for is something that has 60+ gigs and decent battery life. Thanks! |
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Philip Johnson, Photographer
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Garland | TX | USA | Posted: 8:52 PM on 08.24.09 |
| ->> I haven't used that exact device; I have been using an older Hyperdrive HD 80. There is no screen for viewing images on my model, but all the newer ones have that capability. The one thing I do like about the Hyperdrive is that it uses 4 AA batteries and not a dedicated rechargeable. |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 9:03 PM on 08.24.09 |
->> Doesn't the Epson have an interchangable battery?
I have a P5000 and I believe it does.
The other question is are you out on location for days at a time and a computer is not accessible?
The reason I ask is with the cost of memory cards so low these days it makes some sense to invest in a lot of 8-gig cards versus spending $500-$600 for a stand alone piece of hardware to ingest cards. However if you're out in the Mojave without a computer for 10 days it makes some sense.
The other thing is I tend to trust flash memory cards versus storing on a "spinning media" even short term.
(Sorry for any typos---I'm on the iPhone.) |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 9:14 PM on 08.24.09 |
->> Just checking pricing on our sponsors' websites...
Roughly a new Epson P-6000 (80 gigs) is $570.
SanDisk Extreme III 8 gig cards are $54 apiece. Buying 10 cards is a bit cheaper than buying the same amount of storage space in getting a P-6000.
But I don't know what conditions you're working under or workflow.
I like the Epson, but since I have plenty of 4 and 8 gig cards I don't use it much at all. |
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Stanley Leary, Photographer
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Roswell | GA | USA | Posted: 9:40 PM on 08.24.09 |
| ->> ColorSpace Hyperdrive. Love it!! |
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Derek Montgomery, Photographer
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Duluth | MN | USA | Posted: 10:47 PM on 08.24.09 |
->> Robert, I never thought of it that way, but you are right, that is more cost effective when you think about it. Thanks! And you are correct about the P3000 using a replaceable battery--it just did not dawn on me to check that option out either.
The use would be two-fold. When I'm shooting weddings, I thought it might be nice to be able to pop in a card and have it backed up while I'm doing other stuff and also when I go on long trips where there won't be electrical power, it would be nice to have something to download too. However, after hearing all the stuff flash cards can endure from being dropped from a plane to surviving cycle after cycle in the wash, you bring up some great points.
Philip and Stanley, thanks for the Hyperdrive suggestions! |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 11:24 PM on 08.24.09 |
->> Best of both worlds...since you have an Epson P3000 just spent $30 and get another battery...and the money you save in not buying a replacement, invest in some large CF cards.
To me, you cannot have enough cards.
Makes some sense, especially if you're happy with the Epson otherwise. |
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Kevin Seale, Photographer
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Crawfordsville | IN | United States | Posted: 12:16 AM on 08.25.09 |
->> I have the Epson P-5000 and have had it for about 3 1/2 years and absolutely love it. I download everything as soon as I take the card from the camera mainly so I have two copies of everything as quickly as possible.
I also have 20 4 and 8 Gig cards so don't reuse the cards for an event.
I also like the P-5000 for quickly deleting the total junk images when there is some downtime or on the way home after an event. Yes, I know that this is not the safest thing but remember I live in the land of eternal corn fields so am not driving down a six lane freeway crammed with traffic.
I recently had to replace the battery but other than that, have had no problems whatsoever with it and am sure I have ran 3+TB worth of images through it.
The other bonus of it is I can rip and download videos to it and use it a lot when I travel to watch movies.
By far the most used photo related gadget I own. |
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Melissa Wade, Photographer
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Boston | MA | USA | Posted: 12:56 AM on 08.25.09 |
->> Dumb question - when hooked up to your laptop, do they work like regular external drives or do you have to move the images off the devices in order to edit them?
Also - how do they deal with extreme cold? |
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Robert Hanashiro, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | | Posted: 3:41 AM on 08.25.09 |
->> Yes, you connect the external drive to your computer via USB and it works like any other external hard drive.
In the field, they are battery operated, so extreme cold will affect it like any other battery operated device. The Epson P-6000 has an interchangeable Lithium-Ion battery, so you could bring a spare if you need more power.
These are handy devices and depending on conditions and workflow, are worth the money.
(But as I mentioned above, I think buying more cards for your cameras is USUALLY the way to go in my opinion.) |
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Melissa Wade, Photographer
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Boston | MA | USA | Posted: 12:35 PM on 08.25.09 |
| ->> Thanks. I definitely have enough cards - thought it might be worthwhile if it sped up editing time by not having to wait for the cards to dump esp. when I'm not able to have the laptop nearby. I had a Flashtrax (?) years ago and I didn't remember it being capable. |
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