Back in early October I laid out my backup strategy for the upcoming Japan trip. Back then I stated that:
Travelling, I’ve got a Hyperdrive, a small iPod-like device, and several CompactFlash cards (see above.) As the cards are utilized, they’re downloaded onto the Hyperdrive. Once all cards have been filled up, then I start reformatting them. This would in no way satisfy a true backup devotee, but I think it works for me.
Well, it in fact did work for me.
The expected: I ended up using all CompactFlash cards for the digital SLR, but I never had to reformat any of the cards. As I switched to a new card I backed up the old card onto the Hyperdrive; by the end of the trip I was on the last CompactFlash card but wasn’t close to filling it up.
The unexpected: I used the Canon G9 more heavily than anticipated, thereby consistently filling up the SD memory cards that it used and therefore having to reformat rather frequently. In fact I started to reformat cards within the first two days of the trip, in Kyoto. I had the G9 with me during the rainy-day tour we took there and took quite a few pix!
In both cases the Hyperdrive worked fine, especially in its backup function. (I never did figure out how to effectively preview the day’s shots.) I ended up using it to download my photos onto the computer.
But here’s the thing. The function of the Hyperdrive is to let you save enormous quantities of photos, for example, when you’re travelling through Japan for two weeks with camera constantly in hand. Once that particular event is over, then the need for the Hyperdrive is gone.
So I may end up selling it, so as not to have a somewhat expensive device just sitting around on the shelf. For regular vacations—bird-watching, backpacks, etc.—the storage on my CompactFlash cards is more than sufficient.
Travelling, I’ve got a Hyperdrive, a small iPod-like device, and several CompactFlash cards (see above.) As the cards are utilized, they’re downloaded onto the Hyperdrive. Once all cards have been filled up, then I start reformatting them. This would in no way satisfy a true backup devotee, but I think it works for me.
Well, it in fact did work for me.
The expected: I ended up using all CompactFlash cards for the digital SLR, but I never had to reformat any of the cards. As I switched to a new card I backed up the old card onto the Hyperdrive; by the end of the trip I was on the last CompactFlash card but wasn’t close to filling it up.
The unexpected: I used the Canon G9 more heavily than anticipated, thereby consistently filling up the SD memory cards that it used and therefore having to reformat rather frequently. In fact I started to reformat cards within the first two days of the trip, in Kyoto. I had the G9 with me during the rainy-day tour we took there and took quite a few pix!
In both cases the Hyperdrive worked fine, especially in its backup function. (I never did figure out how to effectively preview the day’s shots.) I ended up using it to download my photos onto the computer.
But here’s the thing. The function of the Hyperdrive is to let you save enormous quantities of photos, for example, when you’re travelling through Japan for two weeks with camera constantly in hand. Once that particular event is over, then the need for the Hyperdrive is gone.
So I may end up selling it, so as not to have a somewhat expensive device just sitting around on the shelf. For regular vacations—bird-watching, backpacks, etc.—the storage on my CompactFlash cards is more than sufficient.
Photo: Maple & Redwoods—Marin County, 2008
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