PSD recommendation?

[jdear]

Im going on Ken Duncan's - Northen Exposure workshop on Hamilton Island in 3 weeks, and Im looking at buying a PSD for downloading to at the end of each day. (+ wedding backups)

Ive been looking at the nexto CF and compactDrive PD70X.

wanting to spend b/w 300-400 $$

Any suggestions?
(and yes i did a search for PSD... the aldi one just wont do )

J

[radar]

John,

just search for pd70x or nexto, lots of hits on these forums.

I use the pd70x myself and like it.

cheers,

André

[Frankenstein]

I bought the PD70X a few months ago. I've used it a few times and have been quite happy with it - very easy operation and very quick. I'm off to Canada in 4 weeks, so I hope it serves me well there as well.

Frank

[sheepie]

pd70x here as well - very happy.

But do a search on these forums for psd, you'll get plenty of comments - and don't discount the value of extra CF cards either - especially at the price they're available now

[the foto fanatic]

I have the Epson P-2000. The screen is excellent.

http://www.teds.com.au/www/6/1001102/displayproduct/1410474.html

I think you can get them cheaper than at Ted's. There is also a newer model with greater storage capacity, the Epson P-4000.

I think that if you search for Epson P-2000 in the forum you'll find plenty of earlier discussion on this type of product.

[Steffen]

Im going on Ken Duncan's - Northen Exposure workshop on Hamilton Island in 3 weeks, and Im looking at buying a PSD for downloading to at the end of each day. (+ wedding backups)

Ive been looking at the nexto CF and compactDrive PD70X.

wanting to spend b/w 300-400 $$

Any suggestions?
(and yes i did a search for PSD... the aldi one just wont do )

J

I'm so envious...

Regarding the gadget, I always felt this was a lot of money for a single-trick pony. If all you want to do is use it at the end of the day to free up your CF cards (i.e. not lug it around all day) you might as well consider an Acer notebook for $995 or so, and actually start editing your pictures right there. You may even upload a few to the forum if you can find an ISP do dial in to...

In short: twice the money, hundred times the versatility.

Cheers
Steffen.

[Glen]

http://fhoude34.free.fr/PortableHD.htm

Jonathon the above link was last updated on 28.05.06, some useful info there.

[wendellt]

i was going to go for the nexto CF
because of the speed but there's no screen and i think it'
s important to review images on some sort of screen so you can edit and or be self assured images are copied o.k

so i went with the epson p2000

better wait though for the 80gig verison

40gig fills up quick

epson is great but the battery life is an issue and it is slower than the nexto cf

[birddog114]

Buy heaps of CF cards and for get the PSD.
Or buy a cheap notebook as Steffen mentioned and you're in the game.
Same question as Kris asked not long ago. PSD or CF card? you have to do all backup at the end of the day of your shooting.
The PSD won't guarantee you the neverfailed of its Hdd or the lost of the unit same as CF card.
Backup on the DVD (Duplicate it) if your works are critical.
Do the search my friend.

[shutterbug]

For me, get a small notebook and some more CF cards. You don't want to play with CF cards during a wedding.

Domain is having a sale on the old ibook 12" G4.

[Alpha_7]

Domain is having a sale on the old ibook 12" G4.

Vince any idea of the price ?

[radar]

Vince any idea of the price ?

$1099, which is a pretty good price. Sure, it's not the Intel chip, but still a very powerful, very portable notebook.

cheers,

André

[Alpha_7]

Only $400 more then I considered playing for a PSD. Hmmmm.

[shutterbug]

I currently have one and it is great

[blacknstormy]

Go the notebook - I was looking at getting a PSD for when we are in the field for days on end, and taking heaps of photos - but got the notebook instead - much much better value, and uses...... The notebook fits in my camera bag (crumpler backpack) - and allows for editing, downloading and burning...

Just my 2c (probably only worth about 0.5c )

rel

[Frankenstein]

The versatility of a cheapie notebook is undeniable, but it suffers the same risk of a HDD crash as a PSD. And I don't know about the rest of you, but my camera bag has never been heavier, so the thought of lugging around a laptop as well just isn't a consideration. CF cards will be a great option when they're cheaper still (5 x 8GB cards = $1500+). The PDX70 is light, quick and fits neatly in my camera bag. Having said that, I will be burning backup DVDs on my upcoming trip, just in case.

Frank

[robster]

I imagine this workflow and love the idea of it:

1) a little box that i can whip out a card and smack into. whilst it downloads to the box (at the touch of a button no less) I can shove hte second card into the camera and keep shooting.

2) Repeat until shoot is finished.

3) at the end of shoot, take little box to computer and plug in, and it appears as external drive. I then copy to HD to start working.


I think it's a wicked workflow, no lugging computers, or laptop damage concerns etc.... Of course, if you're in a studio, just whack straight into laptop, but on location... I just think it'd be excellent.


Rob

[DaveB]

As ever, you want at least two copies of the files.

Copying the cards to a PSD or a laptop achieves this. But if you want to re-use the cards then to keep two copies you either need to re-copy the cards to a different disk, or duplicate the files you've already copied. Thus my personal system when travelling of copying the cards to a PSD, then duplicating that onto the laptop at the end of the day. I know some people who carry two PSDs!

If you're willing to risk having only one copy of the files, then it's up to you as to which (PSD or laptop) you use.

[birddog114]

robster,
What happen when you plug your PSD into your computer and see no drive or a message as "could not detect" or "the drive need format" or nothing apper in "my computer"? while you had all your CF cards formatted and reused.


As DaveB mentioned: Alway have two copies, if you're seriously thinking your shooting is important.

[robster]

robster,
What happen when you plug your PSD into your computer and see no drive or a message as "could not detect" or "the drive need format" or nothing apper in "my computer"? while you had all your CF cards formatted and reused.


As DaveB mentioned: Alway have two copies, if you're seriously thinking your shooting is important.

For sure, two psd's or some kind of setup if it's that important a shoot. Either way, i just love the 'plug it in a lil box and walk away' concept.

[DionM]

I know some people who carry two PSDs!

I'm one of them! A PD70x and a Digimate II. Two different types of PSDs, with two different brands of HDDs in them, using different types of batts (NiMh and Li-ion rechargables). No common points of failure.

[DVEous]

... Obsolete ...

[DionM]

This is a no-brainer, get enough cards to suit your shooting situation.

Yep, with the falling price of CF cards I am tempted to think about selling one of my PSDs - then the two copies are one on CF, one on the PSD.

[DaveB]

With the cost of CF cards falling in recent years, the problem of HAVING to reuse a card should not exist anymore. Purchase more cards.

That's easy to say...
I'm guessing you don't go away for many multi-day trips. When you're away for several weeks and your output is around 40 GB, that's a lot of cards (although 40GB of cards is a much more reasonable proposition these days than a few years ago). But with a trip like that you'd be silly to only keep one copy of the images (i.e. you should have a laptop and/or PSD anyway).

This is a no-brainer, get enough cards to suit your shooting situation.

Indeed. Each of our situations can be different. Today I try to have enough cards to last me through one day. But what you do with your files at the end of the day (and in general) is still an issue. I believe PSDs do still have a place.

[the foto fanatic]

Epson P-2000 currently advertised at $733 at City Software. Capacity 40Gb + screen for review of pictures and backup.

$733 will buy you 5 X 4Gb cards from Birdy. Capacity 20Gb + ...
Then you have to find a suitable way of separating the used cards from the unused ones. Do you keep them with your camera gear or have them rattle around in your suitcase?

I find that I use my Epson nightly when on trips to look through images, both for culling and just reliving the experiences. The screen is much better than the screen on the D70. Yes, it's another item to carry, plus it needs a recharger, but even so I find that worthwhile.

I then keep the Epson completely separated from my camera equipment for security reasons.

After the trip, I PP my images then I can reload them and use the Epson for taking my photos to family, friends etc for viewing. They all marvel at the image quality on the Epson screen.

I'm going to keep using it.

[Alpha_7]

Does anyone have a Vosonic VP8360 or X's Drive VP8360, (I believe they are the same unit, or very very similar). I played with a Vosonic in the shop in Canberra unfortunately they didnt have a Epson to compare too, but I liked it alot, it's also a little cheaper then the P-2000 so you can either get more Gig'age(for the same price) or safe some cash.

[DaveB]

Then you have to find a suitable way of separating the used cards from the unused ones. Do you keep them with your camera gear or have them rattle around in your suitcase?

Actually this isn't too much of a problem (consider that you're only talking about 5 cards). I generally carry less than 8 cards, and put them in 4-card carriers (actually, with a card in each camera I only need one carrier on hand: an empty one is in the car or backpack).
A simple system works well:

• Card in label-side-up & pins-down is available for formatting (a "fresh" card).
• Card in label-side-down is used and has not been backed up.
• Card in label-side-up but pins-up has been backed up (but a fresh card should be preferred).

That system works for me: you might find a slightly different solution though.

[Yedrup]

Another option for the traveller (and I don't know whether this would be practical in all situations) is to sign up for data storage on the internet. You could buy a certain amount of storage space (I have seen upto 5Gb advertised) upload your images via a web cafe direct from you CF card or camera.

Your images would be ready for download on return from your trip.