Backing up - is there a small mobile device out there?

Most of the time I take my chances and fail to back up when out and about -- I don't want to get too neurotic about it, and after all the loss of a day's-worth of my shots is not (even for me) going to be a disaster. But sometimes it's more than a day and sometimes taking a notebook or similar is not really an option and any online storage is not feasible. So far I've just made sure I have multiple small-capacity SD cards. What I think I'd like (but I could be wrong!) is a simple, compact device that would allow me to back up my RAW files on SD cards to some other memory. I found such a device on a US site that allowed transfer from one SD card to another, bigger one -- but it was no longer available. The only other devices I've found cost a few hundred pounds which (for my purposes) is way over the top. What a pity the K5 doesn't write to two cards... perhaps the K3 will have that feature.

I'm sure this matter must have been discussed somewhere on the forum, but the latest I can find is a 2004 chat, which technologically is almost another era. Be glad to be pointed to a link rather than rerun a conversation that's already been had.

Chris

There used to be lots of this sort of device, but with the arrival of notebooks, netbooks and tablets they are no longer made I think. You may be able to find one still on E-bay or similar. Look for image tanks.

We have one from years ago, which we still use when I don't want to take my netbook with me, or so his nibs can back his up separately to me.

Alternatively find a cheapo tablet with a USB port and back up to either a small hard-drive or to memory sticks through the tablet.

These sorts of devices are from a time when even a 1Gb cost £100-200,
Epson and Smartdisk, Jobo and others made devices of 16-32Gb capacity that would cover a break....for the cost of two-three 1Gb cards....I also remember devices that would record directly onto DVD but in my experience they were unreliable.

I am not aware of any devices that can record from one SD to another but the only solution I can think of is to get the smallest laptop or tablet and save onto that and then back up onto a portable device.

I have looked for something similar before, but the devices (such as this: link) always seem to be very expensive, as you seem to have found already. Probably a more cost effective bet would be to drag my laptop around with me, although its not so compact...

This? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ex-Pro%C2%AE-Picture-Drive-EX205K-Storage/dp/B005R173DO/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1341671782&sr=1-4

Thanks all -- I suppose the two links provided by Mat and JohnX are the closest -- but one is expensive and the other seems (if reviews can be trusted) to have problems with any version of Windows beyond XP. Hey-ho. I really don't want to hump even a tablet around with me but that seems to be the lightest, practicable option now available.

The one we have works purely as a hard drive, so I can't see why it would give a problem with XP - in fact we used to use it on XP.

Look for a secondhand one. Ours is an old Vosonic Xs drive with no screen. It didn't cost a lot new, and I'm sure they are out there for not a lot secondhand.

Edit - there are three on a Dutch secondhand site, so I'm sure there must be some on a UK site.

Thanks Gwyn. The reviewer was claiming that the device was fine with Windows XP but not with Vista or 7. But sounds as though he had a dud copy. I'll do some scouting around ... thanks for the advice.

I have a solution which is a little different using one of these.

Basically it's a mini copier and it is a dream to use. Plug the USB lead from your camera into the 'copy from end' then plug pretty much anything in the other end which has a USB connector such as a card reader, disk drive, even an iPod or Android Phone in data mode) and it will copy without a computer.

The great thing is you are not tied to a single system - you can take whatever you need and have on that occasion (although it does have to be FAT32, not NTFS).

Another idea is here

What a useful and cheap product! Nice that you could use your existing external hdds, or phone even.

"Copy Images from Card to Drive instantly."


Year right

I bought one of those a year or so ago. When I tried it, it took about 30 minutes to copy one photo. never used it since.

Mine runs at about 1Gb of data an hour. Ok, still slow, but depends how big a hurry you're in.

Just set it running then get on with taking shots using another card.

Should be good when they bring out a USB 3 version