Standalone Storage Device for Field Backup

[Lance Warley]

Is anyone familiar with the Digital Foci Photo Safe II 160GB Stand-Alone Data Storage Unit? I see it on B&H for $129 plus free shipping in the US.

I'm looking for a safe, reliable, no-frills field backup device. It soen't need to have any kind of a pretty display. The display doesn't even need to be color and I don't care if it can display the images. I just want something I can carry in my pocket for backups that will tell me a backup has been successfully completed.

Any suggestions, gang? Thanks.

[Ed Cordes]

I am not familiar with this device. I do wonder however if 160 Gig is enough? If you are on a trip and shoot with a camera that produces large files you will fill up 160. I would prefer to have a cushion.

FWIW, it is not what you asked for due to its display, but I have been using Color Space and just got a UDMA version. I bought the case empty and put a WD 320 lap top drive in it and saved just about $100.

[brian simpson]

Ive heard your card gets erased and no images copied? ide rather put the money in more cards .I take a small net book with me 160 gigs if you want smaller i would only recommend the epson$$..

[Lance Warley]

I'll be in very cold weather. I need to be able to back up cards outdoors quickly.

When I go indoors after shooting, I'll have to wait for the cameras and cards to go through the condensation period in ziplocks before I can do anything with them indoors, like backup to a PC.

[Ed Cordes]

I'll be in very cold weather. I need to be able to back up cards outdoors quickly.

Quick back up is why I bought the Colorspace. The UDMA version is the quickest on the market. i dpon't mean to sound like a sales rep - I am not.

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Lance We just came form Yellowstone and shot in lower than -30F Don't think you will have a problem with the cards, remember some have made it through a wash machine cycle unharmed :) With the device you are talking about batteries will be a problem !!

[Lance Warley]

Thanks, Al. Just the advice I was looking for.

Did you have to put your cameras, cards and lenses in baggies when you returned indoors after a day outside?

[Alfred Forns]

No Lance there was no problem, our room had the heater off during the day so it was nice and cool when we came back :) At some places I have left the gear out in the car bringing just the batteries in but temps were in the single digits. Here making it to over thirty below I decided to bring everything in !!

Snow wise lots of time is dry so you don't need to cover the lens/camera while shooting !! ... btw if you have any trouble with your feet getting cold get a pair of Baffin Magellans ... good to -148 and light !!!

[Sandra Nykerk]

Lance, I have a Digital Foci Photo Safe, although it is an older version and not the same as the one you are considering. I don't have it with me so can't tell you the exact model. It turned out that I didn't use it very much because I started using the small portable hard drives, but when I did it worked just fine and I was happy with it. A friend of mine also purchased one and she still uses hers. I had a small issue with updates so I could view my raw files and customer support was very helpful.

I shoot often in very cold weather and have never worried about condensation on the CF cards. As Fabs pointed out, they seem to do fine after a trip through the washing machine, although they work sooner if they have also been through the dryer. ;) I do protect cameras and lenses from condensation using Ziploks as much as possible but as long as you have a card reader and are not connecting the camera directly to the computer, you should not need to experience any delay. By the time you are warmed up enough to download, the cards should be too! Also, have you considered putting the $$ you are considering investing in the Digital Foci into additional cards instead?

[Jim Buescher]

Quick back up is why I bought the Colorspace. The UDMA version is the quickest on the market. i dpon't mean to sound like a sales rep - I am not.

I agree with Ed, the Colorspace UDMA is fast, just keep it in an inside pocket while in the field to prevent battery drainage. I know you wanted "no frills" but some are worth it, like the recovery function if you accidently delete an image.
Info here: http://www.hypershop.com/HyperDrive-...-UDMA-s/64.htm