Image tank or a laptop

[Wellhead]

Hello All,

The last few years I have been using an Epson p4000
but I'am looking for a replacement and was thinking
about the an new image tank like Hyperdrive colorspace UDMA2
or a small laptop with a external drive. What is your experience in
using a laptop(extra weight)on a trip or an image tank
such as the hyperdrive.

Regards,

Ronald Noeken

[SquAdmin]

When I just started with digital photography I used an image tank. When it broke I got myself a netbook and never regretted that. If weight is a concern you might consider an Android or Windows tablet instead.

[Alpha Kilo One]

I used an image tank, but I never really was friends with it. For me a laptop works fine. Gives me other"desired" features as well.

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[Maurice]

I used an image tank, but I never really was friends with it. For me a laptop works fine. Gives me other"desired" features as well.

I feel exactly the same way. I even take an external 2,5" hard drive with me for double back up.

[Iwan Bogels]

I used an image tank, but I never really was friends with it. For me a laptop works fine. Gives me other"desired" features as well.

I feel exactly the same way. I even take an external 2,5" hard drive with me for double back up.

Same here Mo. A laptop and external 2,5" hard drive. Next to that I wait as long as possible to format my memory cards, so they can act as extra back-up.

[Joe Kurr]

I started with an imagetank, but when it got broken, I couldn't find a replacement.
So I went for a netbook (Asus Eee PC 1005PE).
It works, but I rather have a dedicated imagetank than a netbook / laptop, because an imagetank is much easier to use when taking pictures.
With a laptop, I have to start up Windows, plug in a card reader, insert my CF card, open Explorer, browse to the CF card, copy, browse to the desired target folder, paste.
With an imagetank, I would just insert my CF card in the drive, and press Copy.
An imagetank also takes up much less space and weight than a laptop.

[SquAdmin]

It works, but I rather have a dedicated imagetank than a netbook / laptop, because an imagetank is much easier to use when taking pictures.
With a laptop, I have to start up Windows, plug in a card reader, insert my CF card, open Explorer, browse to the CF card, copy, browse to the desired target folder, paste.

I get your point, but times have changed. A laptop with Windows installed on a solid state disk will take a split second to fire up and with a built in card reader + automated copy/synchronization job it won't require a lot of effort.

Personally, I would never backup pictures in the field but in my hotel room. Using a laptop I have much more control over things and it offers me plenty of other advantages.

[Joe Kurr]

If you're using SD cards, then you can use the built-in card reader.
I'm using CF cards, so I'm bound to an external card reader.

[Iwan Bogels]

Personally, I would never backup pictures in the field but in my hotel room. Using a laptop I have much more control over things and it offers me plenty of other advantages.

Same goes for me. These days I have 100+ Gb of memory cards (my camera takes CF + SD), so it's virtually impossible to fill this up in one day. After a day of shooting I either go home and download there, or I do it in my hotel room. It's much more relaxing than doing it in the field.

[Erik_7Xi]

Like most here, I don't do downloads/backups in "the field" - I simply don't have time or opportunity to do so.
Instead, my collection of several 16GB and 8GB compact flash cards are more than sufficient to see me through the day - I also carry an additional batch of my older 4GB and 2GB cards, just in case if I were to really run out of space on my 'main cards'.

Once I'm back in the motel/hotel, I download all the images onto my 10" netbook with a 250 GB hard drive that fits nicely into my photo bag.
When that is done, I immediately make a backup onto my Verbatim 640 GB wallet drive.

I saw this little drive in an Office Depot in Georgia back in 2011 and I thought it was just brilliant - I haven't seen them anywhere else but you may find them at a local retailer if you look for them:


The 2,5" drive is sewed onto the leather cover that helps protect the drive and make it feel/look like a wallet.
It fits snug into my pockets and when I'm on the road, this little drive literally goes everywhere with me - especially when I'm separated from my netbook.

Depending on where I am staying, I usually leave my netbook in the hotel room along with my camera gear in the bag.
Although I try to put my bag out of sight as much as I can, I usually stay in hotels where access to the room is inside the building and past reception (opposed to the 'open' walkways of older motels) - and I usually stay in somewhat more upmarket places such as the Hampton Inn, Best Western, Holiday Inn Express instead of going 'bottom dollar' at Motel 6 or Super Motel 8.

While none of this guarantees anything (I'm sure people get stuff nicked from their Hilton rooms as well), I personally believe that there is less risk in leaving your gear in a locked hotel room than in your rental car.

Anyway, I always keep my wallet drive on me and if I shot something really special, I may also keep the images on that particular CF card until I get home.