Storing images on safari.

[Geranium]

After receiving great advice re what camera bags and lenses to take to Africa I have a new query. I wasn't sure whether to continue on with the thread on that topic or start a new one. But here goes with a new one.
Just wondering what most of you more experienced people do about backing up images when you are staying somewhere where computer access is unavailable ( I am going to Zambia and told that the lodge computers aren't available to visitors) I have invested in a small stand alone portable hard drive called a Hyperdive Colour Space that I had to send to USA for - I was surprised to find absolutely unavailable here in Australia. I plan to try to keep my images all on memory cards as well as a back up on the portable hard drive. However not really sure about how many memory cards to take and perhaps may end up having to re- use some and rely on the hard drive storage. I am very anxious about all this as it is a first and only trip to Africa.
I would be interested in hearing of people's experience and comments etc.

[siggi]

My D7100 has two sd slots so I configure the backup as such.Memory cards are cheap so I take more than I'll ever need.
I also take a small windows netbook which has an sd slot.Hardly make use of it.Occasionally delete bad images in the evening.
Even in Zambia there are internet cafe's you could transfer data from card to whatever you want to use.If I have one 16GB card per camera per day I know whilst shooting raw I have more than enough storage.

[davidedric]

I think this is a storage question not a safari one, so I'll leave it to the experts.

I can confirm that where Denise is headed Internet facilities are not usually available. More, from what I have gathered taking with lodge owners, even if they were, you really wouldn't want to use them for anything critical!

Dave

[Manfred M]

I always have a laptop with me, for review and backup. When away from home to do a lot of shooting, I have lots of memory cards, so that I do not have to overwrite, store on the computer hard drives as well as two backup portable hard drives, one of which I carry, and one of which my wife carries.

Effectively, we have the original cards plus three independent backups.

[Shadowman]

I always have a laptop with me, for review and backup. When away from home to do a lot of shooting, I have lots of memory cards, so that I do not have to overwrite, store on the computer hard drives as well as two backup portable hard drives, one of which I carry, and one of which my wife carries.

Effectively, we have the original cards plus three independent backups.

That's my practice of late.

[Geranium]

Thanks Siggi. Useful info. thanks. But I don't think I will be able to get to Internet cafés while I am in Zambia.

[Geranium]

Thanks yet again Dave. You are right I won't be near any sort of cafés! I think the portable hard rive may be a good investment......when I learn to use it.

[Geranium]

Thanks for you reply Manfred. Do you know if you can download images onto an ipad and retain file format and quality without internet connection?

[NorthernFocus]

My only advice on the topic is to always have at least two copies and keep them separated in case of lost baggage, theft, etc. I'm not familiar with the drive you mentioned but it sounds like you can make copies directly to it without a computer? If so, backup up every evening ASAP.

As far as "computer access" not being available, nowadays there is no such thing for me. I have a small, innexpensive laptop that travels with me regardless of location. Nowadays with digital gear some sort of power is always needed for charging batteries. So charging the laptop is just another battery. If you have access to an auto you have access to power.

One thing to consider regarding cards themselves, you can buy slow, low cost cards that may be too slow for shooting but are adequate for backing up files. Speed comes at a cost but gigabytes are cheap.

The simplest, most basic thing to reduce needed storage is to cull photos every evening after shooting. Having a laptop also makes that a lot easier and results in more culls simply because you have a bigger review screen to work with and can evaluate image quality more easily.

Enjoy your trip.

[Geranium]

My D7100 has two sd slots so I configure the backup as such.Memory cards are cheap so I take more than I'll ever need.
I also take a small windows netbook which has an sd slot.Hardly make use of it.Occasionally delete bad images in the evening.
Even in Zambia there are internet cafe's you could transfer data from card to whatever you want to use.If I have one 16GB card per camera per day I know whilst shooting raw I have more than enough storage.

Hi again Siggy . I am surprised you manage with only 16 Gb per day shooting Raw and backing up. I also have the 7100and was prepared to shoot in JPEG as I think I calculated only about 175 RAW would fit on the 16 Gb card.

[Mike Buckley]

I imagine all you folks will be horrified to learn that I have never backed up my memory cards while traveling. I've never had a problem. I have also never heard of anyone experiencing a scenario in which their backups made while traveling saved them from corrupted image files stored on the memory cards.

[Geranium]

Thanks Dan. Good advice all around. apart from photoshop I am not very computer literate . Would I be able to use an I pad for back up?

[Glenn NK]

This question gets asked on a regular basis on most forums (so it's obviously of concern).

Quite often the suggestion is to use the SD/CF cards - images seem to be quite stable on them - probably more so than on a spinning HDD.

And if your camera has two slots, save images to both.

SD/CF cards are much lighter, smaller, and far cheaper than anything else, and according to some who've had it happen, the SD cards can go through a washing machine and still work - laptops or cell phones maybe not.

Low tech works well in the field.

G

[Manfred M]

Thanks for you reply Manfred. Do you know if you can download images onto an ipad and retain file format and quality without internet connection?

I don't use an iPad, so I couldn't even begin to guess. I did use an Android tablet for that purpose once, but unfortunately the processing power of the tablet was really marginal for that type of work, and I have gone to a laptop for performance reasons. Tablets are built for long battery life, not processing power.

[NorthernFocus]

Denise, I have no knowledge of tablets. Still a laptop kind of guy Though from what I gather iPads are limited to on board memory capacity whereas most of the android based tablets will accept micro sd cards so may be useful in that regard.

I imagine all you folks will be horrified to learn that I have never backed up my memory cards while traveling. I've never had a problem....

I'm not surprised at all. I deal with risk management decisions in my professional life and recognize that everyone has a different take on risk. Frankly most people don't recognize threats until they have experienced the consequences and then tend to overreact. Same at personal and societal level.

For me personally the technology isn't the concern. Losing the cards and/or accidentally formatting a card full of photos is my highest probability of occurrence. Ergo my advice. In whatever form one chooses, if the photos are important, keep two copies in separate places where they aren't likely to suffer the same fate if something goes wrong.

[Mike Buckley]

For me personally the technology isn't the concern. Losing the cards and/or accidentally formatting a card full of photos is my highest probability of occurrence.

If I some day decide to back up my cards, that would also be my reason. It sure can't hurt to be super safe and I admire people who are.

I rigidly follow a system of starting a holiday or shoot with all cards formatted, storing them in my little case according to a system indicating which cards have been used, storing the case in the same place in my bag and keeping my bag on me or with my wife at all times. I suppose that explains why I've never lost or accidentally formatted a card with image files on it.

[jcuknz]

It happened that a 10" notebook was on 'sale' about the time I was preparing to travel so that is what I have to firstly download files from the camera card and then to make SDHC back-up cards .... I think it rather unlikely a notebook would get put in a washing machine That was about four or five years ago, maybe eight years, time flies, so there probably are recent developments/ advances.

[siggi]

Hi again Siggy . I am surprised you manage with only 16 Gb per day shooting Raw and backing up. I also have the 7100and was prepared to shoot in JPEG as I think I calculated only about 175 RAW would fit on the 16 Gb card.

16 GB per camera times 3 , 18-70,70-200 and 150-500 lenses

[rpcrowe]

Hi again Siggy . I am surprised you manage with only 16 Gb per day shooting Raw and backing up. I also have the 7100and was prepared to shoot in JPEG as I think I calculated only about 175 RAW would fit on the 16 Gb card.

I would NEVER think about shooting JPEG to save space! When the cost of your trip to Africa is calculated, extra memory would be a tiny fraction of the cost. The image quality increase of RAW over JPEG is quantum and Post Processing is easier with RAW images.

I use a lot of memory because I frequently shoot with auto exposure compensation (my error: I meant to say Auto Exposure Bracketing).

I always carry a notebook computer when doing any traveling. I download every evening (and I recharge my batteries every evening) and copy the RAW files (in duplicate) to a pair of small size but, large capacity external hard drives. That way, I don't have to worry about the size of my computer hard drive. When we travel by air I carry one of the hard drives in my on board luggage and my wife carries the other one.

I use Lexar 16GB, 800X UDMA-7 CF cards. Downloading my cards with a UDMA capable card reader is fast enough even with the smaller and older computer.

I usually carry enough CF memory that if I have to skip downloading for one evening, it is no big problem...

The Africa trip is a once in a lifetime experience (a least it would be for me) so don't skimp on memory!

BTW: Both my notebook computer and my Canon battery chargers are able to work on any voltage current. However, ensure that you have the correct A/C plug adapter if needed.



I will use a smaller 14-inch screen older Hewlett Packard notebook computer. It is light weight and does everything that I need it to, including cruising the internet when WiFi is available.

I would never think of culling my images at night after a long day of shooting. I will be either resting or shooting and don't want to spend time culling.

[Mike Buckley]

I would NEVER think about shooting JPEG to save space! When the cost of your trip to Africa is calculated, extra memory would be a tiny fraction of the cost...The Africa trip is a once in a lifetime experience (a least it would be for me) so don't skimp on memory!

Absolutely!

My wife and I went on safari last year for the first time. We bought six 16GB memory cards that would never have been needed except for the time we spent in the bush. For all I know, we may never use those cards again (though we do hope to go on safari five years from now). The amount of money that we spent acquiring those cards is nothing compared to the total cost of our trip or the cost of the other photo equipment that we took with us -- and we have no high-end equipment such as f.2.8 zoom lenses and full-frame cameras.