4/10    My wife is taking a vacation and needs a portable digital photo
        storage device. She's not a technophile, so something easy-to-use
        would be great. Any recommendations? Thx enlightened MOTD-sters!
        \_ If you don't mind getting an iPod, check out the Apple iPod
           camera connector and the Belkin iPod media reader.
           http://www.dpreview.com/news/0503/05032401ipod_cameraconnector.asp
           http://www.dpreview.com/news/0310/03101701belkinipodadapt.asp
        \_ I don't understand why extra 256MB CF cards for $20 each can't
           satisfy her ... like you can, that is. -Hans
           \_ Seconded.  I've tried lugging around a laptop to store photos,
              and it's not worth it for a two- or three-week trip.  1G memory
              cards are $60 to $80 -- they're small, light, easy to use, and
              nearly indestructible.
        \_ If her camera uses CF get her 1 GB CF card or a 2 GB Micro
           drive. Unless she is shooting RAW w/ a 20D, this should be
           more than enough for a vacation.
        \_ [ follow-ups below reformatted - formatd ]
           I have an X-Drive II, it's small, and easy to use, it accepts all
          types of memory cards and you can upgrade the HD at any time.  If you\
          don't want to bother buying more and more memory cards I would suggest\
          something simmilar.  -scottyg
           types of memory cards and you can upgrade the HD at any time.  If
           you don't want to bother buying more and more memory cards I would
           suggest something simmilar.  -scottyg
           \_ Thx for the suggestion, scottyg.
              FYI, she has a Nikon D70 and will shoot in RAW format (big files).
           She already has a 1GB flash card (plenty for 1 day of shooting), but
           may need more storage for a 6+ week trip. I'll check out the X-
           Drive. Thx.
           \-if you are serious about photography, get a 50-100gig portable
              She already has a 1GB flash card (plenty for 1 day of shooting),
              but may need more storage for a 6+ week trip. I'll check out the
              X-Drive. Thx.
              \- if you are serious about photography, get a 50-100gig
                                                         \- actually even
                                                            20g may be ok.
             storage device. the "store everything on CF" is not reasonable
             for +1week. if you are very serious [meaning professional and
             if you lose the pictures, there will be serious problems, i.e.
             you need to backup or upload on the road], then you might
             consider the portable burners. it sounds like you are in the
             middle category. details like whether you are on the power grid
             or not, how much stuff you are carrying, theft probability also
             affect decisions on the margins. road trip through the southwest
             != high himalaya. if you are looking at something hardcore,
             go to like an REI and browse this:
             http://www.bookpool.com/sm/1592003885 [worth a browse. unclear
             necessity to buy]. --psb, link:csua.org/u/bmr
                 portable storage device. the "store everything on CF" is
                 not reasonable for +1week. if you are very serious [meaning
                 professional and if you lose the pictures, there will be
                 serious problems, i.e. you need to backup or upload on the
                 road], then you might consider the portable burners. it
                 sounds like you are in the middle category. details like
                 whether you are on the power grid or not, how much stuff
                 you are carrying, theft probability also affect decisions
                 on the margins. road trip through the southwest != high
                 himalaya. if you are looking at something hardcore, go to
                 like an REI and browse this:
                 http://www.bookpool.com/sm/1592003885 [worth a browse.
                 unclear necessity to buy]. --psb, link:csua.org/u/bmr
                 \_ 50-100gb?!!! It's sad to see digital cameras promoting
                    "shotgun" photography.
                \- ok henri. the marginal cost of extra gb is really small.
                   if you need 20gb for a 2 week trip and next year you
                   might go on a 3 week trip with 2 cameras and by then
                   you have bought an 8mp camera, you might as well spend
                   the extra $1/gb upfront. on a recent photo trip i took
                   maybe 10 pictures of sunrise over the ganges. in the
                   evening i was shooting a religious festival on the
                   banks ... since people are moving i shot 70 or 80 pix
                   in maybe 15min. that's because everything is motion, so
                   you are sort of doing "compositional bracketing" rather
                   than exposure braketing. i still think there is some
                   difference with latency on digitals and more shots of
                   people seem to be mistimed. BTW: i took 500-600 digital
                   pix in ~4 days and 6 film shots. 4 or 5 of the film
                   shots are keepers while maybe 20 of the digitals. but
                   if i was shooting all film, i wouldnt have gotten maybe
                    \- ok henri. the marginal cost of extra gb is really
                       small. if you need 20gb for a 2 week trip and next
                       year you might go on a 3 week trip with 2 cameras and
                       by then you have bought an 8mp camera, you might as
                       well spend the extra $1/gb upfront. on a recent photo
                       trip i took maybe 10 pictures of sunrise over the
                       ganges. in the evening i was shooting a religious
                       festival on the banks ... since people are moving i
                       shot 70 or 80 pix in maybe 15min. that's because
                       everything is motion, so you are sort of doing
                       "compositional bracketing" rather than exposure
                       bracketing. i still think there is some difference
                       with latency on digitals and more shots of people
                       seem to be mistimed. BTW: i took 500-600 digital pix
                       in ~4 days and 6 film shots. 4 or 5 of the film shots
                       are keepers while maybe 20 of the digitals. but if i
                       was shooting all film, i wouldnt have gotten maybe
                       half the shots i did with the "digital shotgun". --psb
                       \- btw, i also use digital cameras as what you might
                          call a documentary device in addition to photography.
                          i might take a picture of a menu or a sign or a food
                          item just for informational value. --psb
                 \_ Isn't there a Compact Flash -> ipod interface doohicky
                    you can get?  Also, shotgun photography is a major
                    technique of National Geographic.  There is a reason
                    why their photographs are sooo good.
                    \_ I watched a NG special a fews ago and which gave
                       me the impression that most NG photographers are
                       still film. The ones that shoot digital probably
                       use something like a 1DS Mk2 w/ an L series IS
                       lens.
                       \_ you can do shotgun photography with film.  Most
                          good, serious photographers take a lot of photos.
                           -tom
                           \- it depends on what you are shooting. there
                              are a couple of schools of thought on this.
                              HCB is famous for deriding peopel for shooting
                              like crazy instead of looking for the "decisive
                              moment". but shooting in paris != shooting on
                              the african savannah. shotgun != bracketing.
        \_ check out Flashtrax products: http://www.smartdisk.com
           Or Wolverine products (can buy at Fry's, $150 for 40GB).