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Blackberry as storage device for 50D in the field

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Jim Coplan

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When I go on vacation, I usually bring along a laptop to offload images from the camera each night. Has anyone tried using a Blackberrry for this? I would need a cable with a mini-USB port at both ends, I guess, and the software to support the move. Any tips, before I run out and buy a Blackberry? And, how do I move the pictures from the Blacberry back to my PC when I get home?
Thanks
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JC
 
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You can buy a 16 gig Extreme III 30 MB/sec card for $120.00. (Tigerdirect.com) How much does a Blackberry cost? And then the cost of the service they force you to buy.........

Even shooting full raw that's 700 ish shots per card.
 
All you'd really be doing is moving the images from the camera CF card to a micro SD card on the Blackberry, and to do that you'd have to make the Blackberry work as a host device, which may not be possible. I agree that the better option is just to buy more CF cards, unless you want image backup rather than more storage. If you want backup, then buy a backup device with a hard drive - there are many available, some of which also work as good MP3 players and video players. (I have two do-everything units: an older one of a brand that I don't remember, and an Archos unit - the latter can take a standard card reader, and can even be used as a Web browser.)
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Jeff Peterman

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I never thought about doing something like this. I think the transfer rates would be pretty abismal. I highly suggest picking up a portable harddrive or backup device.. i.e. hyperdrive or archos media player. they are relatively cheap, and are designed for this purpose.

I guess, if you're really desperate, you could try using the apple's ipod camera connector... it's really slow but allows you to transfer pics from your camera to your ipod... not sure if it works with the iphone...
 
Blackberries have only limited storage, right? I doubt any of them have more than 16GB. Another 16GB card is far smaller and lighter, and doesn't require anything special to make it work :-)

Mark
 
This will not work for the following reasons.

1. Blackberry is a storage device when you connect to a PC. One end USB is Type A connector the other one is Type B. Type B is for storage devices and Type A for the Host (intelligent device with software to control). When you connect (assuming you could ) your camera, you are connecting two storage devices together and that does not do any good.

2. Your camera is also a Storage device with CF card. So you will need a software running on Blackberry to do the transfer. But there are no USB cables with identical type connectors at both ends.

Just buy more CF cards it's much simpler and cheaper.

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Alex
 
Thanks to all who replied.

Yes, I am partly guilty of the "want a new toy" factor. But the reality is that I am in the market for a PDA, and I was just wondering if this "feature" might help me justify the price. I'll still be getting a PDA, but I realize now that it'll have to justify itself for all the usual reasons: contact list, calendar, phone, etc.

The idea of an Archos drive or just getting extra cards are perfectly sensible. What dawned on me, however, after reading your very helpful posts, is this: I use the laptop not just to store the images, but to review them full-size on screen, and to play around with them in Photoshop, even on vacation. So, it looks like I'm stuck bringing a laptop with me in any case. But maybe one of those relatively inexpensive web-books (like the 9 inch Dell) will be enough.

Thanks for the feedback. It helped me to clarify my priorities!
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JC
 
I would hate to think I'm that suggestible, but maybe RIM paid for product placement, to sucker in guys like me. :-)
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JC
 
Get a blackberry on its own merits. Email on the go, facebook, pda functions, minor web use, ect. It isn't and will never be a storage device. This comes from a blackberry user myself. I like my BB alot, it is good at what it does, but as a photo device, no.

Cards are cheap, besides, the screen on your camera is likely better than the BB screen.
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The Apple iPod Camera Connector would probably be a cheaper and better idea. Especially if you already own a compatible iPod.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2211?viewlocale=en_US

I'm not 100% sure it works with the xxD series, but I expect it will. A friend has one for his 350D.
 
gavin said:
They are cheaper than those expensive Epson photo storage/viewers.
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What camera do I have? I rather you look at my photos
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Will they run regular Windows software or do you need programs written specifically for the Atom (?) Processor (I think that's what they use)? Can you load Photoshop, Lightroom, etc on them and will they run it fast enough?

Keith
 
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