DSLR travel backup via iPad - what works?

[mosswings]

Forgive if this has been covered ad nauseum; I have not been able to find a relevant recent post through search.

I'm looking for ways to minimize the amount of physical storage I will be needing for a 3 month trip in which I expect to take up to 40GB/week of NEFs but will be taking only an iPad mini for image review and backup management (no editing). As the cost of a dedicated photo vault like the UDMA2 is quite high, I am considering periodic upload to a Cloud storage service like SugarSync or Dropbox to allow reuse of the SD cards I already have (about 3 weeks' worth). NEFs would be uploaded to the iPad through a WU-1 and from there to the web, probably 30-40GB at a time when I am in a big enough city to score a high-speed internet connection.

I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with doing this and if it is reliable enough to depend on, or if I should just bite the bullet and do what I always have done - buy enough SD cards to last the trip and wonder what to do with all of them when I get back home.

Any app, storage service, and/or equipment recommendations are appreciated.

 

[quickfella]

I haven't got a solution although I've been thinking along the same lines. But I have found that when uploading image files from my iPad to DropBox, via the DropBox app, the file names are changed, presumably to prevent overwriting existing files with the same name. I decided this was not for me so I tried SugarSync and SkyDrive - they all do the same thing. I think you can export from Photogene to DropBox and preserve file names.

 

[Cyril Catt]

I had a similar problem, but was considering only 100 GB of backup, not 520 GB. As the iOS only exports files by WiFi, which may be slow and difficult to arrange in some locations, I got a 7 inch Android tablet. As well as providing the usual tablet conveniences of WiFi internet connection for eMail, Skype, maps, etc., this can transfer files to an internal 32GB removable microSD card; or, by a USB connector kit to SD cards, USB flash drives; or, through a powered USB hub, portable HDD devices. This seems to work okay, though learning to use the Android system was a matter of trial and error as there seems to be no manual readily available that actually describes the icons and processes required to operate the Android OS. Unlike the iOS, Android also has a graphical hierarchical system to assist transfers.

 

[mosswings]

Cyril Catt wrote:

I had a similar problem, but was considering only 100 GB of backup, not 520 GB. As the iOS only exports files by WiFi, which may be slow and difficult to arrange in some locations, I got a 7 inch Android tablet. As well as providing the usual tablet conveniences of WiFi internet connection for eMail, Skype, maps, etc., this can transfer files to an internal 32GB removable microSD card; or, by a USB connector kit to SD cards, USB flash drives; or, through a powered USB hub, portable HDD devices. This seems to work okay, though learning to use the Android system was a matter of trial and error as there seems to be no manual readily available that actually describes the icons and processes required to operate the Android OS. Unlike the iOS, Android also has a graphical hierarchical system to assist transfers.

 

[Cyril Catt]

mosswings wrote: Thanks, Cyril. I'm getting the impressions from discussions here and elsewhere, including some conversations with local photogs, that an Android tablet is a far better solution as a backup host than an iOS device because of the app-sandboxed nature of iOS. Although the iPad mini is a very attractive content consumption, image display, and internet connectivity device (we have an iPad 2 at home), it appears that it's just a heck of a lot easier and cheaper to use a Nexus 7 instead. Any iPad-based workflow I've seen pretty much does backup directly into a photo vault like a UDMA2 with the iPad relegated to XMP file tagging and image review and/or camera control. Paying an extra $300 (differential between Nexus 7 and iPad mini plus differential between UDMA2 and a USB external hard drive) seems excessive. Of course, the workflow is doubled because one has to first upload to the tablet, then to the drive.

Unless one can do this using some form of host-mode for direct transfer using a hub...

Mosswings, further to my previous post, my main concern was that when travelling abroad I don't want to get caught up with expensive mobile phone problems, lack of connection, or being unable to find a WiFi hot spot in order to transfer files. I wanted to just physically plug things together to back up SD cards. However, I found this was not possible with the iOS, so reluctantly, after some 30 Apple devices over as many years, I looked at Android alternatives. I had found the iPad, though excellent for many uses, was too large for convenient 'street use' for looking at maps, guide books, etc. and also too heavy for lengthy use as an ebook reader. I also find the iOS keyboard unnecessarily truncated. The iPod Touch, though very portable and versatile was a bit too small for easy map reading, etc. with my ageing eyes. So I looked for a mid-sized model as the Goldilocks solution. Although the Nexus 7 appeared to have excellent specs, it did not have a port for a removable SD card. The Samsung Galaxy 2 7inch, though with a slower processor, had a microSD card slot (as well as an optional USB/SD connection kit) and was cheaper, so I chose that.

With the USB/SD connection kit plugged in, and a 32GB microSD card in the appropriate slot, transfers can be made directly from the ASB/SD kit to the microSD. I understand that an OS upgrade from the present Android v.4.0 is currently being circulated which will enable the use of a 64GB microSD card. However, at present the cost of a portable USB HDD and powered USB hub is less than the cost of the equivalent capacity of microSD cards. But compared with my 16GB iPad 2, I am already revelling in the colossal storage capacity for loading virtual guide books, maps, and other relevant images, rather than burdening my luggage with the bulkier and heavier paper versions.

In retrospect, I find that although its screen is excellent in landscape for video movies, in portrait it is a bit narrow as a reader. And in landscape, when writing, the keyboard leaves little room for text. So I believe that the more recent 8 inch model may be a bit more practical - and the addition of a relatively sharp-pointed stylus appears to be a definite plus.

Although my tablet has two cameras, for Skyping and picture taking, I have not made any real use of them, and doubt that I will. Its size and shape make it awkward to use as a camera (though the screen is clearly much larger than any of my digicams') and its specs. are neither as good nor as adjustable as my cameras. However, they may be a useful backup in an emergency.

Finally, I do not expect to carry out any adjustment to my pictures whilst travelling, so have not explored any Android apps to do so.

 

[DavidF]

A couple of options come to mind:

first, you can get a portable back up device, which is hard drive with a card reader built in. Wolverine makes some, but there are others. The main advantage is these are simple, just copy the files to the device; also they can be recharged while on the road. I believe some of them allow you to view the images, but they are meant as storage devices, not for editing, sharing, etc.

Apple makes an SD card reader to attach to iPad mini and newer iPads (both with the new 'Lightning' plugs for interface). I suppose you could download images to the iPad, but that seems limited by the devices's size and of course the cost.

I wonder, however, if there is a way to download photos to the iPad, then 'reload' them onto another storage device, such as a USB flash drive or an SD card? Again, you'd have to have lots of them, in which case it might be simplest to go with the first option, the portable device, or by a mess of SD cards and use them for storage after they are full.

Best, david

 

[mosswings]

DavidF wrote:

A couple of options come to mind:

first, you can get a portable back up device, which is hard drive with a card reader built in. Wolverine makes some, but there are others. The main advantage is these are simple, just copy the files to the device; also they can be recharged while on the road. I believe some of them allow you to view the images, but they are meant as storage devices, not for editing, sharing, etc.

Apple makes an SD card reader to attach to iPad mini and newer iPads (both with the new 'Lightning' plugs for interface). I suppose you could download images to the iPad, but that seems limited by the devices's size and of course the cost.

I wonder, however, if there is a way to download photos to the iPad, then 'reload' them onto another storage device, such as a USB flash drive or an SD card? Again, you'd have to have lots of them, in which case it might be simplest to go with the first option, the portable device, or by a mess of SD cards and use them for storage after they are full.

Best, david

David and Cyril, thanks for your thoughts.

David, you are right that you can upload SD cards into the iPad...but the problem is getting them off. About the only way you can do it it wirelessly, and through an app that permits access to the Camera Roll. There are several, but they all apparently have limitations. If you've ever tried to upload a 32GB card across wi-fi, you know you'll be sitting there for a while. There is a wireless HDD or two that theoretically can be uploaded to, but it appears to be quirky at best.

Hyperdrive UDMA2 photo vaults appear to be the only reliable mid-price solution to direct archival of large capacity cards. Wolverine was an option for a long time but it has not kept up with their technology. In any case, UDMA2 cases are $250; with a 500GB HDD in them, $500. By way of comparison, a 500GB FAT32 USB3 portable HDD costs about $65.

SD cards are my traditional means of travel storage. 320GB of 30MB/sec cards cost about $270.

Cyril, good to hear that your Galaxy/Android solution worked well for you. As it turns out, the Nexus 7 is not a bad option at all with Version 5 of the Nexus Media Importer app and an OTG cable, and a card reader. It can now read and write to FAT 32 HDDs. As soon as powered hub compatibility is confirmed with the app, it should be possible to simply drag and drop from an SD card to an outboard USB HDD connected to a hub that uses the Nexus in USB host mode.

It's really too bad that Apple is behind the users of the iPad in this area. It's an obvious solution for lightweight on the go archiving/culling, but the rigid concept of the iPad as a content consumption and internet communication device is getting in the way.

 

[DavidF]

Thanks for that bit of info about using the iPad. I only have an iPod right now, so don't know all the features and uses for an iPod. As i said, I'm going to visit the Apple Store and Best Buy soon and try out both iPad and Android tablets to see what is best for traveling.

My needs are a bit different, as I'm not that worried about storing or transferring (to the cloud) images. I would like to view images on a device as I'm traveling and maybe do a bit of editing and be able to save those edits, but they are really just for viewing on the road and maybe emailing to friends.

Best, David.

 

[Cyril Catt]

mosswings wrote:

It's really too bad that Apple is behind the users of the iPad in this area. It's an obvious solution for lightweight on the go archiving/culling, but the rigid concept of the iPad as a content consumption and internet communication device is getting in the way.

Yes, it is a pity. Sadly, too, the iPod Classic even has 160 GB of storage, and a small screen, so would suit my needs, but lacks the connection kit and software to enable uploads from and downloads to SDs or USB devices.

 

[mosswings]

Cyril Catt wrote:

mosswings wrote:

It's really too bad that Apple is behind the users of the iPad in this area. It's an obvious solution for lightweight on the go archiving/culling, but the rigid concept of the iPad as a content consumption and internet communication device is getting in the way.

Yes, it is a pity. Sadly, too, the iPod Classic even has 160 GB of storage, and a small screen, so would suit my needs, but lacks the connection kit and software to enable uploads from and downloads to SDs or USB devices.

 

[Cyril Catt]

Thanks, mosswings, for that comparison. The cost might even be some $100 lower with some of the generic Android devices that appear to have similar specs., but much lower prices than the Nexus or Galaxy 2.