P2 Data copy to Hard Drive in Field

[videoatlanta]

So, I've been bringing a Laptop and hard drives to shoots along with every data cable combination known to man. This is to make Back Ups/ Archives/ Client hand offs.
It's a whole extra pile of Stuff.

I bought a USB self Powered Hard Drive. 500 GB, a Western Digital Elements Pocket Drive.


Very neat little device, fits in your shirt pocket.
I wanted to try out dumping the P2 Data off in the field straight to a Hard drive and see how it would fly.



Well, it took 2 minute a GB to transfer on a HPX370 Camera. Not very fast IMO.
I filled a 16 GB card for the test and it took 29.5 Min. to transfer. Plus you have Menu and setup time in there. It verifies the data. You can also copy from the HD to the P2 Card if needed.



Imagine if you had an all day event coverage shoot going on and you wanted to off-load some cards during the break or the lunch hour to reuse. Man, it won't work. There's not enough time. Maybe you could off load 1 -16GB card during an hour long break but that's not really getting much.



However, it has it's place. I can off load the P2 Media to the pocket drive @ the end of a shoot and hand it off to the client. I just put it in the budget. It works well.

 

[ggrantly]

This makes a case for the Panny card reader and laptop so you can continue to shoot.

 

[Noel Evans]

To remove the issue of camera downtime, I offload to a fairly cheap laptop (I bought new). I bought an sxs to pcmcia card reader added shot put pro (verifies offload and can do a simultaneous offload to a second drive or to internal drive).

 

[videoatlanta]

Oh, I agree, there is a place for the Laptop and a reader, I use those too. This hard drive is handy for out in the field and client hand-offs. I'm going to keep a couple of them on the shelf @ the ready.