ronaldh Posted December 12, 2006 Share #1 Posted December 12, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Can someone please recommend a hard disk drive for back-up photo storage, compatible with M8 RAW and JPEG formats? I previously used a Flashtrak which worked with my Digilux2 jpegs but would not recognise the Epson R-D1. Also your experience of 4gb SD cards on the M8. Do all those listed by Leica work satisfactorily? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 12, 2006 Posted December 12, 2006 Hi ronaldh, Take a look here recommendations for hard disk drive and SD cards. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pat308 Posted December 12, 2006 Share #2 Posted December 12, 2006 These guys http://www.eastgear.com/shop/index.php?currency=USD had a product, PD70X. Harddrives up to 80gb. No image review, but ran on four AA sized batteries or four NMHi rechargeable AA batteries. Worked for days for me. They have changed their range of products so you might need to research a little. I had a flashtrax too, used it on 1 trip to Europe and replaced it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted December 12, 2006 Share #3 Posted December 12, 2006 Don't mean to hijack the hijack the thread, but similarly: what would be an ideal hard disk drive that accepts SD cards, would store M8-generated DNG files, and does have image playback capabilities? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&W Posted December 12, 2006 Share #4 Posted December 12, 2006 Can someone please recommend a hard disk drive for back-up photo storage, compatible with M8 RAW and JPEG formats? I previously used a Flashtrak which worked with my Digilux2 jpegs but would not recognise the Epson R-D1. Also your experience of 4gb SD cards on the M8. Do all those listed by Leica work satisfactorily? If you prefer one with a screen, I'll recommend Epson P-4000 (80 Gb) Otherwise the Western Electronics portable hard drives are nice, and gives good value for money Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted December 12, 2006 Share #5 Posted December 12, 2006 Do you know if the Epson recognizes DNG files? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdb Posted December 12, 2006 Share #6 Posted December 12, 2006 I did not find any information about reading the DNG files with the latest Epsons 4000 or 5000. I do not think they do. But what I'm sure of is that the previous models do NOT read DNG files, and Epson did not have any intention to support DNG via firmware update. To my knowledge, the only intresting image tank for DNG files is the JOBO Gigaview Pro that does read DNG. Moreover, it allows zooming up to 100%. The screen is as beautiful as Epson's. I was interested in getting one, but since my DMR has been stolen along with all my equipment, it is no longer my priority... I hope this may help. Cheers Gérard Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbuckley Posted December 12, 2006 Share #7 Posted December 12, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Gerard - thank you so much, and good luck getting that DMR back! Cheers, JB Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigrmurray Posted December 12, 2006 Share #8 Posted December 12, 2006 I did not find any information about reading the DNG files with the latest Epsons 4000 or 5000. I do not think they do. But what I'm sure of is that the previous models do NOT read DNG files, and Epson did not have any intention to support DNG via firmware update. I know the 4000 will not allow you to view DNG files (however, it will read them onto its hard disk). I e-mailed Epson about a firmware upgrade six months ago, and got back a form-letter reply that essentially said, "Sorry, but we have no plans in implementing your request". So much for Epson trying to increase their customer base. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
B&W Posted December 12, 2006 Share #9 Posted December 12, 2006 Do you know if the Epson recognizes DNG files? It will store DNG files, but they don't show on the screen:( Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted December 12, 2006 Share #10 Posted December 12, 2006 Does it show the reference file as shown on the DMR screen, though? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loretdem Posted December 13, 2006 Share #11 Posted December 13, 2006 AFAIK none of the Epson P series support any Leica RAW or DNG files nor will they display the embedded JPEG previews. Epson is a weird company (think R-D1). The P series are really nice units but Epson in their wisdom decided to not allow the hard disks to be user replaceable. So if your unit's HD goes south, and some HD's eventually do, the entire unit must be returned to Epson for repair. That coupled with no Leica support, so they get a thumbs down. The Jobo Giga Vu Pro Evolution does support Raw decoding for the DMR, M8, Digilux 2, and possibly others. Unfortunately it only allows for display of the embedded JPEG in Picture view mode and Slideshow mode, and the embedded JPEG from the DMR is small (not full frame on the Evolution's gorgeous screen). Don't know what it is for the M8 (probably small too) but the Digilux 2 doesn't even have an embedded JPEG preview in their RAW files (but the unit will decode the RAW file to zoom in) so the only way to view Digilux 2 RAW is to decode and zoom. Also note that all RAW decoding is slow. The workaround for all this is to use a RAW+JPEG capture setting with the cameras that allow this (the DMR unfortunately does not). That way, all the RAW/DNG files are archived in the unit along with a nice big JPEG for quick viewing and slide show, plus you can still decode the RAW files for zooming in if you like. Some enterprising souls are purchasing the least expensive 40GB unit and upgrading it to 120 GB hard disk on their own and saving a lot of money over the very pricey Jobo 120GB unit. Details at dpreview.com forums. I'll try to put together a more complete posting about the Evolution after I live with it a bit longer and put it through its paces (haven't travelled with it yet). I'll end here by saying that even though JOBO just released a new updated firmware this week, the Epson R-D1 ERF RAW files are not recognised at all by the unit, but at least it will download them to itself. In this case the RAW+JPEG workflow is essential. I get the impression that Jobo would be responsive to a firmware request to recognize the ERF extension. If only Leica would issue firmware upgrades for their cameras that need a large embedded JPEG preview and the RAW+JPEG option. BTW these units are extremely cool but very expensive. If all you need is a dump drive then get a Hyperdrive Space. -Carlos Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devils-advocate Posted December 13, 2006 Share #12 Posted December 13, 2006 FYI, Epson "P" series are user-upgradeable if you have a decent grasp of electronic devices and a steely nerve. There's a full length video showing the replacement available online. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3637613075261606641 I was tempted for my 1dsII files, but so far haven't tried it. - N. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loretdem Posted December 14, 2006 Share #13 Posted December 14, 2006 FYI, Epson "P" series are user-upgradeable if you have a decent grasp of electronic devices and a steely nerve. There's a full length video showing the replacement available online. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3637613075261606641 I was tempted for my 1dsII files, but so far haven't tried it. - N. Looks doable but it also looks like a potential nightmare. That is not what I would consider user-upgradable. The Jobo and most other image tanks have easily accessible drives and, most important, the actual operating software is not on the drive itself but resides separately in non-volatile flash memory that is firmware-upgradable. Putting the software on the actual hard disk, that really should just be used for data storage, is a bone-headed move by Epson, particularly from an end-user's perspective. -Carlos Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
POKO Posted December 14, 2006 Share #14 Posted December 14, 2006 Hi, You may want to look at the Hyperdrive Space unit. No preview, but super fast transfers. Suppports FAT 12,16 and 32 formats. I have not had a chance to test the compatability with the M8 - I'm still waiting for mine - but I have one of the units and it's great. Small and easy to use with user replacable HD. Per Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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