Anyone tried out the mac i-pod nano video as a media backup player?

[MP3]

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Hi Dear

 

I've been sorting around for a media backup player as a backup tool for M8, say, a 2 weeks excursion while a notebook PC is not preferred.

 

Been in tokyo earlier and saw an Epson P-5000 at good price. It's been reowned on its 80GB capacity, RAW/DNG compatibility, fantastic screen and good battery life for backup and playback, though it is still a sizable object for excursion.

 

Just a matter for size, I saw an i-pod nano video 30GB/80GB today, it's real cool and handy. Though no SD slot, but seems to support direct download from a digital camera with USB2.0 port. My concern is the sales rep said it does not support RAW/DNG which is what I primarily shot (btw, I prefer the DNG only setting in M8 for more shots per card).

 

As there is in fact a small thumbnail jpeg at the DNG header (which is what M8 actually playing in the playback mode), I was thus tempted to consider, will the i-pod nano video or any other handy size media player be capable of playing back such thumbnail like M8s do? In this case, we can do the backup in a handy device and still be able to playback the images.

 

Any member here has direct experience on the i-pod nano video? Would appreciate very much on your first hand experience and advice. Thanks in advance =)

 

Best

Matthew

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[Hans Roggen]

Hi Matthew,

 

I haven't used the nano, but i have tried backing up on a 5g ipod video. Not from my M8 but from the Lumix LX 1 and the Ixus 50. Both whose files are smaller than the M8's.

 

You need to get a camera connector by Apple but i have to warn you: transferring files is very very slow. It's also a battery drainer on your ipod. Emptying a 2gb sd card on my Jobo Gigavu Pro evolution is a matter of minutes. I would guess it would take the better part of an hour on your ipod. It's really that slow.

 

 

Reagrds

 

Hans

[marknorton]

One of my employees went to Antarctica with an iPod photo and found it hopeless for this task, unreliable and slow. Sorry, but the iPod is not a tool for serious photographers. You need to Epson or the Jobo...

[msr]

Another vote for the Epson.. I use it all the time while travelling and have never had a problem.

[albertknappmd]

I use the Epson P4000 for my DMRs. You cannot visualize DNGs with it however but they are flawlessly downloaded to the 80 GB hard drive and then easily downloaded to your PC. The Epson is great and obviates the need for a PC in the field. Is the 5000 really that great an advance?

[stuny]

I took a Wolverine with me to Papua new guinea (40 GB, but they have them with larger and smaller discs). The B&H salesman suggested it over other brands (including the more expensive Epsom and larger) for reliability. BTW: For the last year or two, B&H sales has been exceptionally customer oriented and has shown great knowledge, especially compared to their formerly curt box pushers.

[Fotomiguel]

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Is possible to view DNG in any of these portable hard disk?

Cheers.

[eronald]

I had the previous Epson, hopelessly slow and not enough disk capacity (with a 1DsII I can easily shoot 12GB per day). I think that a cheap Macbook, would be a better idea, at least you can view your images properly and write CDs or attach an external drive.

 

 

Has anyone noticed the price of Flash is going down ? If all you need is storage, then $15 per GB would allow you to buy quite a few cards for the price of one HD device.

 

Edmund

[dugby]

I use a Vosonic VP6210 with 80gb hdisk....

see (http://www.vosonic.com)

 

very fast, can copy 2gb in about 1-2 mins

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Edmund you make a great point a 4gb SD card cost me 71 dollars the other day. I have paid close to 300 dollars for a 1gb card when the SD cards first came out, the prices are certainly the lowest i have ever seen.

 

The issue is these devices you can't view the DMR or M8 images and i have been waiting forever to get one becuase of this. I still use my laptop to back myself up before i leave a job

[Frank Sprow]

I too found the iPod extremely slow and generally unsuitable for backup. I just use a small notebook (now a Mac 12" iBook, waiting for an 12" Intel Mac to be announced) which obviously comes in handy for many other things on a trip.

[MP3]

Thank you so much for all your kind advice, collective experience and wisdom. I'll forget the i-pod then.

 

Yes, SD price really went like free fall. It is like a great bargain now though the subsequent surface of more advanced SDHC and M8 compatibility issue will need to more time to settle down. IMO, Extreme III 2GB are quite reliable for us M8 users.

 

I shall spend some time looking into Epson P5000 and a mini mac then. The spec of P5000 indicate it can read RAW and DNG. I got a chance to play with one, the 4.3" LCD is just superb, not matched by any other similar product, in terms of color and size. Just a pity that it cannot read my RIDATA 4GB SD! So, I have not verify on the DNG viewing feature. Hope some of us here can verify this and give us an update.

 

Best

Matthew

[RMF]

If you can live without 'playback" check out the Hyperdrive Space and the Nexto Ultra. Both have quick downloads and uploads, and bit-compare. If you need playback then the the Epson 5000 is the clear choice.