Taking a poll ~ how many Gigs of memory for a 10 day trip?

[TheManny]

Oh man that's a toughie. If you shoot like I do, you could easily grab a couple 16GB cards and still not have enough space, especially on a 10 day trip and also if you're totally against backing up to your laptop. Heck I went through 16GB in 1.5 days at Disneyland, I can only imagine how much I would use up at DisneyWorld over 10 days!

You seem to have a pretty good plan of attack when it comes to space conservation so you could probably survive off of 2 16GB cards (maybe I'm pushing the envelope just a little bit), but one other suggestion (not sure if you'd considered this yet) but you can also get a portable photo storage device (for backups on the fly). Those bad boys can hold anywhere from 40GB to 500GB if space is really a big concern. That's what I do now... I carry 2 8GB cards and a 250GB backup unit... works like a champ!

Anyhow, hope you can find a solution that works best for you! Have a fun and safe trip!

[captainkimo]

If you shoot jpegs only, maybe 2 gigs per day will do. But considering how cheap they come now, you may consider making it 4 gigs a day and you will surely be trigger happy. Hope you have a wonderful time on your trip.

Cheers!

Captain Kimo

[praline3001]

but you can also get a portable photo storage device (for backups on the fly). Those bad boys can hold anywhere from 40GB to 500GB if space is really a big concern.

I looked into those but when you do the math your paying the same amount per gb of space...unless I am looking at the wrong ones.

The Wolverine (cheaper end I think) 120GB (has the LCD screen to view the photos to make sure they downloaded correctly) is $300

For $300 I can get 15 8gb cards which would total to 120gb.

[Doug Pardee]

Originally Posted by praline3001

we are planning to be there at park opening most mornings and leaving by 1pm due to the heat and crowds!

Something to be aware of for your time planning: it's common to encounter afternoon thunderstorms in the Orlando area.

My wife and I learned to head for the exit at the first sign of threatening weather—it takes a while to get out of the park and back to your car. We'd go have a late lunch, take a nap, and return around dinnertime. The thunderstorms would have gone on their way, and the crowds would not return until a couple of hours later.

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by Doug Pardee

Something to be aware of for your time planning: it's common to encounter afternoon thunderstorms in the Orlando area.

My wife and I learned to head for the exit at the first sign of threatening weather—it takes a while to get out of the park and back to your car. We'd go have a late lunch, take a nap, and return around dinnertime. The thunderstorms would have gone on their way, and the crowds would not return until a couple of hours later.

Your right about that! We always pack ponchos and I have a waterproof case for my camera. My hubby and boys are boy scouts so we are always prepared LOL
We actually LOVE being in the parks when it rains! Everyone leaves for the exit and all of the indoor rides still run during bad weather. Also it is sooo much cooler out than the blazing sun. If its warm summer rain we don't even bother with the ponchos lol
Also, we are staying on the monorail so travel isn't too bad.

[Kn1nJa]

I would grab two of these while they are still on sale. Add that to whatever other memory you are bringing and you should be set.

Also, if you are bringing a laptop and want to back up your photos at night, then I might recommend one of these to back up your photos to. The nice thing about it too is that it is small and doesn't require an external power source.

Also if time is a concern (you are leaving soon) then newegg does have faster shipping options (I think the current free shipping they have with those two products is 3 day shipping, but I'm not sure).

Good luck and have lots of fun!

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by Kn1nJa

I would grab two of these while they are still on sale. Add that to whatever other memory you are bringing and you should be set.

Also, if you are bringing a laptop and want to back up your photos at night, then I might recommend one of these to back up your photos to. The nice thing about it too is that it is small and doesn't require an external power source.

Also if time is a concern (you are leaving soon) then newegg does have faster shipping options (I think the current free shipping they have with those two products is 3 day shipping, but I'm not sure).

Good luck and have lots of fun!

Thats a great price for 400GB of space compared to the others.
I am not sure how this works however?!
I hook it up VIA USB ... then do I download my card directly to this external hard drive? Do I download the camera onto the computer first and then move it to this external hard drive?

Can I transfer the files from the laptop to this external hard drive and then delete the files off of the laptop? Then when I get home hook up this hard drive to my home pc and move the files to it? OR would moving the files that many times corrupt them?

My hubby's laptop is a VERY basic model ... it doesn't have a whole lot of hard drive space! Also my kids are budding photographers as well and will be bringing their camera! Hubby also has a camera that is waterproof and he wants to bring it to the water parks to get our expressions with that big old water slide wedgie LOL

If I got this external hard drive, I could download all 4 cameras as needed, transfer the files to the extrenal and then delete them off the lap top ... so I dont have to worry about too much space being taken up on this little laptop ~ 10 days of photos at Disney with 4 cameras (one shooting in RAW) not to mention some video clips could seriously do in this little laptop lol

[Kn1nJa]

The external drive would plug in to the laptop's USB port and would show up as another hard drive on the computer. Then all you would have to do is plug in the SD card (assuming you had a reader) and copy the files from the card to the hard drive.

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by Kn1nJa

The external drive would plug in to the laptop's USB port and would show up as another hard drive on the computer. Then all you would have to do is plug in the SD card (assuming you had a reader) and copy the files from the card to the hard drive.

Thanks so much! I just ordered the external hard drive. With it, I won't need the extra cards using it
I currently have 3 8gb cards so I should be good with those and this external hard drive!!!!

Each evening when we go back to the room I can download all of the cameras and put them on this hard drive. If we go over 400gb ~ errr I am going to need a lot more help than I originally thought LMAO

[praline3001]

ONE more quick question ....


our laptop does have a card reader. Can I move RAW files this way as well? My camera manual says I should use *their* program only to download RAW files.... trying to make sure I get this strait before we go so I don't have to fight it once we get there lol

I COULD download the files from the camera to the laptop if need be.