hard drive to store photos on while travelling?

hey, I'm leaving for bali on thursday night, and I need to buy a USB-compatible hard-drive to download my photos to (not bringing a laptop). anything over 10gig should be fine.

any recommendations? I'll be bringing a canon a70 camera and a fuji f-10.

a couple other questions:

- do I need to purchase the 50watt or 1500 watt electricity converter? (220->120 volts)

- where is the best place to buy rechargable C batteries and the rechargers, home depot? should I get metal hydride? (they are for my 8-C cell dive light)

- where can I get small descicants and how can I dry them out while on vacation?

- any other general advice based on what i'm bringing, your own experience, etc?

here is my tentative packing list:

1 electricity converter (220v to 110v) from radio shack

1 C-battery charger (for dive lights)

2 sets of 8 rechargable C batteries + 2 dive lights (nickel-metal-hydride)

1 set of 4 rechargable A batteries (nickel-metal-hydride)

canon A70 digital camera w/housing w/2 gig flash card

fuji f10 digital camera w/housing w/1 gig XD card

dive computer w/spare batteries

descicants?

USB hard-drive (need-to-buy ***)

thanks alot!

scott

Hey Scott

There is a recent thread on this. I bought the Epson P-2000 recently which works very well: 30GB and a very good screen. And I'm selling a Nixvue Vista! (see Classifieds). They are also very good.

Most of the digital storage devices are multi-voltage so you don't need a converter (heavy things they are too)

Rechargable batteries: Radio Shack. I recommend Nickel Metal Hydride which avoids the NiCad memory issue.

Dessicants: hardware store. Microwaves dry them out nicely.

One thing to add to your list: plug/mains adaptors. Make sure you have the right plug adaptor for where you are going. Charger for your AA batteries?

Have a wicked trip!

thanks alot tim

I'll check out the epson p-2000.

yes, I'm going to get nickel metal hydride batteries

I'll have a recharger for my AA-batteries (for the canon), and the C-batteries (for my dive light). the fuji f-10 recharges its own proprietary lithium battery.

bali used 2-pronged plugs (european stlye), 220 Volts, but I assumed my voltage-converter (220->110 volt) from radio shack would take care of this for me, that it would be US style-plugs as input, and euro-stlye plug as an output

a plug adapter is only if it is 220 & 110 volt compatible, correct? (otherwise it will ruin the device, right?)

scott

If you can afford the P2000, I'd go for it! It's got a beautiful screen. Otherwise, do a search for the "Image Tank" which is "cheap and cheerful" but doesn't have a color screen.

You've got the power requirements right. Two prong european style plug.

Cheers

James

someone else recommended the smartdisk fotochute, $199. no screen to view the photos though, so I guess its a trade off between money and features. looks like that or the Epson P-2000 are my best options for now.

scott

Yep, a plug adaptor just changes the shape of the plug - and not the voltage of the appliance (you have a voltage converter or "transformer" for that).

If you are using 110v appliances in 220v-Bali you will need to use your 110v>220v convertor - and you will need to make sure your appliances have the right plug shape to fit in to your convertor; and that your convertor has the right plug shape (using an adaptor if necessary) to go in to Balli's 2-pin round-style mains sockets. If your appliances don't need the 110v>220v convertor, you will just need to make sure you have the right plug adaptor to convert the shape of the plug on your appliances to the Bali-style.

If you have several appliances - and it sounds as though you might, you may want to consider taking a small multi-socket power extension strip: perhaps a strip with 3-4 sockets on it on a yard-long cable. You can then put your adaptor on the end of this and you will be able to plug 3-4 appliances through one adaptor or one adaptor/transformer. I usually take one and find it very useful when charging several devices with only one mains socket - or only one adaptor

I hope this makes sense!

Color iPod with camera connector. Plus you can take music, etc with you.

You need to check regarding compatibility with your camera per a list on the Apple website. My Canon SD500 is not listed but works fine.

SD

Scott -

You will have a fantastic time in Bali...

If no laptop how do you backup harddrive if it goes Kaput?!? The Bali TSA at airport gates check EVERYTHING, all electronics and they pick up and drop stuff as well... as I discovered...

M.

Color iPod with camera connector. Plus you can take music, etc with you.

SD

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just curious, does the iPod retain the file format (.jpg, .raw or .nef) as shot with the EXIF data (Image data such as shutter speed, ISO etc. stored directly in the file generated by a digital camera) or does it convert to it's own format?

The iPod should let you download everything as it is. The downside is that the camera connector is slow.

The original iPod photo from around a year ago required users to convert files into small thumnails for viewing purposes.

Thanks for the help everyone!

scott

My two cents:

- If it’s your only storage device, use one that you can actually see the pictures on the HD. I don't believe to the device hardware/software notifications only to what I can see.

- Try to backup your shots to CDs when you still there. From my experience, almost every Internet cafe has CD burners these days.