Image Tank you may be interested.

[acropolite]

Just bought a Digimate image tank for image storage when on extended trips. I like to shoot raw images and find my 2 x 1G cards fill very rapidly (often in a couple of days). The device is slightly larger than a deck of cards and is fitted with a 40Gb Hdd of which 32Gb (largest Fat32 partition) can be used to transfer images from your memory card to the HDD at a single button press. The remaining 8Gb is useable for storage only from the PC. The unit has a backlit LCD display which shows the transfer and storage capacity status. These devices are available on ebay from both overseas and Australian dealers (I elected to buy from an Australian dealer). Power is supplied from an internal Lithium Ion barrery and lasts about 2.5 hours before recharging. The unit cost me $71 including registered post. It comes with a genuine vinyl :P carry pouch, USB lead and 240V (multi voltage international) charger. A 40Gb Hdd cost a further $80. Now I can fill my 2x1G cards 16 times over on a trip away without worry. To retrieve the images from the Tank it is simply a matter of connecting via USB to the PC.

[Striker]

Looks like a great way to store images Phil.

I personaly would rather use a laptop but this is definetly a great option if you dont have a lappy.

[Doug]

Phil, this could be what I'm looking for and asked about a few weeks ago.......maybe.
I gather you can't display images with it? Can you be sure of file integrity prior to cleaning your cards ready for the next shooting spree?
Laptops are not an option when one is travelling overseas on a tour for example. I have found a few other possibilities ranging from about $300 to $900. Epson make a nice unit but you wont buy much else with the change out of $1000; could buy a few extra cards for that amount and they take less room.
best,
Doug

[acropolite]

Tony, the idea is transportability and for transient storage, not permanent storage. A friend and his daughter just spent 4 months overseas, came back with over 3000 images each. A laptop is simply too bulky (and fragile) to carry. The same applies to bushwalking. No OS to boot, simply plug in the card, one button press and in a short while the contents of your flash card are copied to HDD. The unit is small and will fit easily in your LowePro (of course everyone has one.....:P) or can be carried on your belt.

Doug, they don't display the images, the display is text only status display. I don't know what checking is done within the device for validation but the unit does save to seperate folders and doesn't overwrite on the HDD even if images are captured with identical filenames. If there is a misread the unit will indicate and you can start again. The files are not deleted from the card so if you have reservations about the transfer you still have the images on the card until deleted in your camera. As I said my mate bought back over 3000 images, no problems occurred, but nothing is completely foolproof, even the flashcard you have in your camera can be corrupted. The unit is simple to use, there is only an on/off button and a transfer button. The % completed shows as does the HDD capacity remaining and battery capacity. If you forget to turn off the unit powers off automatically after 1 minute.

[Adrian-H]

wow that is great, and for less then $100!, i tend to run out of CF card space when gone on trips, thought about buying more CF cards, but i havent due to the price of doing so, man, that is a great alternative, i think i will take a look into it, thanks phil, i have a lowepro!

not everyone is as rich as you tony!

[acropolite]

Adrian, the basic unit needs a HDD, adding ($80), making the total cost around $150.

[Adrian-H]

ahh, still much cheaper then cf cards for gig space ratio :D

[leon]

I have one of those to, although mine is called a Digidock Storage, they are great, and you can use up to 5 different card sizes as well, in dimensions that is.

Cheers