For a trip, is it better to buy extra memory cards or use a USB flash drive for photo storage?
Asked 3/17/2011
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I’m traveling and currently have only one memory card for my camera. For storing photos during the trip, should I buy additional memory cards, or would a USB flash drive be a better option? I may or may not have access to a computer for transferring files while traveling.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
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Not to supplement but perhaps to complement.
Assuming you don't shoot like crazy, try to get enough cards for the photo trip. This should be your first copy of all your photos and bringing. Do not offload photos if you do not have to.
Then it makes sense to have an extra backup device. Some people use a computer's hard-drive or an external one (possible inside an iPod or Media-Player), which comes to more or less the same. Your backup will be on a fragile and thief-tempting device.
Using the computer, you can backup to those relatively cheap USB devices which are generally quite durable and easier to hide.
Even better, you can use your computer or an independent burner to copy your memory cards to DVDs. Disks are extremely durable, extremely cheap and virtually no value to anyone but yourself. Normally I burn everything twice, keep one copy with me and mail myself the second copy. Replication and duplication like this greatly improve your chances of not losing anything.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
15y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Buy extra memory cards first. They’re usually similarly priced to USB flash drives of comparable capacity, and they’re much more convenient in the field: when one card fills up, you just swap to the next.
A USB flash drive is only useful if you also have a reliable way to copy files onto it, typically a laptop or other backup device. If you do have a computer, a flash drive can be a good second backup, but it should complement your memory cards, not replace them.
Best practice for trips is:
- bring enough cards for the trip or at least for several days of shooting
- avoid deleting or formatting cards during travel if possible
- if you have a laptop, copy images each night for backup
- keep the originals on the cards until you get home and verify everything
The main idea is that memory cards are your primary storage while shooting, and any USB drive or computer storage is backup. Relying on a single card for an entire trip is risky, since loss or corruption could cost all your photos.
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