How can I back up DSLR RAW files while traveling without bringing a computer?
Asked 12/9/2016
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2 answers
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I want to back up RAW files from my camera’s SD cards while traveling, but I do not want to carry a laptop, a spinning hard drive, or rely on a computer. I do have a 500GB SSD. I considered using a Raspberry Pi 3 with Wi-Fi and connecting both the SSD and SD card to it, then copying files with Linux commands over SSH. Is there a simple, low-cost way to do this more elegantly?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
9y ago
2 Answers
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I want to know is there an elegant way which does not cost a bomb?
One possible cost effective method to increase the number of images you can take and preserve during your travel would be to buy more SD cards. To back them up you can use a relatively cheap SD card duplicator such as this portable, battery powered one.
Rather than one very large card, buy several smaller ones in multiples of two. Mark one as the primary and the other as the backup. The advantage of several small cards is that once you fill a specific card (and its backup), you can move on to the next card without having to copy every single picture you've taken on the entire trip every time you back up the cards.
Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user15871
9y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. The simplest low-cost options suggested were:
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Carry multiple SD cards and treat them as your storage strategy. A practical approach is to buy cards in pairs: use one as the main card and one as the backup, then move to the next pair when full. This avoids repeatedly copying your whole trip’s images.
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Use a portable SD card duplicator if you specifically want card-to-card backup without a computer.
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Use a cheap second-hand Android phone or tablet with USB OTG. This was recommended over a Raspberry Pi because it can be cheaper, lighter, easier to carry, and gives you a screen for checking images. With a file manager app, you can copy RAW files from camera/SD storage to other storage, and possibly review or share images too.
A Raspberry Pi can work, but it’s less elegant in the field because it usually means more cabling, power management, and setup complexity. For travel, the most practical choices are either more SD cards, a card duplicator, or an Android device with OTG.
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