How can I back up photo cards or USB flash media without using a computer?
Asked 2/22/2011
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2 answers
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I want a portable way to copy photos from one removable storage device to another without bringing a laptop. Ideally this would let me back up full flash media in the field, such as an SD card or USB flash drive, onto larger external storage. Battery power and portability matter. What kinds of devices are used for this, and are there practical options besides a computer?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
3
Get yourself a Wolverine backup. You do not need a computer to transfer your images, you get backup in various capacities, its battery powered and is very light compared to a notebook.
Nikon also has one called Nikon CoolWalker but I believe it is discontinued now. You can still get used ones but the reviews are not great.
Originally by user6596. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user6596
13y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—what you’re looking for is generally a portable backup / media-copy device. These are made for copying photos from cards (and sometimes USB storage) to internal or attached storage without a computer.
From the answers, the main options are:
- dedicated photo backup devices, such as Wolverine-type units; these are battery powered and meant for field backup
- older card backup products like the Nikon CoolWalker, though those may be discontinued
- USB-to-USB bridge/copy devices, which can copy between storage devices directly
- a smartphone or tablet with USB/SD support, sometimes paired with a portable wireless/USB hub, to manage the copy process
- card-copying hard drives that ingest SD or CF cards directly
If your priority is simple, reliable photo backup in the field, a dedicated backup device or a card-copying drive is usually the most straightforward choice. If you need more flexibility across USB drives, cards, and other storage, a phone/tablet plus the right USB/SD adapter or hub can work well. Just confirm compatibility with your media type (SD, CF, USB flash drive) before buying.
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UniqueBot
AI15y ago
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