portable storage: Epson P2000 or SmartDisk Flashtrax XT (1 Viewer)

[JCL]

I am looking to buy a portable storage device - so I can download photos from CF while travelling prior to downloading to a Mac. Two options leap out:
- SmartDisk FlashTrax XT, which won Practical Photography best buy, and which WE are doing for £229 (40GB)
- Epson P2000, which WE are doing for £328 (40GB)

I have no feel for which is best. Any advice from those who use them?

cheers

James

 

[CJW]

We use the Flashtrax and have found it perfectly adequate for the job.
The screen isn't brilliant, but then it's only there for quick-viewing.
In our experience, downloading from a full 1GB CF card can take a while (up to 10 minutes), so it's best to make sure you have a second CF card to use whilst the other is downloading.

 

[Rob Smallwood]

I bought an Epsonn 2000 on recommendation - it is brilliant - great screen and just a nice piece of kit. Very easy to use.

I got mine off Ebay second hand but as new for £200.

 

[postcardcv]

I have tried both and think it depends on what you want to use teh device for...

The screen on the Epsom is much better than on the flashtrax, so if you are going to spend a lot of time viewing, and use the device to show others your photos then the Epsom is probably a better bet. However if you plan on using it mainly for storage and only use the screen for quick viewing then save some money and get the flashtrax.

 

[Keith Reeder]

Or save even more and buy the Smartdisk Photochute - £80 from WE at the mo.

Its "only" 20gb, and has no preview screen (that'll be the camera's job then - the LCD on my D200 is brilliant) but I've just spent a week in Norfolk with one and it's been great.

True, it needs a card reader unless you want to plug the camera directly into the Photochute, but I use one of these http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_5&products_id=99397 which takes up no space, and it all just does the job.

 

[hollis_f]

This place is selling the P2000 for just £222.41 inc. postage and VAT. At that price it's a real bargain.

 

[edenwatcher]

Or the Jobo Giga One. £99 from WE for 30Gb. Again no display screen but a joy to use. Just plug the card straight in and hit copy! Used it in Ecuador and it was superb.

Rob

 

[mcapper]

Of interest, I just got a mail order return Smartdisk Photobank 40Gb for £70 from Warehouse Express. £99 new. Played with it this evening and it does exactly what I wanted.

It has slots for all the memory card types and transfer of data is very quick from card to photobank.

It connects very easily to the computer and transfer to the computer is again extremely easy.

The hard disk shows as a standard drive on the computer and it allows you to transfer things to and from the photobank so if you want to use the 40Gb drive to store back ups of your photos you can very easily.

The only thing it doesn't do that more expensive models can, is to show the pictures you have taken on the photobank's screen. I'm not bothered about that - I'll either look at them on the camera or wait to view on the computer.

It has to be the easiest thing ever to operate. There is an on/off button and a copy button. That's it. The user guide took two minutes to read!

Dead chuffed and would recommend it for the keen amatuer who needs to free card space whilst on holiday and who wants to save their absolute best shots on a back up drive. 40Gb is more than enough for me at the moment.

Matthew