Peter,

We have used the Epson P-2000 (40GB) and found it reliable (although it
would be nice if it were a little faster).  If the trip is important, I
would suggest doing both (i.e. get more memory /and/ a storage device).

Rather than buying, can you borrow memory cards from a friend?

David

Peter, it's always nice to have a few extra memory cards, especially if you
are going to be on the road for extended periods.  Check some of the prices
and rebates for 2GB Lexar and Sandisk CF cards.  The going rate for 2GB CFs
is $80.  So, with or without rebates you should be able to buy them for less
than $80.

I use an Epson P-2000 as a backup storage device that allows me to view my
pictures after transfer.  I shoot exclusively RAW and the P-2000 doesn't
allow zoom viewing with RAW file, which really isn't a problem for me.  Some
say the P-2000 is a bit slow, but that shouldn't matter much if you're
looking for highly reliable portable storage.  That being said, you can
never have enough memory cards.  The addition of a viewable storage device
such as the P-2000, P-4000, or P-4500 is always a plus that will enhance
your options.  Good luck.

Rita

I got nearly 9 Gb memory in CF cards. I do not travel a lot, but last time
my CF cards was enough for a 4 day trip to Spain. If I have been away for a
longer time, I would have brought my laptop with me. Gives me 40 Gb storage
AND software to view and edit my pictures during the trip.

I know that sometime a laptop is not the answer due to it's size. A portable
disk with a build-in card-reader would be very usefull.

I use a Jobo 20GB.  It is slow to load it with data from my 1 GB and
2 GB compact flash cards and even slower from a Microdrive.  The
battery life is also short, especially considering how slow it is.

But it was cheap to buy and it avoids carrying large numbers of flash
memory cards.  It is much less easy to lose than a flash card, but if
you do lose it, you will lose a great many images all at once.

According to Peter Wear <pwear@bigpond.net.au>:

    Well ... I would consider *any* moving media such as a disk
drive to be less reliable in the presence of physical shock than a CF
card.  Of course, micro-drives are more sensitive than CF cards too,
since they are just tiny hard drives.

    The other things about the hard disk storage which might make it
less reasonable for a trip are:

1)    How much time you will have for transferring CF cards to the hard
    disk before you need that CF card again.

2)    How likely is the battery in the hard disk setup to die during a
    transfer -- perhaps corrupting the entire set of stored images.
    Hopefully, if it is properly designed, it will open the CF card
    read-only so it *can't* corrupt the CF card -- and ideally it
    will also have a very conservative battery test circuit built in
    so it won't *start* a copy operation which it has no chance to
    complete.  And also, ideally, it will do a good job of making it
    clear that a copy sequence did not complete, if something goes
    wrong.

3)    You will have yet another charger to carry around, and to
    contend for the limited number of outlets in a typical hotel
    room.

    That said -- I would probably go "belt and suspenders" (or
belt-and-braces for the UK crowd) and have such a thing to copy the CF
cards to -- but keep the original data on the CF cards as well, until I
got home and could copy things onto the computer and CD-ROMs or
DVD-ROMs.

    But I would consider the multiple CF cards to be the better
route if you were doing just one of the two options.  I currently have
(for my D70) two 1GB CF cards and a 4GB CF card.  And if I were
heading on an important trip, I would get another 4GB CF card.

    Enjoy,
        DoN.

I used to think that a laptop was not an option, but eventually I came
to the realization that it was the only option. I wanted the ability to
review my camera RAW photos on a large screen while still in the field,
in case I needed a do-over. Neither cards nor photo banks really
address that need.

Personally, I think cards are more reliable than disks, if for no other
reason than that they have fewer moving parts.

Seems like an excuse to get a video iPod, but that won't work, either
-- you need a laptop to transfer the photos. Besides, I don't think an
iPod will read RAW photos. Neither will most photo banks, come to think
of it.

The advantage of a photo bank is a lot of them will plug into a TV so
you can review your pictures.

When I travel domestically in the US I always have my notebook with me
for business reasons and just back up to it. Last week I spent a few
days in Bermuda and although I did not end up using the 3 gig of CF
cards I brought with me (I triage and delete considerably), I did have
several flash drives with me and used a neat little Delkin Bridge
backup up a couple of cards to them. The Bridge is a little device that
runs on two AA's (I paid about $25, including postage for one on eBay)
which allows quick transfer from one USB device to another, setting up
a new directory on the host each time it is written to. Given that
flash drives have multiple uses (I use them for MP3s, ICE info, address
files, etc.) and are now down to about $25 for a one gig card and
dropping fast, this is pretty easy and cost effective. Of course with a
device like this I could back up to extra CF cards, the prices of which
are plunging dramatically as well.  I see this is a pretty simple way
to provide backup in those rare times when I don't have the laptop or,
as in this case, want to spend a small fortune in a hotel business
center burning onto cd's or dvd's.

Of course, it all depends on what your ultimate needs are, and how much
backing up yo want to do.  I always feel more secure knowing that all
my photos are backed up shortly after they are taken. The flash card
route is good because they can be worn around one's neck, and, if need
be, be transferred to a computer very, very quickly. This approach
would be great in places where theft could be a problem -- I've had a
camera system stolen in international travel so have learned the hard
way. If you already have an MP3 player that takes data or imaging files
you might check out the Delkin.

As for the failure issue, I did have one SanDisk die. Fortunately my
pics had been backed up and it was replaced immediately. Absolutely no
problems with Lexar, PNY and Toshiba in my Olys.

I have Epson P-2000 and I like it. I like to have one quick CF card and photo
bank. I actually have two 1 Gig CF cards but only one quick one.
Cos then I can always buy one new quicker CF card when they start to sell those.
If I only have many many CF card I have to use a lot of money to upgrade those
all... now I just have to buy one new CF card...
And one reason to have photo bank is that I'm gadger freak =)