Using Digital in the rain

[Aysedasi]

Coan someone tell me a bit more about Image Tank and what its about (and what it costs) and also the portable hard drive that was mentioned earlier? Its running out of space that bothers me (I haven't got a laptop and I doubt that I'd lug it to France with me in June.... )

[Ian_H]

The Image Tank/Bank that I have is this one which has now been discontinued but basically it is a laptop hard drive with a card reader attached and is powered by a battery pack or you can use a car lighter socket. When you card is full just pop it in the Image Tank press the button and the contents of the card are downloaded onto the hard drive, when you get home just plug it into your USB port and download the contents of the Tank onto your computer. I find it much easier to carry this around compared to my laptop. This appears to be the updated version HERE but there are a few companies manufacturing similar devices.


Cheers
Ian

[Aysedasi]

Grateful for that Ian - I'll take a look.

[Snapper Baz]

Ok Ian, next question...and it may sound stupid? Would the image bank and/or compactflash cards (with images stored on them) get affected by airport x-ray machines...any ideas on this?

[neil_davidson2]

Baz, I can't comment on the Image tank/bank but I've certainly taken CF cards (with and without images on) thru airports and had them x-rayed with no perceivable ill-effects.

Neil

[Ian_H]

My cf cards, microdrives & Image Tank have been through airport x-ray machine many times and never had any ill effects, the Image Tank is just a laptop hardrive in a casing and come to think of it my laptop has been x-rayed many times as well.

HTH
Cheers
Ian

[Snapper Baz]

Thanks boys!

[Icycool]

I have used them outside when it was pouring with rain, and when I was on a demolition site, it was drizzling and there was dust everywhere, I have had no probs, how-ever I was keeping it in my jacket between shots.

[bernard b]

to Aysedasi
for my own,I'm using a Vosonic X-drive II
cheap, fast (usb2), reliable(for as much as I've used it-about one year)
the only problem is that you can't actually control your images when stored, but if a problem occurs during transfer, you get a error message and you just have to repeat transfer
the battery life is great too: you can expect from 6 to 8 512CF transfer with a full charge

[Ian_H]

Well my 10D survived probably the worst conditions I have ever taken photos in yesterday in Kielder Forest, along with gale force wind there was constant driving rain, I managed to keep the camera reasonably dry with a mixture of a large piece of chamois leather and a couple of asda carrier bags.

Cheers
Ian

[PaulSands]

two outings so far..Mallory (wet) Silverstone (wet an VERY windy) and no problems with a 10D...apart from it being very difficult to keep the lens still at Silverstone on Saturday

[Hugewally]

Most of the time I'm using my Canon 1D which probably has the most weather proofing going right now (or did when it first came out), but even in a light mist I use a aquatech cover. Have a couple for the different lenses and even the flash. I would think that the 10D is just as vunerable as the 550 flash to water intrusion. Remember that just one drop of water can ruin your day to even the tune of a complete replacement. Not to speak of doom and gloom, but I've worked with electronics and the enviroment in my job for the last 30 years and you'd be surprised what a little mositure can do.

Rain cover are cheap compared to having your camera stop working on a race weekend...

Martin

[Chris Lee]

I'm the same 1D but still use aquatech... I would imagine that the sort of damage water could do to a dslr would for the likes of a 10d be cheaper to buy a new one..

[Hugewally]

I also use the aquatech covers. Believe them to be the best made (but not cheap $$$).

Of course a sandwich ziplock bag for the flash and a large garbage bag for the 500mm has also worked in a pinch...

LOL

martin