I have the primary copy of all my photo files on my hard disk, a backup copy on an external hard drive that is usually stored elsewhere, and, for just the final processed "good ones" (much less in terms of storage), a third copy on CD kept in a safe place. The last I checked, DVDs were still considerably more expensive per byte than CDs (though that may change at some point, even may have already).
Lisa
Full Version: Storage Media
DVD's are cheaper than CD's per byte. Easier to burn, too. I'd much rather burn one disc than seven. Me, I buy "crap discs" and make two DVD copies. The $0.40 each discs have never failed yet and the two copies are better insurance than one $1.40 one. YMMV
It's nothing short of amazing how cheap those huge hard drives are nowadays, and how fast they fill up. : )
Peter
It's nothing short of amazing how cheap those huge hard drives are nowadays, and how fast they fill up. : )
Peter
QUOTE
I was wondering if it made sense if you have a DVD drive that can handle both + and - media to burn two copies, one on each type of media?
A few months back, I remember seeing an article somewhere on the web about the reliability of DVDs, and I recall that some varieties (+ vs. -, R vs. RW) are *much* less reliable than others. Unfortunately, I don't remember which were better; but before choosing a couple at random, it would be worth doing a web search for that or similar articles and pick the more reliable DVD type(s).
Good to hear that DVDs are much cheaper than last time I checked (which may have been about six months ago). I'll have to change my backup media.
Lisa
Use DVD,
Dont use RW
Use R
Check every 6 months.
If any of you are storing on external drives and haven't transferred the full digital file to DVD I would STRONGLY suggest you.
Dont use RW
Use R
Check every 6 months.
If any of you are storing on external drives and haven't transferred the full digital file to DVD I would STRONGLY suggest you.
I am struggling with this as well.
I have decided to buy a DVD burner. CD's just don't have enough capacity anymore.
So "+R" is the way to go over "-R"?
The biggest benefit of DVD's is that unlike an external hard drive, I will place the DVD's in a safe deposit box. There are enough ways to lose an entire house (or contents) in one shot. If I didn't believe that, I would not carry house insurance.
I figure if something takes out my house *and* the bank 3 miles away. . then odds are fair that I won't care about the data.
I have decided to buy a DVD burner. CD's just don't have enough capacity anymore.
So "+R" is the way to go over "-R"?
The biggest benefit of DVD's is that unlike an external hard drive, I will place the DVD's in a safe deposit box. There are enough ways to lose an entire house (or contents) in one shot. If I didn't believe that, I would not carry house insurance.
I figure if something takes out my house *and* the bank 3 miles away. . then odds are fair that I won't care about the data.
For what it is worth, here is my set up
Computer: Internal Drives
40GB ultrafast IDE drive for programs & windows
250GB SATA Drive for Files & Images
250GB SATA Drive for Backup
80GB for MP3, no backup
DVD Rewriter - don't use it to backup - too lazy
(We build our own computers)
External 120GB Firewire for intermediate secondary Backup (e.g when I go on vacation)
I could set up the SATA drives as a mirrored RAID system, but I like to see both the big drives in file manager! - sad but true
Plus I distribute images far and wide to friends and backup onto other machines (I have understanding friends with spare HD space - I always tell them to buy big ones and they have yet to cotton on)
Hard drives do FAIL - one of my friends main HD failed big time, he was very lucky - he went straight out and got a couple big 250GBs. So BACK IT UP, it could happen to you.
And yes, I lose sleep over fire and theft.
If you can afford a DSLR, then there is no excuse not to have a good back up system. Your images are not replacable once lost.
Cheers
Chris
Computer: Internal Drives
40GB ultrafast IDE drive for programs & windows
250GB SATA Drive for Files & Images
250GB SATA Drive for Backup
80GB for MP3, no backup
DVD Rewriter - don't use it to backup - too lazy
(We build our own computers)
External 120GB Firewire for intermediate secondary Backup (e.g when I go on vacation)
I could set up the SATA drives as a mirrored RAID system, but I like to see both the big drives in file manager! - sad but true
Plus I distribute images far and wide to friends and backup onto other machines (I have understanding friends with spare HD space - I always tell them to buy big ones and they have yet to cotton on)
Hard drives do FAIL - one of my friends main HD failed big time, he was very lucky - he went straight out and got a couple big 250GBs. So BACK IT UP, it could happen to you.
And yes, I lose sleep over fire and theft.
If you can afford a DSLR, then there is no excuse not to have a good back up system. Your images are not replacable once lost.
Cheers
Chris
QUOTE
Rowat, HD reliability is questionable, you need to back up to another format as well.
That used to be the case, but not so much anymore. If you maintain a HD properly, it'll last a long time (in fact I have one from '94 still running). HD tech has advanced remarkably since the days when disk errors were a common thing. Modern drives have "self-healing" ability where errors are found and repaired automatically (to an extent of course). If you defrag a running drive regularly, you further extend it's life and reduce the chance of errors.
According to Maxtor the failiure rate of HDs these days is 1% or less of all drives made (That was over a year ago when HD makers cut the warranty back from 5 years to 1 year).
I have no doubt that a HD kept in storage will still work well over a decade from now.
I would be interested in other members opinion on the use of a back up media for the photo images. I use an external hard drive for primary storage but want a secondary storage media for back up. It would take dozens of CD's to store images that are not flattened so I was considering DVD's. Could you comment on your recommendations?
I put photos on a firewire HD and make two DVD backup copies (each on different media) they are all checked annually. first signs of damaged files and a new one is burned either from the good DVD or from the HD files. GOOD DVD-R's are about $1.50 US each- not sure what Lisa's paying since a DVD-R will replace about 7 CD's. Price is not all that important- don't try to save pennies by buying crap discs- your pics are worth much more than that to you.
JAckR
JAckR
I was wondering if it made sense if you have a DVD drive that can handle both + and - media to burn two copies, one on each type of media?
QUOTE
A few months back, I remember seeing an article somewhere on the web about the reliability of DVDs, and I recall that some varieties (+ vs. -, R vs. RW) are *much* less reliable than others.
I'm not a optical disc scientist or engineer. However, I do run the European DVD business for a Hollywood studio. Consequently I meet many people who understand DVD technology inside out. Their advice is simple.
Use DVD-R, not RW. There's nothing to choose in reliability between "+" and "-". Don't write or glue labels onto the disc. Keep the disc in its case, and store it with a modicum of common sense. No need to be obsessive, just avoid bathroom cabinets, under the sink with the cleaning materials, or the back seat of your car!
After that sit back and relax, your images are at least as safe as a sheet of negatives. Also, as an industry "insider" I can assure you that even though there's lots of exciting DVD technology in prospect, I'm not aware of anything coming which would render your DVD's obsolete or unreadable. I'm sure that day will finally arrive, just as one day the oil will run out, but we're likely to get a lot of warning on both accounts!
I think that reliability, in order is as follows: DVD-RAM > DVD+R > DVD-R with all of the RWs coming in at the bottom of the heap.
However, with HD prices as low as they are these days it is cheaper to backup to a brandname HD than to brandname DVD media.
However, with HD prices as low as they are these days it is cheaper to backup to a brandname HD than to brandname DVD media.
Rowat, HD reliability is questionable, you need to back up to another format as well.
Jackr
Jackr
The +R format is a newer format than the -R, and *seems* to offer better reliabilty than the -R. However, what 'better' means in practical terms is not necessarily clear - less chance of failure over time seems the most common explanation.
However, most newer DVD burners will allow you to burn in +R, -R, and often -RAM, so you don't necessarily have to exclude one or the other when purchasing the burner. The decision about media, however is important.
If you, or your clients, are using MAC platforms than I would suggest going with the -R spec as all but the latest MAC OS incarnations (MAC expert chime in here) will *not* recognize the +R spec.
As for HD reliability that JackR brought up, yes, I agree that it is important to have multiple backups on different media. However, instead of multiple DVDs and a single HD you could flip that around to multiple HD and single DVD. I have had both HDs and CDs (not DVDs yet) go south on me, so realize that as of yet there is no foolproof backup media.
The only way to make it foolproof is to backup often and on different media in different locations.
Andrew.
However, most newer DVD burners will allow you to burn in +R, -R, and often -RAM, so you don't necessarily have to exclude one or the other when purchasing the burner. The decision about media, however is important.
If you, or your clients, are using MAC platforms than I would suggest going with the -R spec as all but the latest MAC OS incarnations (MAC expert chime in here) will *not* recognize the +R spec.
As for HD reliability that JackR brought up, yes, I agree that it is important to have multiple backups on different media. However, instead of multiple DVDs and a single HD you could flip that around to multiple HD and single DVD. I have had both HDs and CDs (not DVDs yet) go south on me, so realize that as of yet there is no foolproof backup media.
The only way to make it foolproof is to backup often and on different media in different locations.
Andrew.
QUOTE (CJD @ Aug. 26 2004,20:25)
And yes, I lose sleep over fire and theft.
Get yourself a couple more big HDs and put them in external cases.
Rotate them between your computer site and a separate storage place.
Sleep well....
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