google -earth, etc.

[Ray West]

Hi Nicolas,

I thought I would try and locate some of the images in Munich, got the top right one bang on, since you can read the street names. I think I can locate the spot where the photo was taken, but Ranier has gone home ....

I find google earth very useful, but a few odd things, like clouds, etc.

Last April, my son moved to a new home, and we reckon we got the time the image was updated to within a few hours. He had the boot (trunk?) of his car open, while unloading some gear.

Anyways, next week my wife is taking me away from all this, so you can have a quiet time of it. Part of the trip is a couple of days in Hamburg, but I don't think I can get down to Munich to try out Ranier's kit.

I was undecided what gear to take - we're going by boat, just a small one, the size of a small town, 2000 passengers, 900 crew, boredom afloat, for me.

Anyways, one of my friends is from the Black Forest area, and he reckons Hamburg and the river is pretty good - so I'm taking all of it. I've a feeling I might look a bit of a twit with the tripod, etc, .but what the heck, Brits abroad, etc.

This heat, hotter tomorrow, and its bl**dy humid here. I can't do much outside until midnight or so. Hence my time spent here and elsewhere.

I hope Ranier posts the crop I asked. I actually spent time looking for spiders and cobwebs in his images .... sad, or what.

More coffee required.

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[nicolas claris]

Hi Ray
The GoogleEarth thing is a good idea to prepare some shots, my son who works in the movie industry, uses it a lot to prepare the shootings, in town, places, guessing light/shadows, angles, where to park cars and trucks (hoops, sorry, lorries) etc. good tool!

We have a new system here which has been launched a few weeks ago, but is not performing so good though they said that the defintion of pictures would be better than the ones from Google...http://www.geoportail.fr but they server is really slow (when responding) and is only for French territories for now.

For travelling I would bring a Canon 5D, Canon 24-105, Sigma 12-24 and a monopod.... or maybe just a Ricoh RG...

Be carefull with coffee, you may get nervous!

 

[Ray West]

Hi Nicolas,

its a bit like a mac - not the fruit or pc, but the wp overcoat. Take it, it never rains, - leave it home, get wet.
My thoughts were take everything on the ship, then just take whatever lens I think I need on the day, wherever I think we will be going. I suspect, after day 1, I'll be just using the powershot s70. I do not intend taking the pc for editing, I'm just going to dump it all into the hyperdrive - live dangerously, backups, like lunch, is for wimps!!

Now with something with higher resolution, just one wideangle lens, and one photo! - crop and zoom in photoshop to get the compositions you need.

I may go retro, just get a load of disposable film cameras. It not as if its a 'photo expedition' or similar.

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[nicolas claris]

Hi Ray
In fact the intention I had when answering to your 1st post above, was to lower the amount of gear while travelling for pleasure (on the contrary of work), as I felt you would bring too much!
On my own, when I travel for holidays, I just bring my Canon G6 (which I may change for a Ricoh GR). I don't wish to inverse work and holidays, if I bring the gear, I have the photog eye and don't really get benefits of the travel, If I have a small camera I'm just like another tourist... and, I try to remember that it is not the gear that make the photographer!

Cheers and enjoy your trip!

 

[Ray West]

Hi Nicolas,

I know what you're saying, and thanks, but I am not a pro photographer, and really I guess, I'm just trying to decide what to take to alleviate what may be a very boring ten days or so. I will make a 'late decision' - not too late, hopefully, and I'll let you know the outcome in a week or so.

It was sort of thermal melt down this side of the ditch, yesterday. Over here, its the humidity, not just the temp. that is the killer.

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[Ray West]

Hi Nicolas,

I took it all, tripod, ext tubes, telephoto, - all of it. Just got back earlier today, not checked any of the photos, just saved 'em off to my hyperdrive unit, I expect they are as blurry as ever.

I'll speak later,

Best wishes,

Ray

 

[nicolas claris]

Hi Ray
In fact the intention I had when answering to your 1st post above, was to lower the amount of gear while travelling for pleasure (on the contrary of work), as I felt you would bring too much!
On my own, when I travel for holidays, I just bring my Canon G6 (which I may change for a Ricoh GR). I don't wish to inverse work and holidays, if I bring the gear, I have the photog eye and don't really get benefits of the travel, If I have a small camera I'm just like another tourist... and, I try to remember that it is not the gear that make the photographer!

Cheers and enjoy your trip!

Fun, guess what?
I just did the contrary!

 

[nicolas claris]

Hi Nicolas,

I took it all, tripod, ext tubes, telephoto, - all of it. Just got back earlier today, not checked any of the photos, just saved 'em off to my hyperdrive unit, I expect they are as blurry as ever.

I'll speak later,

Best wishes,

Ray

And, and, and…?

 

[Ray West]

Hi Nicolas,Welcome back. I thought you was off working again...
I never used the 70-200, never really used the wide angle. Used the 24-70, and 24-70 with teleconvertor. Used the power shot s70 a fair bit. I find, unless I really take the time, change my glasses, etc., it is difficult seeing and setting the 20d, I'm thinking I should have used that magic green box setting! I had little opportunity to spend time composing, exploring, whatever. If I can suss out this saving for web thing, I may post a few here.

The hyperdrive idea worked great, I never had to worry about editing in a notebook on holiday, etc. Although I took batteries and chargers, I never need to charge any batteries in anything, but I guess it was only 500 or so photos.

You said you did the opposite - I don't know 'opposite to what? - you took all your gear, or nothing?

Best wishes,
Ray

 

[Sean DeMerchant]

The hyperdrive idea worked great, I never had to worry about editing in a notebook on holiday, etc. Although I took batteries and chargers, I never need to charge any batteries in anything, but I guess it was only 500 or so photos.

Nicolas and Ray, (or anyone for that matter)

How has the realiability been? I am looking for a new solution and was thinking I would have to buy 2 such devices in case a a bad read, but I see this unit has a verify feature built in that would save weight and money. Do you feel safe with just one unit?

thanks,

Sean

 

[Ray West]

hyperdrive, well pleased

Hi Sean,

I'm not a pro photog, and over the years I've got used to the fact that sometimes 's**t happens'. I guess I have to thank Intel and M$ for that. The unit has a 2.5 inch hdd, not well cushioned, but other than that there is little to go wrong. I bought it some months ago, tried it out wrt speed etc., when I first got it, then left it on the floor at the side of the desk until last month.... I forgot the instructions, so saving from the cf cards was guess work, but it is really so simple, and the led flashes, lcd display says more or less what is going on. The batteries last well. In fact, it is about the only recent bit of gear I've bought which performs exactly as it says on the www. site, and I am very picky about such things.

At the end of the day? I copied the cf to the unit. I did not erase the cf, until the cf was full (copying it just before erasing, of course). This meant in many instances I had the same images stored a number of times. But it automatically assigned a new folder each time I copied a cf. So, on my return, it was easy to copy over the last folder from each full cf folder, if you get what I mean. No problems whatsoever, if there had been a duff image, then maybe I would have been able to retrieve a good copy from a previous folder. I have the 100gb unit - they fitted the drive, because I think at the time it was cheaper than me buying my own drive. If your images are important, then obviously get two units. For what they are, I reckon the cost is more or less trivial. It copies 1 gb from cf in about 1 minute, but it is usb2 to your pc, though. Of course you could wire the hdd straight in, only four screws in the case.

The big advantage is it saves messing with a pc on holiday, wherever. With the 20d battery grip, maybe similar for other cameras, you only need a handful of high cap AA nmh batteries and a fast charger, you can travel light. I see no point in having the review screen as on other solutions which are more expensive, and some are so slow in copying cf as to be useless. Personally, I see no use in looking at images on a small screen in such a device - its too late by then, and not many handle raw.

Of course, when not using it as an image tank, it can be used as an external usb2 hdd on your pc. imnsho, it is well worth the money, and if you treat it as you would your camera, i.e. don't throw it about too much, I see no reason that it should fail, within the normal limitations of hdd life, etc. (beware of the velcro strap, though...)


Let me know how many you buy...

Best wishes,
Ray

 

[nicolas claris]

You said you did the opposite - I don't know 'opposite to what? - you took all your gear, or nothing?
Ray

Hi Ray
the opposite to what I said. I took a lot more gear that I use to bring when on vacation (1DS MkII and some lenses)...
Then I spent a lot of time for personal photo work... and forgot the swimming pool!

 

[nicolas claris]

How has the realiability been

Sorry Sean, I do not have this gear.
I always bring my powerbook (with C1 and PS CS 2 loaded to edit) plus an external HD for backup.

 

[Sean DeMerchant]

Sorry Sean, I do not have this gear.
I always bring my powerbook plus an external HD for backup.

Thanks Nicolas. What I am looking for is reliable portable storage. And portable drive has less weight and cost than a laptop. And the lower cost would cover a new lens whereas a laptop and external drive (backups) would yield the ability to print on the road.

The real problem is that in the USA is that it is unsafe to leave gear in your car as many thieves frequent trailheads. And a laptop is a lot of extra weight to carry.

 

[Sean DeMerchant]

The big advantage is it saves messing with a pc on holiday, wherever. With the 20d battery grip, maybe similar for other cameras, you only need a handful of high cap AA nmh batteries and a fast charger, you can travel light. I see no point in having the review screen as on other solutions which are more expensive, and some are so slow in copying cf as to be useless. Personally, I see no use in looking at images on a small screen in such a device - its too late by then, and not many handle raw.

Of course, when not using it as an image tank, it can be used as an external usb2 hdd on your pc. imnsho, it is well worth the money, and if you treat it as you would your camera, i.e. don't throw it about too much, I see no reason that it should fail, within the normal limitations of hdd life, etc. (beware of the velcro strap, though...)

Thanks Ray. I have a now defunct Digital Wallet 10 GB unit (dead rechargable battery and USB port) so I am familiar with the convenience. But good battery life, using AA's*, small size and weight (compared to a laptop), and image copy verification are the features that interest me. But a laptop might be nice too if a pain to hike with (laptop, Wacom tablet, spare USB powered backup drive, would take a lot of space).

And for the extra money one could buy a nice lens.

But it is the reliability of the image copy validation that interests me. If I can safely get by with one (ignoring drive failure), then I would prefer to go that way for weight. But buying two would buy a slow laptop and that would be more versatile.

Let me know how many you buy...

Will do. I have to think on it some more.

thanks,

Sean



* I am standardized on AA's and use them for flashlights, camera flash, ...

 

[Ray West]

some snaps

Hi Nicolas,

I expect you and some others may guess where these snaps were taken (more than one place) most were with the P&S, I've done no pp other than crop.

http://www.yertiz.com/images/opf hols/

Best wishes,
Ray

 

[Ray West]

hyperdrive

Hi Sean,

The site for the hyperdrive (there is a far eastern same unit/different name site too) has _accurate_ details re battery life etc. The verification is OK, seems to work. Don't know what you do, if you get a problem, try again, I s'pose. I think the manual is on the site - the unit gives errror messages, such as battery low, the mem card is wrong format, etc.

I used to take a small Acer tablet pc, but won't be anymore. The hyperdive can go in your pocket (or on your belt if you fix the poxy velcro strap idea). Iirc, the batteries go for eight hours or so. If I can find the manual, I can confirm. Now, at 1gb a minute saving from cf, thats about 500gb (filled the hdd five times) of data, then just change the AA's.

Best wishes,

Ray - ps I don't want to nag you into getting one, but you ought to get it....

 

[Mary Bull]

I enjoyed all seven of them, Ray, and even had a guess about the location of a couple of them.

Still, would you have time to put a short list of place names, 1-7?

I know that a picture by any other name should look as good--and I like them all.

But even the Nashville Tennesseean with the Cryptoquote puzzle publishes the answers the next day!

 

[Ray West]

Hi Mary,

I will wait a while until Nicolas has a guess, and one or two others. You could guess too, a couple are pretty easy. ...The games us oldies play - should get out more.

Best wishes,
Ray

 

[Mary Bull]

< delighted smile >
I'll wait.

The snaps are gorgeous, BTB.

 

[nicolas claris]

Hi Nicolas,

I expect you and some others may guess where these snaps were taken (more than one place) most were with the P&S, I've done no pp other than crop.

http://www.yertiz.com/images/opf hols/

Best wishes,
Ray

Hi Ray
hard to say
I would put one in Belgium (Antwerpen?), and others in Northern Europe, Germany probably. Kiel? Hamburg?
I can't read anything on that damned pilot boat!
I give my tongue to the cat (je donne ma langue au chat) means I give up!

 

[nicolas claris]

The real problem is that in the USA is that it is unsafe to leave gear in your car as many thieves frequent trailheads. And a laptop is a lot of extra weight to carry.

Hi Sean
all over the world! though my previous Powerbook were stolen last year in a "good" hotel in LA...

 

[Asher Kelman]

# 2 Berlin

#4 Netherlands

 

[Ray West]

some snaps

Do you want more clues - perhaps more photos of the same places, or do you just want answers?

 

[Mary Bull]

I'd like more photos of the same places.

 

[Ray West]

More snaps

Here's http://www.yertiz.com/images/opf2 hols/ some more snaps - straight (or more likely crooked) from the cameras. These are from the same places as before, but two (3&4) are 'wild cards'(i.e. not shown before, two new places) Some clues - one place a 'world heritage site', another the source of a snack, a third subject has the local name of a bird (and the telephone offices are not falling down)

 

[Mary Bull]

3) Torn between Copenhagen and Hamburg--can't decide
6) Hamburg?
7) Hamburg?

And from the first set, 2) Hamburg?

The reason I have ID'd the ones I'm guessing as Hamburg is the familiar look. I've spent many hours with Dierk's galleries, including his Hamburg galleries, at
http://www.write4u.de/ .

It's a great pleasure to me to view these snaps, Ray.

 

[Mary Bull]

These are from the same places as before...

I think perhaps 6) also is Hamburg--a skyline viewed from the Alster.

The building with the slim tower atop it is the detail that makes me guess this.

 

[Ray West]

Hi Mary,

You'd better get Dierk over to try and straighten you out. I hope Nicolas can read the cutter's port name!.

These places do tend to look the same. There is only so much you can do with wood and paint and stone and glass. A lot of it got flattened, 60 odd years ago, took out much of the quaintness of the major towns.

Best wishes,

 

[Mary Bull]

Ray, I'm a brave soul--never afraid to fail.

But I doubt that Dierk has time just now to finish my education.

I do agree--from viewing photos only--that all the old European cities can resemble one another to an untutored eye.

I've never been on mainland Europe except a Northwest airlines flight change in Amsterdam. We were changing for Glasgow, Scotland, in 2003. There we rented a car (SUV) and toured Northern England, as well as parts of Scotland and Ireland.

It's my one trip outside the U.S. borders, except a childhood excursion with my parents into Mexico.

So, are you waiting for Nicolas and Asher to guess some more before posting the answers?