Author: VFX Blog

Any photographer understands the importance of being able to back up photos using an external hard drive. Even if you own some of the best SSDs, it’s very possible that you can easily run out of storage space and hence really important that you have a backup for your photography work. You, however, need to be keen when shopping for an external hard drive.

You need to think about important details such as having enough storage space, data transfer speeds, light for portability and a hard drive that is both rugged and dependable. Today, it’s possible to buy hard drives that have up to 4TB of space. Knowing how significant it is for you to find the right external hard drive for your work, we have reviewed some of the best hard drives that you can consider investing in.

1. Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC Hard Drive

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Introduction

The Buffalo MiniStation Extreme NFC hard drive is a portable, rugged hard drive that comes with a special wrap-around USB cable as well as secure hardware encryption.

Pros

The external hard drive has an inbuilt NFC technology that makes it possible for users to unlock and access their files using the smart card included without the need to remember a password. Besides, it’s a hard drive that you can afford without breaking the bank. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac machines and is very flexible.

The rugged case makes the hard drive resistant to both water and dust. This means that if you get rained on, or your hard drive falls into a puddle of water, you can be rest assured that your files will be okay. In addition, the rugged shell design also helps protect your data in case the hard drive falls down and comes with the NFC (Near Field Communication) feature and 256-bit AES security feature.

This external hard drive can also be purchased in two available sizes, the 1TB, and the 2TB. So, depending on your needs and files you need to back up, you can buy the size that makes sense for you.

Cons

Despite its amazing security features, it’s not the fastest when it comes to transferring files.

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2. Western Digital 4TB My Passport Hard Drive

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Introduction

If you’re looking for an external hard drive that has great capacity and some admirable speeds and is affordable for most people, then the Western Digital 4TB My Passport is your best buy.

Pros

This particular hard drive features a cloud storage, an encryption of 256-AES, auto backup plus Western Digital’s own backup software. It performs above average compared to most of its competitors when it comes to data transfer speeds.

The Western Digital My Passport hard drive is available in four different capacities – 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, and 4TB. In addition, it also comes in six different colors – red, white, blue, orange, yellow and black – giving you a wide range of options to choose from in terms of colors.

It is compatible with some Windows operating systems while it requires reformatting for the Mac OS X operating system. It has a 3.0 USB port but is also compatible with a 2.0 USB.

For the amount of storage space, the hard drive is quite affordable compared to its competitors.

Cons

The shell material is plastic which means it can easily break.

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3. Transcend 256GB Portable SSD

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Introduction

The Transcend 256GB portable SSD external hard drive is available in four different capacities starting from 128GB to 1TB.

Pros

The fact that this Transcend hard drive has – a 128GB capacity – which no other hard drive in this review has, makes the 128GB option way affordable than most external hard drives in our review. However, just because it’s affordable doesn’t mean it’ll be suitable for your needs. You must factor in the amount of space you need your hard drive to have. Alternatively, you can opt for other large capacities.

This hard drive has some impressive video, and image read speeds with the write rates being a bit modest. It weighs only 56g and is extremely compact. There is a one-touch auto-backup button that makes it convenient and easy for you to synchronize your backups coupled with the Transcend Elite software.

Being the size of a playing card means that the hard drive is easily portable. It has a USB 3.0 SuperSpeed and USB 2.0 connections with a connection bandwidth of up to 5Gbits per second.

Cons

It has a write performance that is relatively slow and is too expensive when compared to other competitor models.

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4. Western Digital 4TB Desktop RAID External Hard Drive

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Introduction

If you are in the market shopping for the ultimate external hard drive that offers a huge storage capacity from 3TB to 20TB, then the Western Digital 4TB Desktop RAID external hard drive is your best buy.

Pros

This is the perfect external hard drive for a photographer that gets a lot of gigs and needs an external hard drive with a huge capacity. Besides, the hard drive also has a system and auto backup.

The RAID allows you to backup your files in case one of the drives crashes. However, you might need to sacrifice some of the storage space on your drive. The USB 3.0 drive has lots of features that make it a fully-fledged NAS device. If the router contains a USB port that is 3.0, you could opt to use this device as a network attached storage.

The device comes with a two-year warranty, has a hardware encryption of 256-bits AES and the WD SmartWare Pro automatic backup software. The best part is that if you are Windows user, you will receive the hard drive already pre-formatted for you by the WD team.

Cons

Requires two free USB 3.0 ports and is very expensive.

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Final Thoughts

As a photographer, you really don’t want to lose your work because of one or two reasons. As such, it is important that you invest in a durable and dependable external hard drive. Your main focus requires to be on the space so that you don’t end up buying a hard drive with a lot of space that you won’t even use. Remember, the more storage space you need, the more money you will have to spend.

As a photographer, carrying your gear can be quite a challenge especially if you don’t have the right bag for the job. Every photographer needs to have their entire kit protected and safe at all times regardless of whether they are hiking up the mountain to capture the sunrise or are commuting to an event with their gear in hand.

Fortunately, there are different bag options that photographers have for carrying their equipment. And while some may prefer slinger bags or holsters, there is a crop of photographers who love backups as it allows them to balance the weight of their equipment easily on their back. Some of the bags featured in our review are ideal for mirrorless cameras as well as DSLRs which have interchangeable lenses that need some thought when you are mobile.
In addition, there are those that also gives room for a laptop or a tablet for when you need to do your post-processing which is quite important to digital photography.

1. Vanguard Alta Sky 51D Backpack

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Introduction

With the need to carry all your gear including your drone, this bag has room for all your equipment and accessories without necessarily making you break a bank.

Pros

While it’s tough to design the ultimate backpack for a photographer, the Vanguard Alta Sky 51D backpack is quite versatile. This is because the bag has been designed to not only carry your camera gear but a drone as well or both. The backpack’s main compartment has enough room for a D850 and can carry up to four lenses and an additional lens of between 70-200mm. There is a separate compartment at the base that allows you to store small lenses.

Knowing how important padding is for a photographer backpack, you can rest be assured that the padding on this bag is top notch. The design has an ergonomic harness, waist belt as well as an air system back. The bag is well organized and has lots of dedicated pockets for organizing and connecting all your essentials. And yes, you can also carry your own bottle of water thanks to the side pockets.

The backpack also has room for a 15-inch laptop or a tablet as well as additional space for your tripod should you need one. It also has a pull-out rain cover for rainy days.

Cons

It is quite heavy, and because it has a lot of space, it is possible to overload.

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2. Manfrotto Advanced Rear Backpack

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Introduction

The Manfrotto Advanced Rear Backpack is designed in Italy and has a versatile design coupled with compact proportions. That means that it’s not easy for you to overload your backpack.

Pros

The Manfrotto backpack has well-organized compartments for all the gear you need to carry. The lower part of the bag is well padded for storing all your photographic equipment. The padding means that your gear will be well-secured while you are on the go. It can easily hold one DSLR camera and three lenses including a 70-200mm lens thanks to the Manfrotto protection system.

The design is well constructed and has a top section that is roomy for storing your accessories or a packed lunch.

The front pocket can easily hold a small notebook, a 13-inch laptop, a 10-inch tablet, and any other important documents and has a zipper for maximum security. The bag has an extendable size pocket that can easily fit your tripod.

While we can never predict the weather, the bag has a pull-out rain cover at the base which keeps your gear safe when it rains. While the bag can also house a drone, it’s important to ensure that you confirm your drone make first.

Cons

It has a plain design, and the straps could be better.

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3. ONA – The Camps Bay

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Introduction

The ONA – The Camps Bay backpack is a class and luxurious choice and is made for those looking for a little more style in their backpack.

Pros

The backpack is handcrafted and is designed from waxed canvas and leather. It has an impressive look that makes it suitable for outdoor activities especially if your photography is mainly done outdoors. It has a great capacity for holding your equipment without making it obvious that you have carried your gear.

The backpack’s main compartment easily holds a DSLR camera and an attached 70-200mm lens. It also has room for an additional six or seven lenses although you need to place them carefully especially if you plan to move around a lot. There is a laptop compartment that can comfortably fit a 17-inch laptop.

The backpack has a leather undercarriage in case you need to set it down when outside. The shoulder straps have a thick air mesh padding to protect your shoulders and has an adjustable height for your personal accessories.

Cons

It is quite expensive and being that it is made of canvas, the bag can get heavy really quick.

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4. LowePro Tahoe BP 150 Backpack

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Introduction

The LowerPro Tahoe backpack has a versatile layout and is a lot more affordable than some of the bags in our review making it a good investment for those on a tight budget.

Pros

The Tahoe backpack is designed for photographers who have an active photography life. The bag’s main compartment is well-padded and customizable and has a front pocket that is roomy offering lots of storage space for the gear you need including a tablet.

The bag is made from weather resistant material with quilted padding. This means that your gear will always be protected from weather elements. There is an UltraFlex panel on the bag’s main compartment that is foldable creating more room for your personal equipment. The wide zipper means that you can easily store and access your gear.

The external zippered pockets provide more room for smaller items while the stretch-mesh pockets allow you to carry other quick-grab items. You can opt to carry the bag as a backpack or alternatively use the grab handle when you need your shoulders to rest.

Cons

It does not have space for a laptop like other competitor backpacks.

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Final Thoughts

There are lots of cool backpacks that photographers can buy for carrying their gear. However, you cannot just choose any backpack as a camera backpack needs to protect your gear. That said, consider the design as well as the durability of the bag. Another important factor is whether the backpack has enough compartments for your gear.
Most importantly, consider the value you will get for your money.