Source:  Imaging Resource

Sanho Corporation recently released a 500GB photo backup with a fast 2GB/s write speed.  The Sanho HyperDrive COLORSPACE UDMA, among other things, features fast backup speeds due to its use of UDMA, a picture viewer, RAW file reader, and can read any of 14 different types of memory cards.

If you have a camera with upwards of 8MP, the file size of the pictures becomes a concern.  Common sense would dictate the use of multiple memory cards.  Or a laptop for easy storage and ready access.  The HyperDrive can serve as a primary picture storage backup, an interim storage till you get to access a computer or as a secondary picture storage.  The 500GB hard disk is not a laughing matter, considering it is coupled with UDMA speeds of 40MB/s for retrieval and storage of pictures.

It has also made sure that the photographer would have no reason not to use it with the memory card reader.  It can read practically all types of flash memory cards available on the market today.

The viewing software can also read all current RAW files from different camera manufacturers for viewing on the 3.2-inch screen.  As an added bonus, the camera orients the picture to portrait (tall) or landscape (wide) depending on how it’s held.

I’m still stuck at its 500GB hard disk.  This is the largest hard disk capacity on any photo storage device.  Other HyperDrive models have mp3 players, this one does away with that.  The files it is designed to store are more than 10-times larger compared to regular mp3 song files.

With a much improved lithium ion battery pack the unit is capable of storing 250GB between recharging.

It allows incremental backup from the memory card, copying only those files which have not yet been saved to the HyperDrive.  It also has a CRC checking which verifies on file copy.  The hard-disk is S.M.A.R.T enabled, which detects possible errors on the disk prior to disk failure, and informs the user to backup immediately.  Built-in data recovery tools allow the recovery of pictures due to formatting or deletion, as well as recovery for lost or corrupted files from the memory card.

The inclusion of data recovery tools for memory cards is significant and would help a lot of photographers.  It’s not everyday that you don’t have to worry about not having the right tool for undeleting or unformatting a memory card.  In some ways the security features alone are well worth the price of the unit.

Suggested retail price starts at $339 for the 80GB model up to $599 for 500GB.