cheap trick!
 

You're right Mike...16GB memory stick...$74.95...Just get 2-16's and 2 8's to go with the 2 16 Sonys and 2 8 Sonys. That's a terrific idea!

Back up first to the drive then to the USB...this way it's in two places.
I need to do that. Thanks for the suggestion.
Best, Craig

Craig,

I have been doing exactly this for 2 months. It works a treat. You can just put your USB sticks in your pocket - so if something happens to the laptop (theft) you still have a backup copy.

If your back-upping to a good USB-stick I think you are pretty much safe. If you use the SxS cards only you also have risk of it failing but it is very small. So I guess SxS to USB-stick through laptop is a pretty solid workflow. Like someone mentioned before... if you want to avoid all risks you need at least two camera's, two laptops and basically two operators as something can happen to you as well. But USB-sticks are very affordable.

It would be nice when you camera could record straight to a USB-stick. Those things are cheap, reliable (have 5 and not a single issue) and universal.

In my opinion best(and cheap) option to USB sticks would be 2,5'' external hard drives. Much cheaper Gb/$ ratio compared to USB sticks... What do you think?

Eldar,

I do that too. Back up to USB sticks, and also to 2.5inch HDD. The USB sticks live in my pocket and are safe. THe HDD lives with the laptop and is the data backup for the laptop. At a later stage just burn the USB stick to DVD for archiving.

Eldar, why do you want to drag a 2,5" HD with you? Harddisks are mechanical and have a higher fail ration. They also require external power.

I would say:

- Record to SxS
- Copy to notebook harddisk
- Copy to USB-stick
- Erase SxS and continue recording

And I wouldn't feel very bad about skipping the copy to notebook. You just need to check if everything copied properly. Does the transfer tool have a tool to verify the data you copied with the data on the SxS card?

I'm also using the 2.5" HDDs isntead of USB sticks.It power itself from the USB port actually so no external power needed, has more capacity, costs less for GB. I back up to my laptop HDD and to the external HDD. Then at home to DVD.

8 GB and 16GB USB sticks - - what a fantastic idea!!!
Would anyone recommend a good manufacturer... these things really need to be trustworthy...
Cheers,
Malcolm

Corsair Flash Voyager GT 8GB USB2.0 High-Speed Flash Drive is the best option, IMHO!

I would say Corsair or Sandisk. I have a Crusair Voyager and it is very decent and is completely covered in rubber which I think is very durable.