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Saving & backing up RAW images


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10 replies to this topic

#1
zener

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This may be a dumb question, but regarding raw image files, I know that they have to be converted to be opened up and viewed, but what about when just transferring them to a portable storage device such as a hard drive or disc for backup?  Do the raw images transfer to devices and back to the computer with no issues?  I'm thinking that they would.



#2
Merco_61

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No problems at all, but if your raw converter saves your edits in sidecar files, you will have to take that under consideration so they get copied as well.



#3
Nikon Shooter

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… but what about when just transferring them to a portable storage device such as a hard drive or disc for backup?


If you had the good idea to work in session, your RAW files are
in a folder — which contains all that comes along with them and
reflect the work already done — then all you have to do is copy
blindly the folders to their new designated location et voila! :P



#4
Snorky

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No problems at all, but if your raw converter saves your edits in sidecar files, you will have to take that under consideration so they get copied as well.

 

Did someone say "sidecar?"

 

motorcycle-sidecar.jpg


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#5
Nikon Shooter

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Did someone say "sidecar?"

 


Very cool shot… yours?



#6
Snorky

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Found it online. :)



#7
zener

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Thanks folks, and yes Merc, I did think about the sidecar files, as they are huge.   They're around 34MB, compared to around 14MB for my Large 6000x4000 shots, and .7MB for the 1280x856 that I edit and use for general purposes. 

 

I think that for most of my general shots I'm leaning toward not saving most of the large sidecar files & raw images, except for some that I think I may want to work with later.  



#8
zener

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Oops, I posted before I saw that pic.  Nice machine.   ;)



#9
TBonz

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Disk space is cheap...a 2TB disk can hold thousands of images and their associated information...You never know when you may come to want to mess with an image again...I was quite honestly thinking about that today as I have an image I want to modify from the original edit and I need to go back to the raw file and associated data to change this image which was taken in June 2015...I know where to find it and I know it is on multiple devices so if one fails I am still ok...that is the JPEG and the RAW...



#10
zener

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Disk space is cheap...a 2TB disk can hold thousands of images and their associated information...You never know when you may come to want to mess with an image again...I was quite honestly thinking about that today as I have an image I want to modify from the original edit and I need to go back to the raw file and associated data to change this image which was taken in June 2015...I know where to find it and I know it is on multiple devices so if one fails I am still ok...that is the JPEG and the RAW...

 

Yes, I agree, and I've pulled out some old pics to re-adjust too.  I have years worth of pics already on the 4TB Western Digital drive I just got, and it barely makes a dent in it. 

 

Even if I don't save the large sidecar files, I think I'll save the raw images when I start shooting more in that format.  I'm currently backing up my working copies (1280x856) edited & unedited, and the large originals (6000x4000) onto the external drive and onto disc.  Up to this point I shoot mostly in full size JPEG and make the smaller sized copy onboard the camera before I transfer to computer.



#11
TBonz

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Hard drives (internal to the computer or external) will fail....I would highly recommend to all to have at least two places you are backing up.your images.  Preferably they should be located well away from each other so that a fire or similar doesn't destroy both copies...I just use multiple external drives but I separate them by over 100 miles.