Sony Photo Vault reviewed

There are a lot of devices that can store digital pics on the go, most of which are hard-drive units like the Epson P2000 or iPod photo. Sony, ever the iconoclast, takes a different approach with its Photo Vault, a portable Mini CD-R recorder, which lets you dump your pics to the same 3-inch CDs that Sony uses in some of its cameras. PC Magazine took a look at the Photo Vault, and saw some real value, including the small size (4.4 x 3.5 x 0.9 inches), unlimited storage via cheap media, and low price (under $200 street). However reviewer Bill Machrone dinged the Vault for its limited flash support (like most Sony gear, this one's Memory Stick-only, though it supports most other formats via USB) and limited space on Mini CDs (with just 200MB per disc, you'll need multiple discs to back up those big flash cards). There's also no built-in image display, though you can view stored images on a TV.

[Jay Contonio @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

There really isn't anything more simple than an ipod photo and the apple camera connector. Plug in your camera and bam...then you get home and it goes into iPhoto...there's nothing easier. 200 dollars?
I'd rather have the ipod for 100 more because at least then I can listen to music while I'm out snatching photos.

[Frangible @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Even if my camera used memory sticks, I'd need 5 CDs to back up my memory card? For $200 I'd rather just buy some more flash memory. No thanks.

[Dignan17 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I continue to be amazed by products like this. I mean, Sony must have put gobs of money into making this thing, when the market is automatically super-limited. Basically, the ONLY person this thing is for is for someone who is travelling (away from their own computer OR a laptop...or any computer) AND will be giving images to people who do not have computers handy.

If you're travelling and are just storing photos for yourself, most photographers would use multiple large-capacity cards (you know, like CF cards, which are all bigger than memory sticks), and the rest would use a portable drive or an Archos with a card reader or something. Why would you carry around this device AND dozens of tiny CDs?

Likewise, if you're storing your photos at home and not on your PC, a simple, single-layer DVD can replace over 20 of these CDs.

The ONLY situation I can think of is if you're a professional photographer hired to do a convention or something, you could take a few pictures of some big-wigs, and give them a little CD on the spot. Maybe I'm a little short-sighted, but that's the only other use I can think of.

So other than that, great product!

[GLN @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Well that's about the biggest heap of s@#* I've seen in quite a good while. $200 who are they kidding if they want you to simply transfer between media and keep a stock of discs on hand, and you can't even fill a 256meg card. AND, you can't even view the pictures on it!!!!
What genius gave this the green-light?

How diplomatic of Engadget to refer to it as a "different approach". rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[KevinFreitas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I bought a RoadStor a year-and-a-half ago before USB host capabilities were cool. ;) It did real well on a couple trips wherein I snapped well over 1,500 each. The older version takes CD-Rs but they have a new one out (http://www.micro-solutions.com/products/index.asp#RSP) that burns DVD+-RWs. Don't know the price on that one but, like I said, it rocks for the cost.

~ Kevin

[semi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

maybe the japs like having single electronics for everything,
one to take pics, one to record, one to back up, one to watch with,