Sturdy, Not Stylish

The advent of external SSD-based storage has manufacturers cramming a ton of gigabytes into tiny packages. To wit, the 512GB Adata SD700 measures just 0.5 by 3.3 by 3.3 inches (HWD) and weighs less than 3 ounces, and it’s far from the lightest or tiniest drive we’ve reviewed. This miniaturization trend does not apply to wireless external drives, however, even ones that use SSDs like the My Passport. In part because of its ruggedization and in part because it has to fit a Wi-Fi antenna and the associated hardware, this square drive measures 0.95 by 4.97 by 4.97 inches and weighs 15.6 ounces.

By itself, the drive feels sturdy, like it’s able to withstand a few drops or spills, and indeed Western Digital claims that it can withstand shocks, vibrations, and drops of up to 1 meter (3.28 feet). That’s assuming you’re using the included rubber bumper, which adds a few millimeters of girth in each direction. This type of protection should be more than adequate for the types of everyday abuse that the drive will likely suffer, from passing in and out of a bag several times per day to occasionally being dropped from a desk or coffee table…read more

But not to be outdone, Western Digital unveiled a storage drive truly meant for the outdoors.  The WD My Passport Wireless SSD is a transportable rugged device that specifically was designed for the use of drones.  With more features meant to backup your footage and secure any data from your drone, or camera, the My Passport Wireless SSD is an excellent source for saving media anytime anywhere.  And, when powered enough it can be used to charge other devices allowing this SSD to be the most handy in the field for all situations.  Going over the specs for both of these impressive SSD’s, for any production needing a drone and being on location, Western Digital has got you covered.

SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

The SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD is intended to be used for saving and editing hi-res videos and photos on the go. It’s listed to have read speeds up to 550MB/s and has capacities available up to 2TB. It also has a IP55 rating, meaning is should be able to withstand all the rain, splashes and dust you may come across during your shoots.

WD My Passport Wireless SSD

The big pitch with the My Passport Wireless is that it’s not just a storage drive for cameras, but also for drones. With that in mind, it has to be portable, since you’re aerial videography almost always takes place on location. Luckily, WD says that the My Passport Wireless is ready for on-the-go use, featuring a one touch copy button that lets you backup your files with either its SD card reader (which can read up to 65MB/s) or integrated USB port without needing a laptop or software.

There’s also the option to connect the My Passport Wireless to the FiLMiC Pro mobile camera to capture footage while saving it directly to the My Passport Wireless SSD. You can also import your connect from the My Passport Wireless SSD to LumaFusion, which is a video and effects editor for Iphones and iPads….[continue reading]