Images and videos take up a lot of space on laptops and still have limited space. As a photographer, you need a reliable external hard drive that can store your photos and keep them safe. Here are the 6 best external hard drives photographers can buy.
The hard drives mentioned in this list have several different storage configurations that you can choose according to your needs. These hard drives are easy to use and work with most operating systems.
Anyway, without further ado, let’s get to the list, shall we? But first,
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1. Seagate Portable External Hard Drive
Seagate Portable External Hard Drive
If you’re looking for an affordable and reliable hard drive to save your photos and videos, look into the Seagate portable hard drive. A plug and play hard drive means you don’t need to install any software or drivers for it to work. It can achieve sequential read and write speeds of up to 120MBps. At only 2.5 inches, the hard drive is compact and easy to carry.
It comes with Seagate’s Rescue Data Recovery Services software for better data protection and recovery. In addition, you have access to free 1-year subscriptions to Mylio Create and four-month Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions. This is very useful for creating backups and streamlining your workflow.
Photographers love this drive because it comes free with an affordable and industry-leading data recovery service.
2. Transcend StoreJet 25M3
Transcend StoreJet 25M3
The Transcend StoreJet 25M3 is another good option, thanks to its sturdy body. It has an anti-shock rubber housing to deal with a few drops and shocks. You’ll also love the OneTouch automatic backup button that starts backing up your data instantly.
Other features of this drive include 256-Bit AES encryption, a USB 3.0 interface, and a three-year warranty in case something goes wrong. You also get a free protective case to transport the drive and protect it from normal wear and tear.
Buyers love this hard drive for its built-in protection and OneTouch automatic backup system.
3. G-Tech ArmorATD
G-Technology ArmorATD
If you work outside all the time, you may want to invest in a solid hard drive. We recommend the G-Technology ArmorATD hard drive, which features a triple-layer shockproof design with a 1000lb crush rating. It also has sealed enclosures for the ports and provides protection against dust and water thanks to its IP54 rating.
The hard drive comes with drop protection of up to one meter and can reach transfer speeds of up to 140 MBps. It is also a USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 compatible hard drive and works with both Windows and macOS operating systems.
If you go to extremes to capture the perfect shot, make sure you have a hard drive that can keep up.
4. LaCie Rugged External Hard Drive
LaCie Rugged External Hard Drive
The LaCie Rugged hard drive is another good option for photographers who want a hard drive that can withstand some drops and bumps. It’s a compact drive with a capacity of up to 5TB and a transfer rate of up to 130MBps.
Its outer coating makes it resistant to drops, splashes and sand, making it the perfect companion when photographing at the beach. The hard drive comes with a two-year data recovery plan where the company will recover your data for free if anything happens.
You also get features like one-click backup and a free one-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud apps.
5. SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE Enterprise
SanDisk Professional G-DRIVE Enterprise
SanDisk makes an Enterprise edition of its fast hard drives that are perfect for photographers who need more storage on the go. You can get this drive with up to 18TB of storage. Plus, it has a 7200RPM Ultrastar drive inside, giving you read and write speeds of up to 200MBps.
The drive works well with macOS and is Apple Time machine ready to let you backup your Mac with ease. Using the drive with Windows will require formatting the drive, which some users may find annoying. Also, this drive requires an external power source to operate.
However, if you’re looking for a super-fast, high-capacity drive that can safely store all your photos, this might be for you.
6. Glyph BlackBox Pro
Glyph BlackBox Pro
The Glyph BlackBox Pro is a super fast 7200RPM hard drive that can reach read and write speeds of up to 250 MBps. It supports the latest USB-C 3.1 port and is backward compatible with legacy USB standards. Like SanDisk Professional, you can get this drive with up to 18TB of storage.
It’s a durable hard drive designed for creative professionals and features a quiet, fanless design that lets you work without distractions. The drive comes preformatted with the HFS+ standard and is Time Machine compatible. You will need to reformat the drive for it to work with Windows machines.
When traveling with this device, keep in mind that it requires an external power source as your laptop alone cannot provide enough energy to power it.
Best External Hard Drives for Photographers
These are some of the best hard drives you can buy as a photographer. Depending on your budget and needs, you can choose the driver that best suits your needs. So, check them out and let us know which hard drive you have chosen as your trusted storage friend.
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