This information will provide help to select the most effective exterior laborious drives for safely storing your images and movies.
As a photographer and filmmaker, I typically use my trusty 2TB Western Digital drive to retailer and backup my recordsdata.
Nevertheless, as my picture library grew with 1000’s of high-resolution RAW recordsdata and 4k video footage, I noticed I wanted extra space for storing.
To discover a answer, I made a decision to check and analysis the exterior laborious drives on this information.
OUR #1 CHOICE
Samsung T7 
Quick, strong, safe and compact – all the pieces you want in a SSD at an affordable worth.
Just a few years again, managing massive picture collections required cumbersome and costly storage options.
However immediately, because of developments in storage know-how, we now have compact, reasonably priced, and high-capacity exterior laborious drives.
In the event you’re able to spend money on a dependable exterior laborious drive on your rising media assortment, listed below are my high suggestions.
What’s the Greatest Exterior Exhausting Drive for Photographs in 2023?
SAMSUNG T7 2TB, Transportable SSD (Greatest Transportable)
Execs
- Slim, light-weight design
- No overheating
- Strong construct
- Quick learn and write speeds
Cons
- Some customers complain about reducing efficiency
This light-weight, palm-sized SSD drive is my best choice for transportable knowledge storage.
It’s mild, the scale of some bank cards stacked collectively, and matches in your pocket.
With a capability of two terabytes, it has ample space for storing for just about any picture or video shoot you can take it on.
The Samsung T7 has quick learn and write speeds (1050 MB/s and 1000 MB/s respectively) and, because it’s appropriate with USB-C, USB 3.0, and Kind A, you’ll don’t have any drawback transferring your recordsdata to any gadget.
It’s rugged and safe, too.
It has no shifting components, and because of its steel casing can face up to being dropped from over 6 toes with none lack of knowledge.
And, utilizing the in-built software program, you may add a layer of safety with an AES 256-bit encrypted password.
WD 2TB My Passport Transportable Exterior Exhausting Drive (Greatest Finances Transportable)
Execs
- Stable design
- Good worth
- Slim and transportable
Cons
- Learn and write speeds slower than rivals
At two-thirds of the value of the Samsung T7 2TB, this transportable laborious drive is an efficient choice for creatives on a price range.
Though its learn and write speeds are considerably much less – round half that of the Samsung – that shouldn’t be an issue for many photographers or filmmakers, so long as you don’t put the drive beneath an excessive amount of stress.
It’s fairly slim, about half an inch thick, so it may simply slot in your pocket, or a digital camera bag with out taking over an excessive amount of area.
And due to its metal casing, it’s robust.
This explicit mannequin is pre-formatted to work with Macs, so Mac customers will likely be pleased to know they’ll use it as-is out of the field. However the WD My Passport may be arrange for Home windows customers too with just some clicks.
Western Digital My Passport Wi-fi SDD Overview
LaCie Rugged 500GB SSD (Greatest Rugged Transportable)
Execs
- Rugged construct
- Water- and dustproof
- Knowledge restoration service
- Quick learn and write speeds
LaCie drives are the go-to selection for any photographer or videographer who must again up their work within the subject. Going travelling? Working in excessive circumstances? Then look no additional.
The drive itself has learn and write speeds which might be completely capable of switch massive recordsdata resembling 4K video. And transfers are a breeze on any gadget, because the LaCie works with Thunderbolt 3, USB-C, USB 3.0 and USB 2.0.
With the LaCie Rugged, it’s all concerning the safety supplied by its distinctive, brilliant orange casing which has turn into considerably iconic ever since its launch a number of years in the past.
That’s IP-67 rated, so proof against water and mud, can face up to drops of over 9 toes, and take 2 tons of crush resistance.
The safety, nonetheless, doesn’t finish with the casing. Your knowledge is protected too, with the chance to arrange an encrypted password, and 5 years of Rescue Knowledge Restoration within the occasion of an emergency.
WD 5TB My Passport (Greatest Excessive Capability Transportable)
Execs
- Respected firm
- Enormous quantity of storage
- Small and light-weight exterior drive
Cons
- Some reliability points have been reported
The WD 5TB My Passport offers you an enormous quantity of space for storing in a tool as slim and light-weight as the two terabyte WD above.
It has all the required cables to assist you to use it proper out of the field, and the flexibility to arrange password safety, so something you placed on it may be safe from the get-go.
Utilizing its embedded software program, you can too set this gadget as much as again up your recordsdata routinely. Simply set a schedule, and let it do its work.
WD 4TB My Guide Desktop Exterior Exhausting Drive (Greatest Desktop Exterior HardDrive)
Execs
- Stable construct
- Inexpensive
- Upgradable storage
- Knowledge backup software program
Cons
- Some customers complain about reliability
- Buyer assist isn’t nice
Notice that this isn’t a conveyable laborious drive – it’s meant for use as network-attached storage, or related on to your laptop computer or desktop pc.
That is my decide for the most effective exterior laborious drive, attributable to its capability and strong construct that may sit comfortably in your workplace area.
4 terabytes of storage ought to be sufficient for many individuals, though for those who want extra capability and have the price range the WD 6TB My Guide solely prices somewhat bit extra – see price here.
The laborious drive comes pre-formatted with exFAT, so can be utilized out of the field with both Home windows or Mac iOS, and has a micro-USB 3.0 port for lightning-fast file transfers.
You’ll be able to arrange an encrypted password for additional safety, and its in-built software program will provide help to again up your knowledge.
Utilizing WD Backup, or Time Machine for Mac customers, you may streamline your knowledge backup course of to suit your schedule.
Seagate 8TB 3.5″ Growth (Greatest Excessive Capability Desktop Exterior Exhausting Drive)
Execs
- Handsome, sturdy design
- One of many main corporations for reliability
- Nice storage capability
Cons
- Just one port
- Generally is a little noisy, even when idle
This no-nonsense piece of apparatus comes with a whopping 8 terabytes of storage.
That’s sufficient for years and years’ price of pictures or footage.
For my part, it’s some of the handsome desktop laborious drives on the market. Possibly that’s not crucial level, however I like having tools that appears like thought has gone into its exterior – it offers me extra confidence concerning the inside.
The Seagate 8TB 3.5″ Growth is appropriate with each Home windows and Apple gadgets, and in addition with USB 3.0 and a couple of.0 cables for straightforward file switch.
These recordsdata will transfer at 160 MB/s, not the quickest, however laborious drives all the time have decrease speeds than SSDs, and this pace could be greater than sufficient for a desktop drive that doesn’t must go anyplace.
How Ought to I Select Which Exterior Exhausting Drive to Purchase?
Selecting an exterior laborious drive for picture and video storage entails contemplating a number of key elements:
For me, the primary elements have all the time been pace and portability. I would like the quickest SSD cash can purchase, and it must be small.
The most effective exterior laborious drives on this information tick each these bins, so now it’s only a query of worth.
What’s the Distinction Between SSD and HDD?
Right here’s a comparability desk for instance the variations between solid-state drives (SSDs) and laborious disk drives (HDDs):
SSD (Stable State Drive) HDD (Exhausting Disk Drive) Know-how Makes use of flash reminiscence with no shifting components. Makes use of magnetic storage with shifting components (rotating disks). Switch Speeds Typically quicker with faster knowledge entry and switch charges. Slower in comparison with SSDs. Sturdiness Extra proof against bodily shock attributable to lack of shifting components. Much less sturdy attributable to delicate shifting components. Noise and Warmth Operates silently and generates much less warmth. Can generate noise and warmth attributable to mechanical components. Worth Dearer per GB. Cheaper per GB. Storage Capability Accessible in smaller capacities (often as much as 4TB for shopper drives). Accessible in bigger capacities (as much as 16TB for shopper drives). Energy Consumption Makes use of much less energy, which might prolong battery life in laptops. Makes use of extra energy, which might cut back battery life in laptops. Greatest For Efficiency-intensive purposes, together with gaming, high-speed knowledge transfers, and methods the place pace is essential. Storage-intensive duties the place value and capability are extra vital than pace.
The most effective exterior laborious drives are often SSDs since they’re a lot faster and extra sturdy since there are not any shifting components.
Nevertheless, for those who don’t want exterior laborious drives to be quick or transportable, you may go for an HDD and avoid wasting cash.
Which Is Higher for Storing Photographs? (SSD vs HDD)
The selection between an SSD (Stable State Drive) and an HDD (Exhausting Disk Drive) for exterior storage of images relies on your particular wants and priorities.
If pace is a precedence, resembling for those who ceaselessly entry and work with massive picture recordsdata or use picture enhancing software program that requires quick learn/write speeds, an SSD could be the higher selection.
SSDs are additionally extra sturdy and proof against bodily harm, which may be a bonus for those who’re travelling along with your storage gadget.
For instance, I take a LaCie Rugged SSD with me each time I journey for wedding ceremony images. I take advantage of it to create a fast backup of images taken midway by a marriage, often in the course of the reception.
In case your major concern is storage capability and price, an HDD could be the higher choice. HDDs usually provide extra space for storing for a lower cost, which may be useful when you’ve got a big quantity of images to retailer and don’t must entry them shortly.
I take advantage of a 2TB WD HDD to retailer nearly all of my RAW recordsdata and video footage. I’ve it related to my native community in a RAID configuration so I can entry it from anyplace, and it’s all backed up routinely.
To summarise, when evaluating SSD vs HDD, for long-term storage of huge portions of images the place pace is just not a major concern, an HDD could be a cost-effective selection. For energetic working storage the place pace and sturdiness are vital, an SSD could be extra appropriate.
FAQ
Is it greatest to retailer images on an exterior laborious drive?
Sure, it’s best to retailer your images on exterior drives.
You positively don’t wish to retailer them on reminiscence playing cards or your pc.
Storing images on exterior drives saves area, liberating up reminiscence for use for different issues, and it additionally retains them safer.
There’s much less likelihood of recordsdata getting misplaced or corrupted once they’re saved on a tool that’s particularly for that objective solely.
What measurement exterior laborious drive do I want for images?
The scale of the exterior drive you want relies upon totally on how lengthy you’ve been photographing and what number of images you will have.
Have a look at what number of gigabytes of images you will have proper now, then divide that by the period of time, it took to build up them.
Then think about your exterior drive goes to final for 3 to 5 years, so make sure that the capability you purchase will comfortably maintain the variety of pictures you anticipate to soak up that timeframe, with room to spare.
What’s probably the most dependable exterior laborious drive?
By way of exterior drive sort, SSD is probably the most dependable. They don’t are inclined to get overheated as they don’t have any shifting components. For a similar motive, there’s much less to interrupt.
By way of model, although, I’ve personally all the time discovered Seagate to be a really dependable selection. I’ve by no means had any points with them, but when I had, I do know their buyer assist is meant to be good.
Which laborious drive is greatest for long-term storage?
For long-term storage, it relies on the pace you want and the price range you will have.
In the event you want one thing to entry recurrently, you would possibly wish to get an SSD drive.
In the event you simply want someplace to retailer your recordsdata and don’t must entry them recurrently, an HDD drive is sufficient, they usually’re additionally less expensive.
What’s the most effective exterior laborious drive for Mac?
The most effective exterior laborious drive for Mac, from this information, would both be the SAMSUNG T7 2TB (for pace and portability) or the Seagate 8TB 3.5″ Growth for those who want a excessive capability.
How lengthy do exterior laborious drives final?
It relies on whether or not you’re utilizing an HDD or an SDD.
HDDs typically final for between three to 5 years, and SDDs’ lifespan relies on how a lot knowledge they’ve written.
Calculating that lifespan is past the scope of this text, however it’s comparatively simply completed, so long as you already know roughly how a lot knowledge you write to your drive per yr.
OUR #1 CHOICE
Samsung T7
Quick, strong, safe and compact – all the pieces you want in a SSD at an affordable worth.