Best method for long-term archival of important photos?

[red_ryder]

How do you guys archive your photos? I have family photos that I would want to keep forever, and I'm afraid to lose them. I have burnt them onto several dvds, but I heard that dvd media also doesn't last long, and some media even fails to be read after 1 yr. Furthermore, now that I use the D80, with RAW files being so huge I need to burn a lot of DVD media.

The other option would be to store on a hard-disk, but hard-disks can also fail. So does that mean that I have to buy a new hd every 3 yrs and backup all the photos onto the new one?

I guess one other option is to use online storage websites. I personally have not tried any of them as I find uploading photos very slow. I can't imagine how slow a 10MP RAW would be.

 

[tchoonyong]

How do you guys archive your photos? I have family photos that I would want to keep forever, and I'm afraid to lose them. I have burnt them onto several dvds, but I heard that dvd media also doesn't last long, and some media even fails to be read after 1 yr. Furthermore, now that I use the D80, with RAW files being so huge I need to burn a lot of DVD media.

The other option would be to store on a hard-disk, but hard-disks can also fail. So does that mean that I have to buy a new hd every 3 yrs and backup all the photos onto the new one?

I guess one other option is to use online storage websites. I personally have not tried any of them as I find uploading photos very slow. I can't imagine how slow a 10MP RAW would be.

Just print out those memories pics using your photo printer and archives the rest into another hdd it can be either an external or internal or you can get those sony hdd photostorage which comes with 60gb of space.

 

[jasperng]

my cdr that was burn almost 10yrs ago is still able to be read.
if dvd is stored properly, in your dry cab in cool temperature... it shd last forever.
i backup my raw / edited jpgs in a harddisk (for viewing), and 2 dvdr (backup and in case 1 dvdr is damaged)
no matter what, dvd last much longer than harddisk. the likelyhood of harddisk crash is much higher than a dvd damaged / crack?

i don't think it is cost effective to keep in a tape drive although it is another alternative for backups.

 

[ipin]

my cdr that was burn almost 10yrs ago is still able to be read.
if dvd is stored properly, in your dry cab in cool temperature... it shd last forever.
i backup my raw / edited jpgs in a harddisk (for viewing), and 2 dvdr (backup and in case 1 dvdr is damaged)
no matter what, dvd last much longer than harddisk. the likelyhood of harddisk crash is much higher than a dvd damaged / crack?

i don't think it is cost effective to keep in a tape drive although it is another alternative for backups.

Agreed. I make 2 back ups onto 2 different, but repuitable brands of DVD+Rs.
I have DVDs that are years old, and still readable.

Besides, I find DVDs are most cost effective for archiving.

 

[arpinkor]

If you are worried, keep a copy each on hard disk, flash memory and burn DVDs. Put some copies in other place besides your home (eg. workplace) in case of fire.
For me, I keep on 2 hard disks (one is offline, one online) and also burn DVDs. In addition to that, the really important ones, I also keep on spare CF cards, just in case.

Edit: oh yeah, you might also want to re-burn your DVDs once in a while (maybe once in a couple of years).

 

[hongjone]

oh yeah, you might also want to re-burn your DVDs once in a while (maybe once in a couple of years).

Exactly what I'm doing too... Must try to access it once in a while :bsmilie:

I stored mine in 2 HDD, 2 exact copies. Then burn DVD every now and then. More important ones are in the dry cabi, not that important ones are just lying underneath my table. :bsmilie: Some photos with my parents one, I also burn a copy for them to view, so I have a copy with them too. :bigeyes: