The Jobo GigaVuPro is a stocky downloader and feels like it can take a few more knocks than its competitors. The fragile bits are protected by a snugly fitting rubber case and it feels like a comfortable unit to hold in the hand. The controls are operated using a combination of a joystick and traditional buttons, which on first glance appear confusing. After a while however you soon get the hang of it and realise that the layout of the buttons and functions are very intuitive. I’ve been using it on several trips since March and I have found it to be a most reliable piece of kit. The functions that I particularly like are:
- Download options – the unit has several different download options which allow you to specify whether to download only supported camera files or just back up the entire contents of the card regardless. The best option however is the one that allows you to specify what the unit does when download is complete – I always choose BEEP then switch off. How many times over the past few years have I fought with a downloader to find out if a download if successful, well the Jobo unit makes this pretty obvious.
- Image editing – usually I don’t approve of editing images whilst on the downloader as the screen quality is usually poor and the drain on batteries great. Well the Jobo screen is excellent and I routinely use the unit to edit my images if I am mains connected. I particularly like the zoom options and the GOTO function which allows me to get the end of the downloaded files very quickly.
- Reliability – the bottom line, I have not had one failure or one missed picture whilst I have been using this unit. It downloads quickly and efficiently and I trust it completely. The tough construction also means it can take the knocks in the field that others most certainly cannot.
- Touch screen – some of the functions are operated via a touch screen which, although at first seems like a gimmick, actually tends to be a great time saving feature. You’ll need to download the latest firmware however to take advantage of this.
- External power supply – thank you god!! At last I can take the unit away from power for several days without worrying thanks to the rechargeable external power supply. This handy little accessory has saved my bacon a few times and provides a lot of power for such a small battery.
- Miscellaneous – it has a choice of USB 1.1 or 2.0 ports, WiFi connectivity, supports Movies and Music in addition to camera files and has great battery life.
In truth there are not really any features that I don’t like,
except perhaps the omission of a quick verify option.
The supplied verify takes as long as a download and chews valuable battery
power so is a big no no. It is not a major stress however as the BEEP
function above, coupled with the status report displayed after the download,
allows you to easily tell if it has been successful.
Conclusion
In conclusion all I can say is that the Jobo GigaVuPro has done
all that I have asked of it in the field. It is reliable, quick and provides more
than enough features for all levels of technophobe. I’m just a photographer
though and for me it does exactly what I need.
Andy Rouse Review. Warehouse Express. July 2005 |
