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As workflows grow heavier and environments more demanding, dependable storage becomes the foundation everything else is built upon For photographers, that means near- instant ingestion of high-resolution Raw files. Large Lightroom or Capture One catalogues open smoothly and batch exports are no longer bottlenecked by drive speed. For filmmakers, the benefits are even more pronounced. High-bit-rate footage can be edited directly from the drive without stuttering timelines. Scrubbing through ProRes files feels responsive and colour grading sessions remain fluid. In practical terms, the fast speed of downloading files and the high level of sustained throughput reduces downtime. It eliminates the need to constantly shuttle footage between drives and it allows quick reviewing on location. Built for location life The Rugged line has been synonymous with field-ready storage for two decades. The distinctive rubber protective outer has become a familiar sight on shoots all over the world. Today’s Rugged SSD Pro5 evolves that legacy. Instead of relying solely on thick When thousands of Photography News readers cast their votes in this year’s awards, one thing became clear – in an era of soaring resolutions, ballooning file sizes and speed-is-everything delivery needs, storage matters more than ever. Standing above the competition in the best external storage device category is the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 – a drive that combines extreme speed and field-ready durability for genuine peace of mind. These awards are decided by working photographers and content creators, not a panel of experts. That distinction matters because, when it comes to storage, theoretical performance is irrelevant. What counts is reliability under pressure. Storage is mission-critical Modern imaging workflows are brutal. High-resolution mirrorless cameras routinely produce very large Raw files. Hybrid shooters are capturing 6K and 8K video in 10-bit or 12-bit codecs. These high-bit-rate formats can easily generate hundreds of gigabytes in a single day. In this landscape, storage is an active part of the creative process. A drive like the Rugged SSD Pro5 isn’t just an archive. It’s a working drive that’s fast enough to edit directly from, reliable enough to travel with and tough enough to survive real- world environments. At the heart of the Rugged SSD Pro5 is high-speed NVMe solid-state storage paired with Thunderbolt connectivity. That combination delivers transfer speeds that dramatically outperform traditional portable hard drives and even standard SATA SSDs.
rubber bumpers, modern designs use rigid aluminium enclosures that maintain shock resistance while improving thermal performance. Better heat dissipation ensures consistent SSD speeds under heavy workloads, reducing the risk of slowing down during extended transfers. The drive is built to withstand drops, dust and rain – essential for photographers working on beaches, mountains, festivals or motorsport circuits. It’s compact enough to fit in a pocket, yet robust enough to survive the kind of knocks that would destroy a lesser device. For travelling professionals, that resilience is critical. Kit gets thrown into overhead lockers, jostled in transit and is used outdoors in unpredictable weather. A fragile drive simply isn’t an option. Everyone knows the sinking feeling of wondering whether their files are safe after a long or important shoot. Weddings can’t be reshot, documentary moments do not repeat themselves and the once- in-a-lifetime trip cannot be repeated. LaCie addresses that concern with
• High-speed Thunderbolt NVME performance • Read and write speeds up to 6700 and 5300MB/s with 50GB cache • Capacity up to 4TB • IP68 rating and resistance to water, dust and drops up to 3m • Aluminium construction for improved thermal management • Built with at least 45% recycled materials, reducing the environmental impact • Data recovery services included as standard • Free two-month Adobe Creative Cloud Pro membership • A legacy of trust built over two decades What makes the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 a winner
LIGHTNING FAST The Thunderbolt 5 port is the key to such fast transfers with the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5
more than just build quality.
As part of the Seagate Technology group,
no longer just about capacity but sustained
the brand benefits from enterprise- level research, data-centre experience and large-scale manufacturing expertise. That heritage underpins the reliability of its hardware. More importantly, every LaCie drive will include professional data recovery services as standard. This is not simply software-based file recovery. It includes mechanical recovery in certified clean- room environments should the worst occur. That level of support is rare in the portable storage market, and it’s a significant factor in why working professionals continue to trust the brand. When your reputation depends on your data, redundancy and recovery aren’t luxuries. They are essential. Designed for modern workflows Today’s creators demand flexibility. Whether you’re backing up stills on a landscape shoot, storing multicam wedding footage or handling high-volume commercial production, there’s a Rugged model designed to fit that role. And the Rugged SSD Pro5 is particularly compelling. Its compact footprint pairs naturally with modern laptops and it’s powerful enough to replace bulkier desktop storage for many workflows. The evolution from spinning hard disks to NVMe SSD architecture mirrors the industry’s shift toward higher bit rates and faster turnaround times. Storage is
performance under real
working conditions. And as resolutions continue to climb, and Raw video becomes mainstream even among content creators, that performance ceiling becomes increasingly important. More than a drive Few pieces of kit in photography and filmmaking achieve true icon status. The Rugged drive is one of them as it represents something fundamental: security. Security that your files will transfer quickly and your drive will survive location work. And security that means, if disaster strikes, there’s a recovery pathway available. As workflows grow heavier and
environments more demanding, dependable storage becomes the
foundation everything else is built upon. That’s why the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro5 claims the best external storage device award – because it delivers where it matters most.
lacie.com
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