iPad for viewing photos

[tim-b]

I don't have an iPad, and didn't have any need/want of one until the idea of using it to view pictures directly from my camera popped into my head. I'm not looking for picture editing, or storage (although a back-up is always a bonus), I would just like to be able to check pictures every now and then when out 'in the field', rather than having to wait until I get home to see them on a big screen. The screen-size&quality to overall size&weight would be perfect....I have enough gear to drag around without adding a full-size laptop.

I found this camera connection kit, which seems to do more or less what I want, but has very mixed reviews, I wonder if anyone has experience of using it? Bear in mind I don't have an iPad and don't think i'd find it useful for anything else, so it wouldn't just be £25 down the pan if it didn't work out.

Or can anyone recommend an alternative as I'm not really in the loop when it comes to gadgets....how do other tablets or Netbooks stack up in terms of usability/weight/size? I know they're a lot cheaper, and TBH I have no particular desire to give my cash to the evil empire unless their product is absolutely unbeatable.

I shoot RAW on a 5D (CF cards) although might move to a 5DmkII so big files are a factor to consider!

Thanks for any feedback

[Simpo Two]

A laptop would be far more useful I think.

[TheHeretic]

Seems a bit daft just for viewing photo's.

[Funk]

Not really a viable solution I'm afraid. The iPad's lack of connectivity options out and about would mean it'd be nigh-on impossible to do. A laptop would be better.

[TheHeretic]

Funk said:

Not really a viable solution I'm afraid. The iPad's lack of connectivity options out and about would mean it'd be nigh-on impossible to do. A laptop would be better.

You can upload photos direct from the camera in RAW, but it just seems like an OTT solution to a problem that has far cheaper solutions, especially if that if it is all it is used for.

[tog]

Some people like them for this, but I'd be more tempted by a 11" MacBook Air.

[tim-b]

Simpo Two said:

A laptop would be far more useful I think.

Thanks but not what I'm looking for. Small & light is what I need...

Funk said:

Not really a viable solution I'm afraid. The iPad's lack of connectivity options out and about would mean it'd be nigh-on impossible to do. A laptop would be better.

Are any of the other tablets better suited to the job? or should I shift focus to Netbooks?

TheHeretic said:

You can upload photos direct from the camera in RAW, but it just seems like an OTT solution to a problem that has far cheaper solutions, especially if that if it is all it is used for.

Hmm, I thought that might be the case...any suggestions for alternative solutions?

[TheHeretic]

tog said:

Some people like them for this, but I'd be more tempted by a 11" MacBook Air.

Not sure about that. The screen comparison seems odd, considering they both use, as far as I know, the same screen.

[SunnyD]

I have the SD card/camera connecting kit that you just linked to, and I have to say, I love it. It's so quick and easy to view photos.

You just pop the card in, within a second you’ve got thumbnails of all your images and you just select the ones you want to download to view. Unfortunately I think you need to download them to the iPad to view them full screen, I haven’t found out how to view them full screen while they’re still on the card. Although downloading them to iPad doesn’t mean they’re taken off the card either, it just means that you’ll need a fair bit of space on the iPad if you’re planning on downloading a lot of images. I wasn’t aware that iPad could view RAW files but I don’t shoot in RAW so I don’t know. It also plays videos if they’re the right format.

If you're looking for a really simple way to view larger versions of your images while you're out an about then I'd say the iPad is very suited to this - it's probably not your cheapest option but it's going to be much quicker than firing up a netbook, and why waste space with a keyboard?

[fadeaway]

Can't see why the iPad idea wouldn't work. Expensive option for the benefit though.

Have you thought about Live View though? Getting a laptop would give you the option of using this type of feature to take photos, as well as when reviewing them. Might not be useful for the type of photograph you do, but worth thinking about before you buy anything.

[tim-b]

fadeaway said:

Can't see why the iPad idea wouldn't work. Expensive option for the benefit though.

Have you thought about Live View though? Getting a laptop would give you the option of using this type of feature to take photos, as well as when reviewing them. Might not be useful for the type of photograph you do, but worth thinking about before you buy anything.

Thanks for the input guys , seems the iPad would not be the best solution, at least until (if) there are some more usable apps available. As for live view it doesn't really suit what I do, need to travel light and constantly moving around.

I had one more idea though - digital photo frame(!) - or am I just being silly now?

Seems lots of them can read RAW, some are battery powered, some are very light&compact, some have CF slots... just looking for one that has all of those attributes. I guess the upload speed and storage space will make or break them, but for my (seemingly unusual) needs it could be a very cost effective option - worth some more research I reckon!

[SunnyD]

Would you ever want to zoom? Look at a part of the photo in detail?

[selwonk]

If your iPad was configure for iCloud, would that mean that photos uploaded to the iPad from a camera would be automatically synced to your other devices?

[TheHeretic]

selwonk said:

If your iPad was configure for iCloud, would that mean that photos uploaded to the iPad from a camera would be automatically synced to your other devices?

if 3G i suppose it would.

[selwonk]

Interesting. That makes it a slightly more interesting proposition. It wouldn't replace my normal work flow for downloading/categorizing/backing up images, but it would be great to be able to quickly share them with the missus.

[Frik]

It does upload the photos to iCloud, yes.

Surprised there's so much negativity towards this to be honest (apart from the standard anti-ipad stuff). The camera adapter and iPad combination are a great way to view photos.

You take photos, you upload them to the iPad, then you can clear them off the card if you wish. Viewing photos on a tablet is as close to viewing prints as is possible for an electronic device. This is the kind of job it does much, much better than a laptop.

Edited by Frik on Thursday 15th December 14:39

[markmullen]

I've heard of it being used quite successfully with wifi cards, there are more details here.

http://fstoppers.com/ipad

[TheHeretic]

Why wouldn't it upload to iCloud? All the new pics that go on my iPad go to photo stream.

[Frik]

I've just retested it and it does indeed upload the photos to the photostream. That makes it even better. I'll edit my post now.

[TheHeretic]

Frik said:

I've just retested it and it does indeed upload the photos to the photostream. That makes it even better. I'll edit my post now.

I'm not anti-ipd, (far from it), I just think it is a quite large purchase just to view pics.