Apple Releases Lightning to SD Camera Reader With USB 3.0 Speeds on iPad Pro

[MikhailT]

If you need USB 3 speeds, I almost never plug my phone in other than to charge. Maybe it would be nice for backups...but I just use iCloud. For the iPad Pro it would be nice to transfer files onto it, but you still have to go through iTunes so I tend to avoid that.



Are you using the same iOS 9 as I am? Because Apple's system of "Open In..." generates endless copies of files, with no way to properly manage them.

Take this incredibly rudimentary scenario. I use two apps to edit a file (Because one is good at one thing, and another is good at another.) We'll say we are modifying a PDF file.

- Use dropbox to "Open In..." app A
- Edit inside of app A, "Open In..." app B
- Edit inside of app B, "Open In..." Dropbox

How many copies of the file are there now? The answer is 3. Dropbox has the latest copy, App B has the latest copy as well (identical to the dropbox version, unless you edit it on another machine) and app A has an outdated copy missing changes from app B edits.

In what universe is this simpler than having App A and App B able to access the single copy of a file on dropbox?

And lets not get into the most obvious downfall of the iOS "file system", lack of external storage options.

I own an iPad Pro and I love using it, but it is years away from being able to replace a laptop for me, even for my hobby of photo/video editing. Primarily because of how difficult it is to move data to/from/within the OS.

The problem is that Apple already have a solution for it but it's opt-in for apps. As I mentioned a few times, it's called Document Picker and lets you use the same file in various apps.

Also, _Open in_ is supposed to copy the file to the app's sandboxed container, so the app can work with it since it cannot leave its own container. That's intentional and if the app was updated to let you use Document Picker, it would've solve your problem since iOS would become the manager for the files.

 

[0970373]

Can you edit RAW files on the iPad now?

Have been able to for quite a while now.

 

[ericgtr12]

Have been able to for quite a while now.

A little off topic but I would like to know what you're experience is with it, especially performance and iPad version.

 

[0970373]

A little off topic but I would like to know what you're experience is with it, especially performance and iPad version.

I mainly use Lightroom, Photogene 4 or Snapped for edits. You can edit with the native Photos app as well which I do if I need to something quickly. All work fine and as expected. It isn't especially sluggish if that's what you're asking.

 

[paul00]

I have the Lighting to USB camera adapter and ran some tests on iPhone 6+ and iPad running 9.2 :

iPhone works with MIDI !!!

I can plug the keys to iPhone adapter and they work in music apps just like on iPad! i can also import photos from iPad onto the iPhone.

 

[576316]

Can you edit RAW files on the iPad now?

Photos will transfer and store RAW files in their pure form, but I believe iOS won't edit a RAW file. As far as I know, iOS extracts the JPEG preview within the RAW file and that's what you see/edit if you use apps to edit your images. I don't think RAW files are directly editable on iOS, taking full advantage of the data they provide.

While not exactly what you are looking for, ShutterSnitch is the best app for Photographers. If there was a version for Android, I'd put down a lot of $ for it to use on my S2 tablet regardless of access of their file system.

On my iPad, I import images via WiFi from my Transcend cards. Takes a while with RAW images but it works. From there I can export to camera roll as needed or to Dropbox, FTP, etc etc. Lots of options - too many to list here. But usually I'll just mark my stars and when I get home, I move everything to my Mac with the ShutterSnitch import tool or FTP. It syncs your star ratings with LR also, which is nice.

With the new USB cable and the return of mass selection, it makes it easier/faster(?). iOS only allows you to import direct to camera roll so I could import to the camera roll and then import to ShutterSnitch. Delete from Camera Roll (hooray for mass select with finger drag!) and do what I need to do from there in SS.

Again, not the file system you're looking for but it is a good work around considering. It's still better than anything I've found for Android, TBH. I have ES File Explorer Pro and ShutterSnitch is much better for photos. And for the record, I quite like that tablet - I wish it could view & edit RAW files natively though like on iOS.

Thanks, I'll look into this. Sounds like it could be a good work around. Another issue I'm having is the fact I seem to keep buying 16GB iOS devices. Meaning I usually don't have the storage to store a whole shoot's worth of RAW files, before I can transfer them to my Mac/storage devices.

 

[nilk]

Just this morning I was searching for a lightning to CF reader. Close but no cigar for me

Maybe Apple's "Lightning to USB Camera Adapter" would work with a USB CF reader?

 

[0970373]

Photos will transfer and store RAW files in their pure form, but I believe iOS won't edit a RAW file. As far as I know, iOS extracts the JPEG preview within the RAW file and that's what you see/edit if you use apps to edit your images. I don't think RAW files are directly editable on iOS, taking full advantage of the data they provide.

This is correct for the Photos app I believe, or at least it was in iPhotos. You can, however, use Lightroom or Photogene for true RAW edits. There are other apps as well but that's what I use. iOS can store and decode the RAW files and those files can be imported in true RAW form into apps that support it.

Thanks, I'll look into this. Sounds like it could be a good work around. Another issue I'm having is the fact I seem to keep buying 16GB iOS devices. Meaning I usually don't have the storage to store a whole shoot's worth of RAW files, before I can transfer them to my Mac/storage devices.

You could get a WiFi enabled drive like the SanDisk or a WiFi travel router/hub and export from ShutterSnitch to other drives. I've done this and takes little while to get used to the flow and system of whatever device you're using but works.Or if you have fast enough WiFi when you're on the road, I just upload the files via FTP to my home server or Dropbox.

Though, I guess if you don't have enough room to import them to the iPad first, it doesn't help.

If you have any questions about the app feel free to PM me. I have no connection to the Dev but I love this app and could not imagine my Photography work flow without it. So I just want people to support the app & the Dev so he continues to work on it The ShutterSnitch forums are a good support network as well. It's helped me figure out some things I was having trouble with.

 

[Mike Oxard]

I mainly use Lightroom, Photogene 4 or Snapped for edits. You can edit with the native Photos app as well which I do if I need to something quickly. All work fine and as expected. It isn't especially sluggish if that's what you're asking.

That'll teach me to be an Aperture user!!

 

[0970373]

That'll teach me to be an Aperture user!!

I was too...but it's time to let go. It is gone, our beloved Aperture, but it will be always be loved & remembered in our hearts.

 

[paul00]

Maybe Apple's "Lightning to USB Camera Adapter" would work with a USB CF reader?

It should be possible however you may need to use a powered hub in between or find a really low powered reader. I may run some more tests in store tomorrow.

It even works with a desktop hard drive. Its frustrating really because its intentionally crippled even though very capable adapter. I have a feeling that the iOS 10 will feature file system and those cables will magically start working with other things. It even powers my USB LTE modem though complains that this model is not supported.

 

[baryon]

You can certainly upload them - have been able to for ages. Not sure which programs support editing the RAW images once they are uploaded.

Edit: Yes, there are several programs which can edit RAW files on the iPad. Some of these were reported to be slow due to a combination of slow USB2 transfers (fixed now on iPad Pro) and general slowness of the iPad (also fixed now with the iPad Pro). I've just ordered one of these adapters so I'll find out for myself how well it works. That's always better than speculating I find...

That's good news. But the average SD card is about the size of the entire iPad's storage, where are we supposed to store dozens of gigabytes of files? Surely not iCloud, and external hard drive support doesn't seem to ever be coming... I don't think anyone who shoots RAW will just store them on the iPad, is it possible to work with the files directly off of the SD card, and leave them there without copying them, or some other smart solution?

 

[verniesgarden]

I don't think I'd be going out on a limb to say that the Canon 5D Mark III is probably the single most entrenched pro-camera in use today in terms of an established working user base. Guess what - it's got a dual slot SD/CF slot. Not only does the CF slot write faster ( which means it's a 'best results' slot for video) but if you hand your client JPEGS on the SD card you still need to get the RAW files off the CF card. Abandon the old format all you want but do us the favor of waiting until a new standard has been taken over much less being introduced (we don't have a 5D Mark IV yet).

So this is what I think was meant by abandoning the Pro market.

a new format is taking over, SD cards....

 

[Marx55]

Apple should change to standard ports in all its devices.

 

[sarge]

r

a new format is taking over, SD cards....

Thanks Mr. Sardonic... I would only point out that everyMac now shipping has a SD card reader slot so this is kind of a redundant device since presumably everyone syncs their iPad to the Mac anyhow. I get that the future is in the cloud and that this is a way to further that trend by eliminating the need for a PC altogether but I just don't see this as being practical for the professional - I have 64GB of photo/video to move and I'm supposed to edit them on a 64GB ipad mini? Bogus workflow at this point in time for me anyway.

 

[paul00]

I get that the future is in the cloud and that this is a way to further that trend by eliminating the need for a PC altogether but I just don't see this as being practical for the professional - I have 64GB of photo/video to move and I'm supposed to edit them on a 64GB ipad mini? Bogus workflow at this point in time for me anyway.

I have a feeling that the USB-C is coming to iPads. Apple really needs a big feature to sell the iPad Air 3 and USB C port with external storage support might just do the trick. it would also enable transferring photos from a camera to a hard drive through the iPad and real video output via display port as the lighting video output is barely functional and can't be upgraded to handle anything over 1080p.

 

[sarge]

Maybe Apple's "Lightning to USB Camera Adapter" would work with a USB CF reader?

Thanks - hadn't seen that. Probably would work w/the card reader I lost over the weekend. I did see this guy though that includes the adaptor, which can be handy

http://www.amazon.com/WEme-Aluminum-Converter-ChromeBook-Microsoft/dp/B00WHL1QG2

 

[ILikeAllOS]

Weird, I had forgotten all about SD cards just like 35mm film rolls.
Meh, I guess this would be useful to the few people who use a dedicated camera but not a DSLR camera which uses CF/XQD cards.

 

[paul00]

Weird, I had forgotten all about SD cards just like 35mm film rolls.
Meh, I guess this would be useful to the few people who use a dedicated camera but not a DSLR camera which uses CF/XQD cards.

It's funny you said that. I forgot last time I saw a camera with a CF slot. Arguably the best cameras at the moment - Sony A7RII and A7SII both use SD cards. Even medium format cameras like 645z use SD cards.

 

[0970373]

Weird, I had forgotten all about SD cards just like 35mm film rolls.
Meh, I guess this would be useful to the few people who use a dedicated camera but not a DSLR camera which uses CF/XQD cards.

While SD cards are being more the norm for PROSUMER cameras, this is an ignorant comment. CF cards ARE faster. This isn't really something to debate. When you shoot in high bursts as a professional photographer would, a CF card is faster. You don't have time to wait for cards to buffer/write to SD cards. My Micro 4/3 cameras all work with SD cards, which is much more convenient. The latest Pro cameras by Canon & Nikon have both SD & CF cards though. I still only have the 7D Mark I so it's CF cards in that.

Yes, SD cards are becoming more widely adopted but they are a far cry from what a CF card can do.

But to that end, if you are at the point where you are using a high end pro camera that uses CF cards, why wouldn't you have your laptop with you anyway? For that kind of work load, there's no tablet - access to file system or not - that is going to be more beneficial than bringing a laptop to manage that workflow. You should be dumping cards onto drives every night and backing those up to a 2nd drive.

 

[0970373]

It's funny you said that. I forgot last time I saw a camera with a CF slot. Arguably the best cameras at the moment - Sony A7RII and A7SII both use SD cards. Even medium format cameras like 645z use SD cards.

Those are mirrorless cameras. So I argue that they are not the best camera around. They are great mirrorless cameras though.

 

[paul00]

Those are mirrorless cameras, not full frame. So I argue that they are not the best camera around. They are great mirrorless cameras though.

Wow.

Of course they ARE full frame. 645 is actually bigger than full frame. A7RII has the best sensor in the world for high res and A7SII for low light. Look it up. Nothing from Canon or Nikon can even come close.

 

[0970373]

Wow.

Of course they ARE full frame. A7RII has the best sensor in the world for high res and A7SII for low light. Look it up. Nothing from Canon or Nikon can even come close.

I updated my post right when you were posting this, but yes, they are full frame. They are very nice cameras. I'm a Canon gal so I'll always be bias. I have 3 mirrorless cameras as well so this is no slight on mirrorless.

CF cards still do write faster than SD cards. They just don't fit or make sense in the smaller bodies of the newer cameras.

 

[paul00]

I updated my post right when you were posting this, but yes, they are full frame. They are very nice cameras. I'm a Canon gal so I'll always be bias. I have 3 mirrorless cameras as well so this is no slight on mirrorless.

CF cards still do write faster than SD cards. They just don't fit or make sense in the smaller bodies of the newer cameras.

Mirrorless are the future tough which means theres no point supporting legacy formats like compact flash even if its current spec has some benefits over SD. Even Canikon cameras have dual slots too accommodate both. They just don't want to alienate their old customers by adopting new tech.

 

[0970373]

Mirrorless are the future tough which means theres no point supporting legacy formats like compact flash even if its current spec has some benefits over SD. Even Canikon cameras have dual slots too accommodate both. They just don't want to alienate their old customers by adopting new tech.

I don't disagree with any of this. SD cards will become faster in time as well.