Is it possible to use an external hard drive with an iPad.
I use my iPad for storing photographs from my cameras. My current solution, which I am not happy with is as follows: -
I have bought a short lightning to USB cable that allows me to transfer photographs from my cameras which use different storage cards (CF & SD). I am happy with this part. I also have apps that allow me to edit RAW files and to upload or email to where I want.
The biggest problem is that I am often in locations where there is no WiFi, and even if I go to a location where there is WiFi, the connection is slow, or limited to the amount of data allowed to transfer. Each photo I take may be 50mb to 70 mb in size. I was at one location recently where I paid £a few hundred to upload photos via an intermittent 3G connection. That was a real pain.
The iCloud for me is often not an option due to non existent WiFi signals, poor to non existent phone signals and high data costs.
In the old days I used to use an Epson P4000 Multimedia Storage Viewer, and carry lots of memory cards. the viewer let me view files and back up. I would use the memory cards from the cameras as primary storage. This became impractical with the size of photograph file sizes.
I have not yet located a way to transfer photographs from the iPad to a storage device that will plug in to the iPad.
I do have a Macbook Air and a Macbook Pro. Due to the fact that I try to travel with carry on baggage only, or try to carry all my photography gear and IT gear as carry on baggage (so that it is less likely to get damaged or stolen) I am limited in weight.
I therefore like to carry the iPad, mainly due to lightness, size, and power block size. The iPad also has software on that allows me to control cameras. The ipad also allows me to edit photos (basic editing) to show people immediately, whilst also allowing me to transfer the originals to my Mac Pro when back home.