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Is there a technical reason the Camera Connection Kit doesnt work with the iPhone?

KittyKatta

KittyKatta

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 24, 2011
1,058
1,211
SoCal
Just curious if anyone knows, but Is there a technical reason the Camera Connection Kit doesnt work with the iPhone?

My goal doesnt seem that complicated. If I'm on a trip I want to transfer a few JPGs from my DSLR to my iPhone for sharing or light editing. But since the CCK doesnt work on the iPhone then I'm jumping through hoops to do it.

WiFi Transfer Cards - I have a FlashAir and Eye-Fi card. While they both can successfully transfer photos to my iPhone, they require WiFi being on which kills the battery on BOTH devices.

iPad as Server - I have tried using the iPad as the middle device but its just a ridiculous workflow. I transfer pics from Camera to iPad via CCK. Then transfer from iPad to iPhone using bluetooth via PhotoSync app


The iPhone has 3G for connectivity, Apps for editing and every sharing option available. So if using an SD Dongle to the iPhone is the obvious solution then why can't it be done?

(BTW. I also understand that using the iPhone Camera is the "easiest" solution but its not always ideal. If I took an amazing shot with my DSLR or RX100 then why would I want to share a "not as amazing" shot from my iPhone?)
 
M

Mrbobb

macrumors 603
Aug 27, 2012
5,003
206
Honestly, if you are serious enough to carry a DSLR, take a battery pack with you. Problem solved.
 
M

Menneisyys2

macrumors 603
Jun 7, 2011
5,934
1,032
Mrbobb said:
Maybe by JBking?
Click to expand...

BTW, the JB-only CameraConnector might have added access to not only HID devices (keyboards etc.), but also FAT32 drives. This has been promised for long - see my dedicated remarks in my past symlink setup article at https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1464236/ for more info, which shows v0.0.2-1.

It, however, seems to require some manual setup. A screenshot of the update list from the latest version (0.0.2d3-3) of my (legally purchased) CameraConnector:

CameraConnector002d33updatelist.jpg


Will definitely test the new version and report back.

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alphaod said:
I think it's an Apple firmware limitation… like most of their limitations.
Click to expand...

Yup, it is. Most probably to block people from using extrernal storage cards instead of purchasing the larger-memory iPhone models. Apple's greed at work - as usual.

Hopefully the latest version of CameraConnector indeed works.
 
lelisa13p

lelisa13p

macrumors 68000
Mar 6, 2009
1,946
47
Atlanta, GA USA
The thread title is misleading in that it indicates that the Camera Connection Kit (initially sold at the time of the original iPad release) won't work with iPhone. It does work, just not for the purpose that you intend.

There were threads at the time of the iPhone 5 release that questioned if the CCK still worked, given that the connector on the iPhone 5 was completely changed. The answer is yes, with an adapter.
 
alphaod

alphaod

macrumors Core
Feb 9, 2008
22,183
1,245
NYC
lelisa13p said:
The thread title is misleading in that it indicates that the Camera Connection Kit (initially sold at the time of the original iPad release) won't work with iPhone. It does work, just not for the purpose that you intend.

There were threads at the time of the iPhone 5 release that questioned if the CCK still worked, given that the connector on the iPhone 5 was completely changed. The answer is yes, with an adapter.
Click to expand...

I thought the OP was referring to the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader, which does not work on the iPhone 5, but does work on both the iPad mini and the 4th Gen iPad.
 
KittyKatta

KittyKatta

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 24, 2011
1,058
1,211
SoCal
Mrbobb said:
Honestly, if you are serious enough to carry a DSLR, take a battery pack with you. Problem solved.
Click to expand...
Not to be a jerk, but is buying complicated and inconvenient 3rd party wifi SD Cards or iPhone battery packs really the ideal solution or is it just a deflection from the actual problem?

Why is relying on 3rd party the answer? The problem I see is that Apple themselves have a (profitable) solution to the problem with the Apple SD Dongles but they are also the ones restricting its implementation. My iPhone is more powerful than my iPad, so it's silly that it is forced to have less function?
 
Last edited:
M

Mrbobb

macrumors 603
Aug 27, 2012
5,003
206
KittyKatta, perhaps this is a perfect business opportunity. Apple doesn't THESE, you can become a new vendor!

I will apologize I tend to focus on what can be done NOW, I don't expend alot of time wishing, or how thing ought to be, specially since I've been following Apple since Apple ][, I know wishing them do otherwise is not a good use of my time, but I have to remember other people need to express their wishes.

Hope you find the perfect solution.
 
B

BruiserB

macrumors 68000
Aug 9, 2008
1,697
652
Check out the Photo Transfer App.

Http://phototransferapp.com

You'd have to take the memory card from your camera and put it into a computer on the same network as your phone. But then you can transfer photos onto your phone.
 
M

Menneisyys2

macrumors 603
Jun 7, 2011
5,934
1,032
BruiserB said:
Check out the Photo Transfer App.

Http://phototransferapp.com

You'd have to take the memory card from your camera and put it into a computer on the same network as your phone. But then you can transfer photos onto your phone.
Click to expand...

He has already mentioned he doesn't want to use such an akwkward solution:

" iPad as Server - I have tried using the iPad as the middle device but its just a ridiculous workflow. I transfer pics from Camera to iPad via CCK. Then transfer from iPad to iPhone using bluetooth via PhotoSync app"

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Mrbobb said:
KittyKatta, perhaps this is a perfect business opportunity. Apple doesn't THESE, you can become a new vendor!
Click to expand...

Apple wouldn't certificate it, I'm afraid. They're afraid of people starting to use cheap external storage cards instead of paying x*100US$ for each doubling of the in-built storage. That is, there's absolutely no point in trying to come up with an USB card reader for the iPhone.

Besides, there's no OS support at all - I've just added a section in the thread I linked to yesterday explaining not even the brightest jailbreak developers have managed to hack external USB storage support into the iPhone.

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KittyKatta said:
Why is relying on 3rd party the answer? The problem I see is that Apple themselves have a (profitable) solution to the problem with the Apple SD Dongles but they are also the ones restricting its implementation. My iPhone is more powerful than my iPad, so it's silly that it is forced to have less function?
Click to expand...

Purchasing ANY Apple product meaning having to put up with a LOT of, sometimes really silly, restrictions. Don't expect power user-friendliness from Apple.
 
C

cynics

macrumors G4
Jan 8, 2012
11,947
2,130
I find it slightly annoying too. I can plug my iPhone into an Android phone and it looks at it as a camera, and its really easy to import pics. The iPhone doesn't do anything though.
 
jokerz126

jokerz126

macrumors 6502
Oct 26, 2010
301
64
why cant they just get their act together and enable this...in addition...charging while connected to the CCK should be possible too...this sucks that we cant charge our ipad while using the CCK....it's funny but an Italian company that made a device called the irig Midi interface has a mini USB connector on the device which lets you charge the ipad while using their irig midi...why cant these other companies figure this out?!
 
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