tethering to an ipad or the like...

[dan denmark]

just a general put-it-out-there query whether anyone has any great solutions to tethering a camera to an ipad. i have eye-fi cards, use their app as well as shuttersnitch but both are very slow and to be honest, not very reliable in that for some reason, even though i'm on a very fast network it seems not every image comes through in sequence... weird.

better still, i'd really prefer a cable connection to an ipad or tablet (i'd be prepared to buy another one for this) where i can use this out in the field when i don't have a network signal.

any clues?

cheers, dd

 

[emayoh]

For cameras that accept both SD and CF cards -- and that can shoot RAW + JPEG:

One solution that has worked for me is to use the Eye-Fi card just to transfer the JPEG. It is much faster. The client (or me) can review the JPEGs out of camera and rate them. Then after the shoot, I download the RAW files off the CF card. Then I use a program called Photo Mechanic to re-link the rating information from the JPEGs back to the corresponding RAW files. Then I'm ready to post-process the right pics.

I know you asked for a cable solution, but perhaps if you're just transferring smaller JPEGs you might have better luck with missed files.

Hope that helps, or at least doesn't hurt.

 

[dan denmark]

thanks, emayoh and pkr. yes, eye-fi does work but as each frame in the beginning of a shoot is critical to relax the model (studio pportraits) and show the proofs right away, the wi-fi transfer is just nor reliable. i need something that does not require a netowrk... i know, hard ask, thus the cable thang.

and PKR i already have C1 7.2+ that i edit RAW in... the best app on the planet for my operation. i don't use a laptop so that is an out for me.

anyway, just putting it out there in case someone has a flicker of quick and dirty solution to big image proofs out of the camera.

on that note, i CAN attach the camera to the iPad via the USB adapter, do a fast download of the shots taken so far and then open them up that way... which might be the solution i am stuck with.

cheers to all,

dd

 

[CK Dexter Haven]

?

http://connect.dpreview.com/post/7915187021/camranger-camerator-dslr-ipad

 

[dan denmark]

good comment. nice to read you have a P1 back. i don't. but there is a reason for the initial proofs for the model as she is the client and the angle of her head to torso is greta garbo style and needs to be to her liking. a compromise of consideration.

but yes, thanks. and to Dexter, if i may, thanks for that link. i will follow through and see where it takes me.

 

[bigeye]

I've used LR4 through my laptop not quite a tablet, though.

I think the new Canon 6D works with tablets and one of the WM-x wifi thingies on some of the new Nikons may support wireless remote (better than 'tethered'?).

.

 

[Lawrence Sheperd]

Per CK Dexter Haven's dpreview link, direct link to developer's site:

http://www.camranger.com/features/

 

[willie_901]

For newer Nikon or Canon DSLRs, CamRanger has a good reputation. I'm ordering one this week. This unit provides a direct WiFi connection to the tablet and is about the size of a small portable hard drive.

http://www.camranger.com

There is a Kickstarter based product thatjust came out, but I don't know any details.

Otherwise, you must be tethered to a laptop to make the WiFi connection the tablet. I own and use DSLR RemoteHD. This works well and clients love it. It is a does not do well when the laptop gets to sleep or the camera turns off. But it's not that head o restart.

Real-time tethering eats up camera batteries. I went through 3 Nikon batteries in about 5 hours. The iPad and laptop batteries are not seriously effected, but they do die quicker than normal use. Some people also have spares for the CamRanger.

I am not aware of any direct solutions outside of Nikon and Canon except for Eye-Fi.

 

[dan denmark]

I've spoken via Facebook with the camranger folks and am ordering it tomorrow. They happily ship to Oz, which is great. No Aussie suppliers yet... And no planned support for the Fuji platform...

Cheers all. In the meantime, my Fuji 14 arrives tomorrow.

 

[dan denmark]

just as a followup on this topic. i ordered the CamRanger wi-fi device. it was ordered from the east coast US on the monday last and arrived in country victoria australia (four hours from melbourne) at 2.35pm the friday same week, FedEx. it creates its own wi-fi network which means i can take it to a remote location away from any network and it works just fine. i have used it several times already in my studio to preview a shot and post-view it, all within about 10 seconds from snapping the shutter. it is only designed for canons and nikons at the moment so, outside of the rangefinder arena it is a godsend tool. they said they would consider looking at other platforms, ie fuji, etc...

oh, and right now it only talks to an iPad or iPhone

thanks to all for your help on this exercise.

 

[willie_901]

Dan,

It so happened my CanRanger arrived this week.

Wow. It is very flexible and jpeg transfer is fast to the iPhone5 and iPad3.

I also bought an iOGear portable Li battery. It about the same size as a portable HD and has two USB ports so I can run the iPhone or iPad along with the CamRanger for long periods of time.

The iPhone App is a perfect remote control. When the D700 is in LiveView mode you can focus anywhere by touching the iPhone screen and the swipe the display to check the focus. You can turn LiveView on and off from the iPhone too. You change change all of the functions such as ISO, exposure mode, start AF, jpeg/raw selections, exposure compensation and of course shutter and aperture speeds from the iOS device. Exposure and focus bracketing is straightforward too. I have to remember to manually close the finder shutter so the light meter reading is not affected by light from the eye piece lens.

The iPad works the same way and the larger screen is very helpful for checking the details of the photograph before moving on to the next scene.

For some of my work this is a game changer.