I pad storage for holiday pics

Seajay

Seajay

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Cathy
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Hi all,

A couple of questions .
Had anyone used their I pad to store photos on when on holiday.

My concern is now that i am trying to shoot in raw while on holidays what are the best memory cards to purchase.Am i better getting some small ones or buying a large memory card ?
Cathy
 
Dont put all your eggs in one basket. When I go on a shoot I switch cards through the day. For a holiday id take 4-6 sandisk extremes with me there 8gb but I never fill them. That way youll only lose a section of the pics and not all of it



www.facebook.com/phillbarrattphotography
 
In addition to multiple cards, I use a netbook to back up raw files into the netbook's file manager, (which is not possible on iPad so far as I know). iPad is ok for uploading jpegs to a foto site.
 
I've been building up a collection of 8-16 GB cards. My IPad is too small to store them on when I'm away so I keep them on the cards. I'm sure that cards do fail but I've never had one fail in the last 7 years.

You can go a bit OTT with trying to ensure that none of your images get lost.
 
Considering SD cards from reputable manufacturers are so cheap these days I would just stock up on some and have a decent hard case to keep them in.

If you're after a backup system whilst on holiday an ipad would quickly get filled if you get trigger happy and shoot raw, unless you have a fast, unmetered internet connection and can upload them to the cloud or similar.
 
Seajay said:
Hi all,

A couple of questions .
Had anyone used their I pad to store photos on when on holiday.

My concern is now that i am trying to shoot in raw while on holidays what are the best memory cards to purchase.Am i better getting some small ones or buying a large memory card ?
Cathy
Click to expand...

It is up to everyone to use the iPad in their own ways, so if you would rather use the iPad for storing your photos while on holiday, that is your option, but you got to remember RAW files are not suited to iPad, but JPEG, TIFF, PNG are. However I wouldn't think storing your photos on the iPad to be suitable. The iPad wasn't really designed to be a back-up storage for photos, but it is a nice trick to use it for emergency back-up anyway. It's more suited for viewing photos.

You would be better off using one of those portable HDD where you can transfer your photos from card to HDD via laptop, card reader, or maybe even using the camera itself, by means of USB. Especially as those can save your files in RAW, so that later on, at home, you can transfer your photos from this item to main computer. (Unless you use a laptop?)

I bought my iPad primary as a digital equivalent of a note pad, sketch book, jotting pad, and so on, even a so that every time I get ideas for graphic design projects, plots for novels, and so on. Secondary for iBooks, Internet, music, and few others. As for photos, I would shoot a few in JPEG and copy to iPad to use the large screen for viewing when I want to be sure of the subject.

If you're going to shoot in RAW, you got to remember RAW create bigger file sizes, so your option is to try for larger size cards otherwise if it was smaller, you would have to waste time trying to transfer photos to portable storage in order to free up the cards for more photos. But then again, sometimes using one big size card, say 16GB can be more risky than 4 smaller ones such as 4 x 4GB cards because you could easily lose your 16GB card, or got it damaged. What if you get mugged and your camera got stolen? All your holiday photos on that one 16GB card is gone. Better to have a number of smaller cards, so one of the 4GB in the camera is gone, but you got 3 others in your pockets. Touch wood it don't happen.

Even if anyone tell you that having a handfull of 2GB or 4GB is troublesome, as you could fill them up, but a 16GB or 32GB card is plenty of space, well that's where your idea of using iPad as a storage or my suggestion about using portable HDD or any others suggesting using laptop, etc., etc., comes in, it is easier to go back to hotel transfer photos from card to portable storage, empty cards ready for next day.

Go for a handful of smaller cards and a portable HDD or similar.

Better than one large card which can get lost or damaged.
 
I am not sure you can pull a RAW file back off an ipad.

I use my ipad to edit files on the go, importing via a cheap eBay camera connection kit. Editing in snapseed and dumping the resulting images into social networking sites.

Thev images come in as raw, snapseed seems to work on the Jpeg aspect. I can't see how one would get the original raw file back.
 
Ebilpirate said:
I am not sure you can pull a RAW file back off an ipad.

I use my ipad to edit files on the go, importing via a cheap eBay camera connection kit. Editing in snapseed and dumping the resulting images into social networking sites.

Thev images come in as raw, snapseed seems to work on the Jpeg aspect. I can't see how one would get the original raw file back.
Click to expand...

Unless camera is capable of saving same image into JPEG and RAW, you can import JPEG into iPad but then you would still have RAW on the card, and I get the feeling it is the OP's wish to tranfer photos to somewhere else to free up space on the cards, so even if OP saves JPEG to iPad, delete all photos from card, then problem is what's the point of shooting in RAW as well as JPEG if only saving JPEG photos.

Yeah, unless you're shooting in JPEG, you can use iPad for storage if you wish, but it's not much of a use as a temporary storage for RAW, unless there are any apps on the Apps Store that could help save RAW??
 
Guys....

I don't know much about that, but just wondering if what I am about to suggest is of any use for the OP...?

What about something like Seagate GoFlex Satellite HDD with wireless access and an app downloaded from App Store? Transfer RAW files to such a HDD via iPad instead of tranfer RAW to iPad for storage? Or if not GoFlex HDD, then something similar?
 
Major Eazy said:
Unless camera is capable of saving same image into JPEG and RAW, you can import JPEG into iPad but then you would still have RAW on the card, and I get the feeling it is the OP's wish to tranfer photos to somewhere else to free up space on the cards, so even if OP saves JPEG to iPad, delete all photos from card, then problem is what's the point of shooting in RAW as well as JPEG if only saving JPEG photos.

Yeah, unless you're shooting in JPEG, you can use iPad for storage if you wish, but it's not much of a use as a temporary storage for RAW, unless there are any apps on the Apps Store that could help save RAW??
Click to expand...

I know that in nikon land the Nef files contains a Jpeg of the image. The ipad ingests and retains the entire nef file on import, displaying just the Jpeg aspect. Most ipad editors only work on the jpeg aspect (snapseed and iphoto definately do, saying most because i am sure there is one app that claims to do raw processing), but In essence you get a Jpeg file with an incorrect suffix and a load of padding. So getting the nef into the ipad seems to be easy.

If there was a way to get nef files back out of the ipad you could do what the op wants, maybe someone could try emailing them out and see what happens? That's all a bit agricultural though.
 
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I only shoot raw, but I have downloaded photos onto an iPad when on holiday, mainly to view and share and also as a sort of backup. It will store them, but not as raw files. You have to make sure you don't tick the option to delete them from the card when you download them.
 
Thank you everyone. I think I will do as suggested and buy enough cards to take with me.
I was looking for a way to transfer images from my cards to free them up but agree it is not the best idea.
Saving the JPG's to my I Pad would not be great either I see that now.

My laptop is not working so I would only have my IPAd with me. So lots of cards and I will transfer my images to my Mac when I get home.

Cathy
 
Another option is out to a nexus then back onto memory sticks as the nexus onboard memory for a cheap one isn't large. More expense but cheaper than a new laptop.
 
Your more likely to lose one of those pesky little memory cards taking them in and out of the camera while away than lose a whole camera, so get a big card then you don't need to take it out of the camera until you get home.

OR

Don't put your eggs in one basket, and buy your self a thousand 512mb cards, take one shot per card, so you'll only ever lose a single image.


Personally when on holiday, I don't want to spend all night backing up data, I want to enjoy the break.
 
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acetone said:
Your more likely to lose one of those pesky little memory cards taking them in and out of the camera while away than lose a whole camera, so get a big card then you don't need to take it out of the camera until you get home.
Click to expand...

I did lose a card once. I'm still thinking it might turn up one day! I'm sure I put it somewhere safe :bang:
 
Lol! no I don't think I will be buying a thousand cards :) but I get what you mean. Need to google what a nexus is in a moment.

To let you understand I am just starting to take my snaps not using auto and also taking landscape shots. I will be taking plenty weather allowing as no doubt I will want to try a few different ways of capturing the scene . Also need to get used to my new Tripod etc! My guess s there may not be many kept if at all but I will be trying hard :)

What make of cards would you suggest or is not all that important?
Cathy
 
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I only use Sandisk but lexar, transcend will be just as good. Buy them from a reputable company though. Far too many fakes flying around. I'm sure others have their preferred dealers that they buy from. I tend to buy from WEX or Picstop.
 
Last time I checked (and it's been a while), iPads handle Raw+jpeg files in the dumbest way imaginable.

It copies all the files (raw AND jpeg) to memory and then hides the raw file. The only way to delete it is to delete the jpeg which makes it silently delete both. So it's basically a way of using up MASSIVE amounts of its tiny memory with no conceivable benefit.

Nexus + OTG cable and card reader is far more flexible (but pricey if you already have an iPad)

If you really want to back stuff up on the move then a Hyperspace UDMA-2 is probably the best device (http://www.hypershop.com/HyperDrive/UDMA-2/). But that's really overkill for personal pictures. Buy half a dozen decent quality cards and a high protection case and I bet you'll be fine.
 
acetone said:
Your more likely to lose one of those pesky little memory cards taking them in and out of the camera while away than lose a whole camera, so get a big card then you don't need to take it out of the camera until you get home.

OR

Don't put your eggs in one basket, and buy your self a thousand 512mb cards, take one shot per card, so you'll only ever lose a single image.


Personally when on holiday, I don't want to spend all night backing up data, I want to enjoy the break.
Click to expand...

Having one card that's something like 16GB or 32GB and taking all the holiday photos on it would be a bit of risk.

Supposing you got mugged and your camera got stolen? All your holiday snaps is on that card in the camera! All gone! Or supposing something goes wrong with the card? Or an accident like if your holiday location is near the sea and you dropped your camera in the sea? One card, all photos, and it's gone. If people, even those secret service agents, can lose a laptop in the back of a taxi, then i don't see why some of us could lose a whole camera. Remember Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrong, it will go wrong.

So having a number of smaller size cards like say 4x 4GB or 4x 8GB cards or whatever you fancy, is better, as it would mean that you can take holiday snaps on one card until it's full, then change it for another card, when the second one gets full, change it for another, and on and on. So in the unlikely event anything happens to your camera or just one card that's in the camera, be thankful that you still have some holiday snaps on other other cards and only lose some photos on just one card. Even if you lose one card when changing cards but still got your camera safe, it's still the same thing as losing one card that's in the camera.

In the old days, when we used film, we still have to change rolls every time we used up each 24 or 36 exposure rolls, and I'm sure some of us would have lost one roll of film anyway, but it's a task we have to do, it's part of the photography life.
 
Seajay said:
Lol! no I don't think I will be buying a thousand cards :) but I get what you mean. Need to google what a nexus is in a moment.

To let you understand I am just starting to take my snaps not using auto and also taking landscape shots. I will be taking plenty weather allowing as no doubt I will want to try a few different ways of capturing the scene . Also need to get used to my new Tripod etc! My guess s there may not be many kept if at all but I will be trying hard :)

What make of cards would you suggest or is not all that important?
Cathy
Click to expand...

Pick whatever cards you like, but better buy new ones than used ones.
 
Back when I had my Canon 1100D, I used a 32GB cheap SD card. It was fine for the first 10GB or so, and after this, it took a lot more time to store the photos to the memory card. Not sure if this is meant to happen, but if so, I guess that as memory cards get more full, it takes the camera longer to access it - at least for some slower cameras.

So I've learnt my lesson and tend to buy 8GB memory cards now and haven't had a problem since. After taking about 200 shots, I store them on my laptop and remove them from the card. So really, I never use the full 8GB, I always like to leave my cards as empty as possible. I have moved from 32GB card to 8GB cards...

Before I used to take snapshots of everything whilst on holiday only to look at them and just say "this is rubbish". Now I find that I take about 3 pictures instead of 100 of some particular location with thinking about the photograph, and find that this pleases me a lot more and I use those photographs.

So I've never really used a lot of storage ever since really thinking about my photographs.

I also use SanDisk Extreme memory cards, you pay more for them, but I hear they are really good and fast.

Thanks.
 
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It more about where you buy your cards from than what brand.

Lexar, Sandisk, Transend, Delkin I use then all without any issues at all, just buy from a reputable dealer, and NOT from ebay.
 
Thank you all !

I understand what you are saying and I will buy a few good make of memory cards and this way I should have myself covered.

Cathy
 
Does anyone use their ipad as a backup and to view photos whilst out? On days out I've used it a couple of times but my 16GB ipad is quite limiting. A friend shoots raw and jpeg onto two separate cards and uploads just the jpegs to view them. I have been uploading raws but space is quite tight. I'm going to get a couple of new cards so I can use the second slot as backup and then change cards half way through the day.

I'm thinking of upgrading to an ipad mini (32 or64 GB) when it is upgraded by Apple but unsure if this is the best possible option as a file backup and viewing device. An iPad is quite useful as for general web use too so it won't just be a backup and viewing device.

I've found this whilst researching, its a few years old:

http://www.macworld.com/article/1151911/cameraconnection_workflow.html

Are there any other devices that would be a good replacement?
 
Major Eazy said:
Guys....

I don't know much about that, but just wondering if what I am about to suggest is of any use for the OP...?

What about something like Seagate GoFlex Satellite HDD with wireless access and an app downloaded from App Store? Transfer RAW files to such a HDD via iPad instead of tranfer RAW to iPad for storage? Or if not GoFlex HDD, then something similar?
Click to expand...

+1 for this suggestion. This is what I'm lambing on doing in the next few months.

I was browsing hard drives for my Mac Mini about 2 months ago in PC Workd. One of the reps from Western Digital was there for some reason. Anyway, asked me what I was looking for so I told him. He then started telling about the Seagate WiFi HD!

He sold it to me there and then (not literally!) This'll be my next buy after 3 Legged Brian.
 
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