iPad questions and a cool app

[lensflair]

I recently got myself an iPad, I've been wanting one for a while and finally took the plunge, but I have a few questions for people who might have more experience with them.

My first question is the camera kit, I haven't got one yet because they were out of stock, but I keep reading that you can't get a card to transfer images because the USB socket is underpowered or something or other? I'm hoping I might be able to transfer some images at a wedding and leave a slideshow running on it or let some of the guests view them. Is anyone doing this successfully? and do you need to lug a laptop with you to make this happen?


My second question is about the external monitor/output connection kit. Has anyone tried this and how does it fare? It would be nice to run slideshows onto a large projection device or similar again without needing to take a laptop.

While I'm on the subject of the iPad for photographers I'll just mention a couple of apps that others might be interested in, one is 'easy release' an app for releases and the model can sign on the screen with their finger, but a better one IMO is 'photographers contract maker' which is cheaper and much more customizable. You can add a new clients contact details and this also gets added to your contacts and can be synced with your computer so you have all their personal details, email etc. on file and when you create a new job you can put in shoot time, date , location etc, click the clients name in the contacts and it adds all their details into the contract for you. They can sign on the iPad and you can have it email the contract in PDF format to your client and yourself. You can set up different contract templates and add images and logos and placeholders for all different data like the clients details, date, sequential contract reference numbers etc. For example I have a wedding photography contract that when I start a new job I put in clients name and details, shoot date and location, then select which package and options will be included just by ticking checkboxes. I put in total amount and the booking fee and it spits out a contract with the clients name and details in relevant places, the current date and has a button at the bottom which when pressed let's the client sign on the screen. Press OK and it adds my signature which has been saved and asks if I want to email it to the clients address. When I sync with my computer it adds all the clients details to my contacts, when I delete the client from the job list in the app the client stays in my contacts. It took a while to set up but worth the trouble IMO.

BTW I have nothing to do with the developers of this app, I just really like it and think others might too.

 

[kevaylett]

I like the sounds of the apps you mention, certainly useful!,

I use the camera kit on my Ipad1 and it doesnt run slow but i find it depends on the speed of the SD card are using a nice quick one obviously loads them up faster. ONe drawback of the kit though is it only shows thumbnails when you first plug it and then you have to import the images onto the ipad in order to view them full screen. (I find the thumbnails are manageable in their size so they can be used easily) The underpowered debate doesn't effect the card readers but Apple did change the power output from the Ipad as when it first came out you could use the USB adaptor to charge any USB device (which was very handy) but now the best you can do with the USB kit is plug in any USB Keyboard and it that will work as your Ipad keyboard, very useful!!

for the slideshows,As long as you get the HDMI video cable for the Ipad slide shows off the images as good as straight out the camera any of the other cables i've found just don't quite give a clearer picture on a larger display, but the HDMI does sort that out. If you got the Ipad2 you can use that to transfer everything you are doing on Ipad as well to projector, screen etc. Handy if doing editing i'd imagine on Filterstorm pro (which is a good app to get for all editing requirements)

Hope this helps
Kev

 

[lensflair]

I like the sounds of the apps you mention, certainly useful!,

I use the camera kit on my Ipad1 and it doesnt run slow but i find it depends on the speed of the SD card are using a nice quick one obviously loads them up faster. ONe drawback of the kit though is it only shows thumbnails when you first plug it and then you have to import the images onto the ipad in order to view them full screen. (I find the thumbnails are manageable in their size so they can be used easily) The underpowered debate doesn't effect the card readers but Apple did change the power output from the Ipad as when it first came out you could use the USB adaptor to charge any USB device (which was very handy) but now the best you can do with the USB kit is plug in any USB Keyboard and it that will work as your Ipad keyboard, very useful!!

for the slideshows,As long as you get the HDMI video cable for the Ipad slide shows off the images as good as straight out the camera any of the other cables i've found just don't quite give a clearer picture on a larger display, but the HDMI does sort that out. If you got the Ipad2 you can use that to transfer everything you are doing on Ipad as well to projector, screen etc. Handy if doing editing i'd imagine on Filterstorm pro (which is a good app to get for all editing requirements)

Hope this helps
Kev

thanks. I have the ipad2 but I use CF cards so would have to plug a card reader into the USB port of the camera kit I think.

I think I will give it a go and definately get the HDMI video cable too.

Another good app I found is portfolio for iPad, it let's you make custom galleries with custom thumbnail, reorder images by dragging and then rename them by automatically applying sequential numbers. you can put a pin lock to stop clients going into the settings, hide galleries and customers can star rate their favorites and add notes to images. you can also add a custom image like your logo in a few different sizes so it shows up on the splash screen in landscape and portrait orientation and even one for external displays. Plus you can customize everything from backgrounds, thumbnail strip background co our etc. really nice.