Should I get an Ipad?

[simongr]

I am guessing you want to take photos on your digital camera, transfer them to the iPad and then back them up on an external drive after that? My approach would be to get extra memory cards - kind of counter intuitive but for a long trip take extra memory cards, view/back up photos to the iPad and then store your "originals" on the excess cards you have.

I haven't used photo stream yet - main issue for me is two people trying to use one iCloud account.

 

[MatF]

But that's what the photo roll is for (it automatically syncs your last 30 days of photos to "the cloud").

It's interesting, but in this case the photos are 25MB RAW camera files from a Canon 5DMkII, and at 25MB a pop, I don't think that's practical. 100 photos in a day (not excessive on a particularly photogenic trip) = 2.5GB of data. Also, what if I don't have internet access for parts of a trip?

Given that they're RAW files, I'm not even sure the ipad would recognise them as photos (?)

I am guessing you want to take photos on your digital camera, transfer them to the iPad and then back them up on an external drive after that? My approach would be to get extra memory cards - kind of counter intuitive but for a long trip take extra memory cards, view/back up photos to the iPad and then store your "originals" on the excess cards you have.

It's an option, but:
1) The cost of twice as many cards as I'd need may be significantly more than the cost of USB sticks or an external HDD for backups on a long trip. For example, 6 weeks in Europe last year = 75GB of photos (see size issue above). Cards are also not super rugged either, so would be a bit more of a risk to mail home as a backup - unlike some ruggedised USB sticks (last trip I mailed home Corsair Survivor USB sticks and also backed up to an external HDD we kept with us); and

2) I'm not sure how I'd get the photos from one card to another? They're CF cards, so I'd have to use a 3rd party reader just to get them onto the ipad (or read them directly from the camera). Can I write photos from the ipad to a card reader?

 

[simongr]

Can you connect a USB cable to your camera? If so then you can import photos using the camera connection kit.

I have no idea about raw files though. I think a MacBook air might better fit your needs

 

[MatF]

Can you connect a USB cable to your camera? If so then you can import photos using the camera connection kit.

I have no idea about raw files though. I think a MacBook air might better fit your needs

This is the annoyance. I have a small/light laptop that I take travelling, and it does everything I need - but if not for this issue, I'd much rather take the ipad. It would be much more convenient. 64GB would be limiting for long trips, but for most trips I take it'd be fine.

I'm probably in a situation where I'd be tempted to take both the laptop and the ipad next trip, which is a bit ridiculous.

 

[simongr]

Just got the email that my iPad has been billed to me and that it is with the delivery company - so I expect it tomorrow

 

[mr_osborne]

Is anyone going to do a review when theu get theirs?

 

[djfuzz]

Just got the email that my iPad has been billed to me and that it is with the delivery company - so I expect it tomorrow

Me too - 32GB WiFi here. Obviously 4G was a no go, but am happy to use my iPhone to tether for 3G until they bring out an iPhone that is actually compatible with the local LTE implementation.

 

[Storyteller]

I am guessing you want to take photos on your digital camera, transfer them to the iPad and then back them up on an external drive after that? My approach would be to get extra memory cards - kind of counter intuitive but for a long trip take extra memory cards, view/back up photos to the iPad and then store your "originals" on the excess cards you have.

I haven't used photo stream yet - main issue for me is two people trying to use one iCloud account.

Sounds a bit like what I do.

The big bonus of the iPad for me is the ability to see the whole photo on a large screen, in the field. Let's me re-shoot if it's not suitable. Used to just zoom into the pic on the camera, but that is only a small part of the image. I still do this too. Nice to see the entire thing., and then I can also zoom a bit further into it using that function on the iPad. What I do is when I have something particularly interesting I start a backup of it to the iPad & continue shooting with new memory card while the backup is in progress. Then I can check for clarity & also walk away with my 2 copies all done.

I like to have 2 copies of important photos, so one on iPad / cloud, one on original memory card, and I have many of these, so just pop in another when it is full, or I'm onto the next subject. When I get home I can then save to External HDD. When travelling I used to use a Wolverine for both it's larger screen & it's memory, but iPad wins hands down with the screen.

Not unusual to take 600 - 1000 photos in a day.

 

[simongr]

Is anyone going to do a review when theu get theirs?

I could probably write mine already

 

[serfty]

Is anyone going to do a review when theu get theirs?

I could probably write mine already

Maybe we could get Mal to do one ...

(Actually going by his more recent post on an iTopic, you might be surprised):shock:

 

[TonyHancock]

Mine has shipped......but I'm currently in the UK so won't see it until Wednesday night.

 

[dfcatch]

So does the iPad have a microphone as well for FaceTime / Skype?

Or do you have to use the earphones/mic like you do with the iPod Touch?

 

[simongr]

Yep built in mic.

 

[simongr]

I have used it as a speakerphone when our network was down.

 

[dfcatch]

Yep built in mic.

Thanks Simon

I assumed as much but thought it better to double check.

 

[simongr]

Skype works over 3G as well - as opposed to FaceTime...

 

[djfuzz]

My review:



Not much more to be said, especially in addition to all the (more reasonable) reviews floating around. My old case was too closely sculpted to the back of the old iPad so that's no use. Otherwise, just as responsive if not a tad more so. Camera is good, but given the comparison shot was taken on my iPhone 4S, you can guess how I feel about it using it as anything but "the camera in your hand". Feels just barely heavier compared to the iPad 2 but only when you directly compare them one after the other.

I was always going to get it and allow the others to be handed down but if I weren't so keen, the only thing that would really attract me is the screen - however, you can't understate how big of a deal that is, the real world comparison makes the old and the new look like chalk and cheese.

 

[simongr]

Delivered ths morning - nice and sharp - real test will be TV show tonight and games - need to restore it from a back up at home (if anyone else does this remember to choose the encrypted back up so that you don't have to retype all of your passwords).

 

[dfcatch]

Thanks for the review.

Unfortunately I'm in the air all-day tomorrow and don't get to SFO until 9pm. I have a reasonable suspicion that all the Bay Area Apple stores will be out of stock before Saturday

 

[Paddy55]

Mrs Paddy and mine have been delivered to her work bright and early this morning.

Need to workout how you move from iPad V1 to iPad V3, then zap iPad 1 before I give it to a slobbering junior Paddy!