Using the iPhone and Tablets for our Photography

These days more and more photographers use the phones and tablets also for their photography work.

We don't plan to use the iPhone or iPad for real editing work in the field. For the iPhone it is clear that the size is just too small. For the iPad it should be possible in theory but the design is not really up to it:

• iOS is not designed for user organized content (means a transparent file system). We want to copy images from the tablet to the main computer back and forth without the hassles of iTunes or iPhoto.
• Storage is way to limited on the iPad and no real good solution for storage extension in sight. We may capture 25GB of images in one day. 
• No fast card readers can be attached (e.g. for compact flash cards).
• We would need a Lightroom or a compatible equivalent on the tablet 

Note: The Microsoft Surface Tablet with a full Windows OS may change that. For now our 11" Mac Book Air is just what we need. 

Here is what we would like our tablets and iPhones to do (for us important features in bold):

• Take pictures
• Present portfolios on the road
• Read and send short emails
• Browse the web
• Take notes (Evernote)
• Use some imaging apps
• Watch videos (Netflix and others)
• Not much music (love music, but not from ear plugs)
• Maps and GPS
• Be in our photo bags all the time
• Data network connection 
• Easy copy images to our other computers
• Skype 
• Extra storage

Here is  how our curent devices perform for these tasks.

iPhone 4/4S

• Camera is fun 
• Too small to really enjoy images
• Screen and keyboard very small for mail (just used in emergencies)
• Browser not that great on the small screen
• Notes no fun on small screen
• Apps sometimes fine but the iPad is better
• Videos can be ok
• Maps small
• Always with us 
• Data network via 3G and other devices can be tethered
• Limited data model (mostly limited sync with iTunes)
• Skype works fine 

The iPhone has also very nice photo helper apps: e.g. Viewfinder and sun/moon displays. We have the iPhone with us anyway but for showing photos the screen is just too small.

iPad (1/2 and New iPad)

• Camera handling and resolution not great
• Very nice to show portfolios
• Screen and keyboard fine
• Browser fine
• Notes fine
• Apps fun to use
• Videos nice
• Maps fine
• Too big and heavy for most situations. Bags have to have special compartments to carry the iPad. We want our bags to fit the gear we need and not always think where to store the iPad.
• Data network via Wi-Fi (e.g. tethered)
• Limited data model (mostly limited sync with iTunes)
• Skype works fine

In the end neither the iPhone nor the iPad work for us as we would like. The iPhone is very portable but not that great to show images. The iPad has a nice screen to show images but is too big and heavy to be with us all the time.

We ordered a Google Nexus 7 and hope it works better for:

• Camera limited to front camera
• Display Portfolios is a big open issue?
• Screen and keyboard should be fine
• Browser (Chrome) should be fine
• Notes in Evernote should be fine
• Apps except for Photo browsing are not our concern
• Videos not our focus (except our own)
• Maps hopefully fine
• 7" screen is our main reason to get the Nexus 7 (the Amazon Fire is way to limited in its functionality)
• Data network via Wi-Fi (e.g. tethered)
• Can hopefully just copy images via Wi-Fi
• Skype hopefilly works fine

We report once we get the Nexus 7. Please add your experience and comments.

Comments

[Eduardo Cervantes]

Nexus 7 will be fantastic to use tethered to an EOS and DSLR Remote. Much more convenient than the big iPad.

[Steinmueller Photo]

Do you know a good Photo Browser for Android?