Apple‘s efforts to make the iPad the entry-level computer to the Mac range are gradually taking effect as many users each day choose to purchase an iPad before buying a Mac. This is due to the fact that most of the actions that you do on a Mac and you can do them the same or in a very similar way on the iPad, one of them is the fact of being able to connect your camera to the iPad to transfer files, although this may vary depending on your iPad. We will tell you all in this post.
Keep your iPad up to date
When Apple launched iPadOS, making the iPad say goodbye to iOS, it marked a before and after in this range of Apple devices as it introduced small new features that iPad users had been asking and demanding for years and years to really work with the iPad and that this was, in some cases, the substitute for the computer in their homes or offices.
Therefore, one of the requirements that you have to meet if you want to connect your camera to your iPad is to be updated to the latest version of iPadOS, at least you have to be on iPadOS 13, otherwise you will not be able to manage the photos or videos from your camera through your iPad.
You may not need external accessories
You do not necessarily need an accessory for the connection of the reflex camera with the iPad beyond the cable itself that connects both devices. If you have a cable that connects the camera with the corresponding port on your iPad, be it lightning or USB-C, perfect, otherwise you will have to go through the box to buy that cable you need. Although you can also invest in an adapter or hub, which is the option that we will discuss below.
Connect your camera through a Hub
You will not always be lucky enough to have a cable that connects your iPad with your camera, so if you are going to choose to spend money on a cable, it may be worth buying a hub since it will give you the possibility to connect your camera and other accessories to the iPad.
If you finally opt for this option, before getting a hub make sure that said accessory has the port corresponding to the cable you have from your camera. In this way, you can not only connect your camera to the iPad but also other accessories that you can connect with the hub you purchased.
There are cameras with their own apps
Finally, many camera manufacturers such as Canon or Sony have applications through which you can connect your iPad with their cameras to, among other things, be able to transfer photos or videos that are stored in the camera via WiFi. Perhaps this is the cheapest option of the three since it does not require any investment, however, not all cameras have this advantage.
Manage all photos or videos from iPad
Once you have connected your camera, or your camera’s card, to the iPad, the Files application will be your greatest ally to be able to do whatever you want with the content that is stored both in the camera and on its memory card. Through the iPad Files application you can do the same as you would if you connected the camera to your computer, that is, you can copy or transfer the photos to another storage unit connected to the iPad or even download the content on the iPad itself, not to mention that you can open these photos directly in photo editing applications saving you the step of storing them on the iPad.
This is something that many professionals in photography, especially, but also in video, have asked Apple for years to make the iPad a truly usable device for a professional audience, and thanks to iPadOS and the Files application this has been possible .
Transfer files from iPad to camera
In the same way that you have the possibility to transfer, copy and paste content from the camera or its card to the iPad, the reverse path can also be carried out, that is, transfer images from the iPad to your camera, or its card, since After all, what the iPad recognizes when you connect your camera is a storage unit, as if it were a hard drive, since it is really a memory card.
No battery in the camera? Charge it with the iPad
In some iPad models it is even possible to charge the camera through the iPad itself. In fact, it is as simple as connecting the camera to the iPad through an adapter or directly with a cable and the camera will start charging. However, this is something that does not work on all iPad models, so if you want to get out of doubt, we recommend that you try it with your camera and your iPad model.
iPad connection problems with camera
In some cases, there may be problems connecting the camera to the iPad, or rather, to be able to interact with the camera content from the iPad.
If you don’t see the import option
- Make sure the camera is turned on and in the correct mode to export images.
- Unplug the adapter, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in.
- Disconnect the camera or remove the SD card, wait 30 seconds and reconnect the camera or insert the SD card.
- Restart the iPad, turn off the camera, and turn it back on.
- Try with a different camera or card, if in this case if you can import the content there may be a problem with the data on the camera or card.
If you can’t import certain content
Apple Camera Adapters allow you to import various types of media files from cameras and SD cards. If the format is not compatible with iPadOS, it cannot be viewed on the iPad. In addition, these adapters can only import content that has been captured with a digital camera, in case you have copied other files or renamed the existing ones, they may not be able to be imported to the iPad.
