iPad for transferring files from memory card to external SSD

myotis

myotis

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Does anyone use an iPad to copy files from a camera memory card to an external SSD?

I am assuming you need some sort of hub to plug into the iPad and then plug a card reader and SSD into.

I don't want it to be copied into the ipad and then copied to the SSD, but directly from card to drive with the iPad acting as a conduit, so I am also assuming there is a specialist app available for this purpose.

Is there a specific iPad spec (age, model, or IOS) needed to do this? Ideally, I would like to get the cheapest iPad I can get away with :-(

Googling isn't finding as much information as I had hoped for, so I would appreciate some advice.

I'm not sure if I should go down this route, or whether just go for another Macbook Air (my Air and MacBook Pro, have finally died). So would be keen to hear how well it's likely to work.

My iPad would benefit from an upgrade (my current iPad won't update beyond IOS 10) and if I could sort out a way of backing up files with an iPad when I'm away from home, a new iPad, and putting off a new laptop might be my best option.
 
Just a thought that the cheaper IPads may have a limit on the data speed, so it might be worth researching if you intend to transfer large files and you don’t have time to wait for it.
 
Mintchocs said:
Just a thought that the cheaper IPads may have a limit on the data speed, so it might be worth researching if you intend to transfer large files and you don’t have time to wait for it.
Click to expand...
Thanks.

It's raised in a few videos I've watched, but only in the older ones. So I'm not sure if it's now less of an issue (assuming I buy new), but still worth checking.

For me, it's normally not going to be much of a problem. Most days I'm backing up far less than 100 files, and even on a Wildlife day, with fast frames per second, I'm somewhere between 500 and 1000 pictures.
 
This may be worth a look...

www.lastscenephotography.com

Travel SD Card Backup Solution | The Gnarbox Alternative

The best laptop free SD card backup option available. This compact, low cost solution means you can travel light, safe in the knowledge your photos are always stored securely.
www.lastscenephotography.com www.lastscenephotography.com
 
AndrewFlannigan said:
This may be worth a look...

www.lastscenephotography.com

Travel SD Card Backup Solution | The Gnarbox Alternative

The best laptop free SD card backup option available. This compact, low cost solution means you can travel light, safe in the knowledge your photos are always stored securely.
www.lastscenephotography.com www.lastscenephotography.com
Click to expand...
Thanks, I had forgotten about this (I used to have an equivalent many years ago). As it so happens, as I use CF express cards (as well as SD) it wouldn't work for me.

In my case, I really need a new iPad (and a replacement for my two dead laptops), so this is an exercise in trying to decide whether I can go for the iPad first and then save up for a new laptop.

OR, whether I need to go for a new laptop, and carry on accepting that some apps I want to run on my iPad, I will need to do without, (for now) because my iPad is so old.
 
Peter123 said:
I use my iphone for the power.
And this. https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D1XLNWP2?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1&th=1
And a card reader,

Images go straight to the SSD.
Click to expand...
Thanks, the other hubs I've seen suggested are Delkin and Amker.

Until I watched the videos this morning, it had never occurred to me to use the phone for this. My iPhone 7 is also ideally needing replaced. But like my old ipad it does 80% -90% of what I need it to do, and don't feel all that enthusiastic about replacing it.
 
I guess they will all work.
Some have integrated card readers, but I have no experience of these.
 
Peter123 said:
I guess they will all work.
Some have integrated card readers, but I have no experience of these.
Click to expand...
Those that I've seen have only had SD or microSD, and I need CF Express.

But the main thing for me from this thread is that it seems to work well enough, so it's an option I can consider.
 
Following
 
myotis said:
Thanks, the other hubs I've seen suggested are Delkin and Amker.

Until I watched the videos this morning, it had never occurred to me to use the phone for this. My iPhone 7 is also ideally needing replaced. But like my old ipad it does 80% -90% of what I need it to do, and don't feel all that enthusiastic about replacing it.
Click to expand...

I think with an iPhone 7 you will be limited by the data transfer speed of the Lightning port, which would act as the USB host.

It is very slow compared (USB 2,.0 / 480 mbps) with some more recent iPhones with USB C which are equipped with ISB 3.0 that maxes out at 10 Gbps. However, this is only for the iPhone 17 Pro models. the regular iPhone 17 and Air are still stuck with USB 2.0

I tried it with my [lightning port) iPhone 11 and data transfers for backup (of 24 max Sony RAW files from an SD card reader to an SSD) were painful, where my 2018 iPad Pro was reasonably acceptable.

iPads equipped with USB C have a mix of speeds from USB 2.0 / 480 mbps up to 40 Gbps Thunderbolt.

www.macrumors.com

Here's How Fast USB-C Ports Are on iPads and Macs Ahead of iPhone 15

It's nearly September, meaning that new iPhones are just around the corner. All four upcoming iPhone 15 models are widely expected to be equipped with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, but there may be speed differences across the lineup. In November 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com

p.s. you will need an appropriately fast USB C hub to connect everything together
 
Last edited:
Musicman said:
I think with an iPhone 7 you will be limited by the data transfer speed of the Lightning port, which would act as the USB host.

It is very slow compared (USB 2,.0 / 480 mbps) with some more recent iPhones with USB C which are equipped with ISB 3.0 that maxes out at 10 Gbps. However, this is only for the iPhone 17 Pro models. the regular iPhone 17 and Air are still stuck with USB 2.0

I tried it with my [lightning port) iPhone 11 and data transfers for backup (of 24 max Sony RAW files from an SD card reader to an SSD) were painful, where my 2018 iPad Pro was reasonably acceptable.

iPads equipped with USB C have a mix of speeds from USB 2.0 / 480 mbps up to 40 Gbps Thunderbolt.

www.macrumors.com

Here's How Fast USB-C Ports Are on iPads and Macs Ahead of iPhone 15

It's nearly September, meaning that new iPhones are just around the corner. All four upcoming iPhone 15 models are widely expected to be equipped with a USB-C port instead of Lightning, but there may be speed differences across the lineup. In November 2022, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the...
www.macrumors.com www.macrumors.com

p.s. you will need an appropriately fast USB C hub to connect everything together
Click to expand...
Thanks, I had already decided that a new iPhone would be part of going down an iPhone route. But I'm still thinking about it. I take months to make these sorts of decisions :-(
 
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