Canoe50d

Flipping the pages of photo mags and there seems to be some buzz about Tablets (I Pads and such) being a great tool for photographers. So I have to ask, do you have one if so, what? Do you love it? Pros of having one? Has it changed your hobbie? I'm not looking to hear about the features of yours or why I should get one, but rather how has it added to you as a photographer and if feel well needed tool added to your camera bag.? Thanks in advance.

traveler90712 Loc: Lake Worth, Fl.

First, what do you intend to do with a "pad?"
There are "I" pads
Windows pads
Android pads
Each has it's own pluses and minuses.

Do intend to display the pictures to the customer as you take them? If so you need a pad that will handle your media.

To my knowledge only one pad can handle a full size SD card and several only handle a micro SD. I am unaware of any that will handle compact flash. However, I'm sure if there are any USB ports on the pad an external card reader can be used.

As expected..............
I use a Asus Transformer Prime, with the keyboard. I can use either a micro SD card, in the pad, or a normal size SD card when the keyboard is attached to the pad. The battery life is about 16 hours with the keyboard attached. Even with some post processing the battery life, with the keyboard attached, is more then adequate for a days shoot.

And of course opinions are like "A" holes :-D
Questions, ask...

flyfisher2244 Loc: Midwest (former W Mass resident)

I am a loyal Mac user and each member of my family (3) has an iPad. They are a great tool for accessing forums, sites, video tutorials, et. al. On the subject of photography. They are obviously very portable, in fact I'm writing to you on my pad right now while watching UAE and Uruguay Olympic Soccer or "Football". I highly recommend one. I would also recommend an iMac computer for post processing as they are essentially designed for graphic arts, etc. it also helps that by brother-in-law is a Mac (Apple) systems administrator.

Try to stay away from other tablets. These company's are trying to copy "Apple's" incredible product.

BobG Loc: Omaha, NE

I have to agree that the iPad is the way to go. I Just got back from a long motorcycle vacation. I took my canon S100 and my iPad. With the iPad camera kit, I was able to transfer & view all my pics, edit what I wanted to with iPhoto and even post some on Facebook while I was on my trip. It was great being able to do all of that easily on my iPad. Love it!

Canoe50d

I am not in the market for one, but as I said I see them being advertised in photo mags and wondered who was using them and why. Thanks again.

dbmaxwell Loc: Mogadore, Ohio

I have a Xoom. I can use it as a viewfinder, trigger, set focus and all that. Works pretty well. I have access to a new Ipad and decided to stick with the Xoom. Ipad can't play the part of a large type edition viewfinder

photo guy Loc: Chippewa Falls, WI

I am not in the market for one at this time, however, I know a pro photographer (a major friend of the family) who has an I Pad for his business to help show photos to customers and loves it. The last time I was at his studio I saw it and asked some questions of how he uses it and ended up learning how much of a valuable tool it is for photography.

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

I have the iPadii I use it to show my clients my work. Colors are always spot on.

steinr98

As traveler90712 wrote- Nothing for CF cards...not true. I have a 7D which uses the CF cards for storage. There is an iPad converter to handle CF cards. You can just plug in your converter(same idea for SD cards) and it will auto download your photos to the iPad. There is a problem if you are going to use the iPad for a storage medium. The iPad does convert the photos to a smaller file. If you want to just look at your photos- it works just fine. For storage you need a different type of storage device. If you load a photo into the iPad, jot down the file size, then later remove the file to the computer for processing- the file size will be smaller!!! As already stated by several- th eiPad is great sor showing and carrying around your photos!!!!

saichiez Loc: Beautiful Central Oregon

I saw a recent short summary that made sense to me.

Tablets for Social Networking and Recreation, Computers for productivity.

I may try one, but have two concerns. A real keyboard and shortage of storage.

Slim and small, and quite glossy... nice.

And you can by a keyboard dock, certainly. Storage is another matter, because while you can get adaptors to plug in extra storage, it now becomes an issue of how much stuff do I want to carry to have my files.

Frankly, I had a netbook which had a 10 inch screen, and although the keyboard made it slightly thicker than a tablet, it had a 320 Gb hard drive ... ten times more storage than most of the upgrade tablets.

Cost.... about $200 less than the 32 Gb tablet, with a keyboard dock and adaptor to use USB devices.

Obviously the distinctions do not stop there, ie different operating system, touch screen for the tablet.. etc. But a healthy enough difference that I just seem to be having a serious problem pulling the trigger on one.

I have to admit though that seeing how much easier it is to solve mega crimes in one hour with a tablet, like on NCIS and CSI Los Vegas is truly campy. (cool).

"Hey Dano, slide that guys prints across your screen and get it to the cute girl in the lab... RIGHT NOW!!!"

Donwitz Loc: Virginia Beach, VA

I bought a small netbook for $299 a few years ago. It has 120 GB of memory, and I can run Photoshop. When I go on vacation, I transfer pictures off of my SD cards through the built in card reader slot, and can edit some pictures on the flight home. Show me a tablet with 120 GB memory, an SD card slot, that can run PS, for under $300...my display IS inferior, but it isn't that bad!

Snapshot52 Loc: Boca Raton

BOBG said it best I also have a kit I can take a shot put it on my ipad and send it to family around the world in seconds,

ggttc Loc: TN

I also have the Asus with keyboard...very flexible and easy to handle...much easier to travel with.

ggttc Loc: TN

I also have a 500 gig hard drive that is a lot smaller than a pack of cards...

gleneric Loc: Calgary, Alberta

I won an iPad as a door prize at a seminar a few years ago ... had no intentions of going out and spending the $750 it was worth (could have bought a lens for that!). Yes I like it, and yes it gets a lot of use in our house, but it really has done nothing for me in terms of my photography. I have not found any serious apps for "editing" on it, and I find the touch screen to be really limiting in terms of manipulating a photo (other than maybe doing an overall adjustment to contrast or something like that). For me, its most useful feature is that it is a great storage place and display device for photos of my granddaughter so we can show her off when we are visiting people:) Much better than the old plastic sleeve of little wallet-size photos that people used to pull out of their pocket to show off cute kids!