Any tips on replacing laptop with iPad Pro - photography

[v3rlon]

So as the subject suggests, I would like to retire the MacBook Pro and only carry an iPad on the go.
I would also like to do so without using Adobe subscriptions.

I am generally happy with Apple Photos to organize pictures and a slew of other stuff to edit them).

I get that I will probably have to carry enough memory cards to last a vacation/photo outing as it will not be as easy to dump the memory cards and head out the next day, but that is not so difficult anymore.

For the people that have done this, any advice or tips or links to tutorials that made this easier? Any apps you recommend for working with photos on the iPad? I hear so many people talk about how they gave up their laptop and never missed it, but it is a big change for me, and I am clinging desperately to my mouse and keyboard.

Any specific hardware?

The intent is to replace the heavy lifting with a desktop Mac, so I am not giving that up.

Any good workflow guidance would also be welcome.

 

[MevetS]

I don't really have much to say about actually using an iPad in this fashion (I use a MacBook Air, light enough for me, but not for everyone).

But with respect to this:

"I get that I will probably have to carry enough memory cards to last a vacation/photo outing as it will not be as easy to dump the memory cards and head out the next day, but that is not so difficult anymore."

An iPad Pro with a USB C dock with the right set of ports, including a card reader, would allow for offloading the camera cards to a portable HDD or SSD. Perhaps not as lightweight a kit as you might like however.

Good luck if you decide go this route.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

It’s actually not that hard to do anymore. If you use Photos, then when you plug in an SD card to the iPad and open Photos, you’ll be able to import them rather easily. It’s up to you if you want to import them to an Album or just right into the photo library. Even edits on the iPad are pretty good, though you won’t have the ability to heal any spots with iOS photos (unlike MacOS Photos). A simple solution is to pay for Affinity Photo for iPad, which is really cheap for as powerful as it is. Photos will sync your edits across devices, provided you use iCloud Photo Library. It really is a pretty painless process. I’ve don’t this process for years, so it’s a perfectly workable experience, though Photos might be a bit too limited when it comes to file management for some. It works best if you’re an entirely Apple user, and sharing works best with other Apple users.

You could also just go with LightRoom if you don’t mind the subscription—it does the same syncing across devices.

 

[v3rlon]

I have Affinity (both iPad and Mac).

I seem to be more okay with Photos organization capabilities than I am with my other alternatives Synchronization capabilities across my devices. I do wish the more advanced edits were available on the iPad, but so be it. I cannot figure out why iOS photos doesn't support smart albums, but I suppose that will wait until I get back to my desk. IT is sometimes nice to be able to note things in the descriptions you will not remember by the time you get home from vacation, though.

I am not doing Adobe. I appreciate the power of their suite, but I tried their LR/PS bundle early on and had a rather serious issue when their login server was down (? That may not have been it exactly, but I couldn't log into my account or my applications, including works in progress at the time. They happily pointed out the EULA said something in legalize to the effect of "too bad, so sad," and then had the audacity to charge me to terminate my subscription - that I couldn't log into).

I have the USB-C dongle on an Amazon truck somewhere to try that because my photo library will put a gigantic dent in my iPad storage.

 

[Darmok N Jalad]

Yeah, you can set the storage to be managed by icloud, which helps you overcome the local storage limits.

 

[Slartibart]

Gentle persons,

as of iPadOS 14.x it is quite easy to develop RAWs and do additional image processing on an iPad... it is actually fast too. Pixelmator Photo, Affinity Photo, Lightroom&Company allow to do this. Pixelmator Photo is by far the most into iPadOS integrated app (and IMHO one of the most underrated apps on the iPad), Affinity Photo offers you additional functions like panorama or HDR composition, filters, etc..
The weak point is the external media support: you will need FileBrowser Go/ Bussiness to make a backup from your SD-card to an additional external medium like a SSD - in theory Pixelmator Photo, Affinity Photo or even Lightroom allow you to work directly on the SD-card, but the reality is that Apple’s Files app, which is used as default to provide directly mounted external media access is prone to introduce errors to the file system or even damage data.

TL;DR: together with an Apple Pencil it is a joy to develop or batch process RAWs with Pixelmator Photo on the iPad. When working with directly connected external media a backup using FileBrowser GO or BIZ is highly recommended. Another valid option to work directly on SD-cards is a wireless reader like the one RAVPower offers.

 

[AlaskaMoose]

Affinity Photo for the iPad is available at the App store.

 

[mackmgg]

Something like a GNARBOX or WD My Passport Wireless make the workflow on an iPad a lot nicer. You finish shooting, pop the memory card into the drive, and it auto-copies the photos in. Then you just connect the iPad over WiFi, and can load the photos into the iPad. I have one of the WD ones, and it’s worked great for me. It even shows up as a drive in the Files app, so most apps can just pull directly from it like a USB drive.

I still prefer the workflow of Lightroom Classic on a laptop, but iPad is pretty close especially considering how small it is!

 

[cSalmon]

i tried this still less headaches with a laptop not using iOS software. Sure there is software out there that you can edit images with, but navigating folders, importing image files, copying, backing up, the ergonomics of software, etc.. The mac’s software is just so much better Or maybe better to say iOS (maybe in five years) is just so dedicated to being connected to the mothership it makes itself useless or a major headache. [what a horrible file folder design]
i love my ipad for the couch, but ended up getting a small Mac air for actual travel use. once you place a cover on the iPad there is not much difference in footprints. The only downside I experienced is an iPad can be used for almost a 100% of air flight where as a laptop still needs to be put away.

 

[Ray2]

i tried this still less headaches with a laptop not using iOS software. Sure there is software out there that you can edit images with, but navigating folders, importing image files, copying, backing up, the ergonomics of software, etc.. The mac’s software is just so much better Or maybe better to say iOS (maybe in five years) is just so dedicated to being connected to the mothership it makes itself useless or a major headache. [what a horrible file folder design]
i love my ipad for the couch, but ended up getting a small Mac air for actual travel use. once you place a cover on the iPad there is not much difference in footprints. The only downside I experienced is an iPad can be used for almost a 100% of air flight where as a laptop still needs to be put away.

Depends on your Mac install as well. If you’re running any server apps like Plex, no can do in iOS. Airplay to multiple speakers means updating all interfaces to Airplay 2. Wait a year and you'll get to update all of them to AirPlay 3. That includes your ATV or TV sets. Want to remote control the iPad? Probably available, probably won’t survive updates, probably something you'll stop messing with pretty quickly. Apps that can address multiple external drives? Few and far between, if any. Most if it’s controlled by what functionality Apple wants to put in the Files app. So far we know they don’t want it competing with the crapola Photos app.

Apple currently does not want us to replace Macs with iPads. They want us to buy both. That needs to change, apps need to be developed, best approaches need to be determined before the goal of replacing Macs with iPads can be implemented. Caveat: small apartments may be able to. Much of what I need are because of many rooms, many installs, multiple users. If an install is limited to a desk, perhaps enough is in place to do it.

 

[v3rlon]

Depends on your Mac install as well. If you’re running any server apps like Plex, no can do in iOS. Airplay to multiple speakers means updating all interfaces to Airplay 2. Wait a year and you'll get to update all of them to AirPlay 3. That includes your ATV or TV sets. Want to remote control the iPad? Probably available, probably won’t survive updates, probably something you'll stop messing with pretty quickly. Apps that can address multiple external drives? Few and far between, if any. Most if it’s controlled by what functionality Apple wants to put in the Files app. So far we know they don’t want it competing with the crapola Photos app.

Apple currently does not want us to replace Macs with iPads. They want us to buy both. That needs to change, apps need to be developed, best approaches need to be determined before the goal of replacing Macs with iPads can be implemented. Caveat: small apartments may be able to. Much of what I need are because of many rooms, many installs, multiple users. If an install is limited to a desk, perhaps enough is in place to do it.

This sounds like you are trying to completely replace your computer with an iPad, and that is a much different thing.

I was looking to use an iPad to do the things I do on vacation/in the field, and still come home to a desktop for heavy lifting. So transferring files off the card, quick previews to see if something needs to be redone, occasional edits and the usual round of email, browsing, shopping, and streaming.

So, I don't need to access multiple external hard drives or to run the more serious desktop applications. I can do my 3D rendering at home. .

 

[Ray2]

This sounds like you are trying to completely replace your computer with an iPad, and that is a much different thing.

I was looking to use an iPad to do the things I do on vacation/in the field, and still come home to a desktop for heavy lifting. So transferring files off the card, quick previews to see if something needs to be redone, occasional edits and the usual round of email, browsing, shopping, and streaming.

So, I don't need to access multiple external hard drives or to run the more serious desktop applications. I can do my 3D rendering at home.

Wasn’t responding to your post. Supposed I should have.

I’m currently doing what you want to do. iOS 14, 6th Gen 9.7” iPad + Apple lightning sd card reader + a few extra sd cards + Lightroom CC (though Photos would work fine). I travel 4 to 6 months each year (until 2020) and this works great. It’s simple, it’s functional. Where I’m not entirely satisfied is I want more than photography support during travel without lugging around a bag of electronics boxes, cables and adapters.

My next step is on paper but I can’t seem to pull the trigger as the above works so well. iOS 14, iPad Air 4 or 11” Pro, hub with 1 type C in & 2 type C out's, 2 type A's, card reader, and HDTV out, good enough iPad speakers to fill a room with listenable SQ, 500 GB ssd external. This gives me the same photo functionality with improved import speed, a reliable wired connection to near any tv rather than depend on hotel/rentals' flacky WiFi, music without lugging around my UE Boom and simple power while using the iPad with external devices.

Using Photos, what you want to do is pretty simple to facilitate.

 

[v3rlon]

Wasn’t responding to your post. Supposed I should have.

I’m currently doing what you want to do. iOS 14, 6th Gen 9.7” iPad + Apple lightning sd card reader + a few extra sd cards + Lightroom CC (though Photos would work fine). I travel 4 to 6 months each year (until 2020) and this works great. It’s simple, it’s functional. Where I’m not entirely satisfied is I want more than photography support during travel without lugging around a bag of electronics boxes, cables and adapters.

My next step is on paper but I can’t seem to pull the trigger as the above works so well. iOS 14, iPad Air 4 or 11” Pro, hub with 1 type C in & 2 type C out's, 2 type A's, card reader, and HDTV out, good enough iPad speakers to fill a room with listenable SQ, 500 GB ssd external. This gives me the same photo functionality with improved import speed, a reliable wired connection to near any tv rather than depend on hotel/rentals' flacky WiFi, music without lugging around my UE Boom and simple power while using the iPad with external devices.

Using Photos, what you want to do is pretty simple to facilitate.

If you find a reasonable hub with two USBC out, please let me know. I found a couple of ridiculous ones, and they were big. So I am making do with a small hub with 2 USBA, HDMI, and SD Card reader. It has a single USBC, but that would also be power delivery if I need to keep the iPad charged.

I wish someone would make:
USBC
2 USBC (one to charge and one for whatever)
2 USBA
HDMI
NVME drive connector
SD Card reader
XQD /CF2 card reader (yeah, that last one will never happen, but as long as I am dreaming, I may as well swing for the fence).

 

[tlnargi]

I load in my RAWs with the USB-C dongle and make my selects with photos by favoriting them. Then I use pixelmator or Darkroom to make my edits. Then I share my images to wherever I want. Finally, I upload my RAWs and exports to my NAS which has a simple DAM where I can tag things, but also keep them in order by folder structure. All my photos are then accessible by any device and I don’t pay extra for cloud service, and my photos are secure. I can also create custom albums this way and send them to whoever I want, with password protection and a limit to how long the photos will be available.

The only downside to this is once I delete the images from my iPad, I lose my RAW edit metadata. To me this isn’t such a big deal because I rarely go back and edit, but I can see how this would be a dealbreaker for some.

 

[Ray2]

If you find a reasonable hub with two USBC out, please let me know. I found a couple of ridiculous ones, and they were big. So I am making do with a small hub with 2 USBA, HDMI, and SD Card reader. It has a single USBC, but that would also be power delivery if I need to keep the iPad charged.

I wish someone would make:
USBC
2 USBC (one to charge and one for whatever)
2 USBA
HDMI
NVME drive connector
SD Card reader
XQD /CF2 card reader (yeah, that last one will never happen, but as long as I am dreaming, I may as well swing for the fence).

I've unfortunately learned we're on our own here. When it comes to hubs, the web is utterly useless. Reviews for products the reviewer has never touched are the norm. Though they're sure to have "Buy Me" links. Specs are utterly worthless. Somehow the suppliers believe the physical nature of the jack/socket confers some sort of technical spec. None of this is fraudulent; like anything USB, it could be anything. Up until yesterday I was looking for a hub like you are. Yesterday I decided to make my life simpler and buy the Apple dongles. The one with HDMI and the one with an SD card reader only. Yes, absurdly expensive. But I know they will work and I have far better areas to spend my time.

My GF and I each have a “USB C” hub that transfer files at 1/5th the speed of our Mac's USB 3.1 ports. The inference being we either have 2 different hubs that malfunction or we have 2 different hubs using the same garbage chipset and pawned off as “USB C”. The joys of saving money with Chinese brands we've never heard of.