iPad Pro Best way to add more (seemless) storage to my iPad Pro...?

[Turnpike]

I know the way to add the most storage is to pay for the 1TB of memory and max out the iCloud paid options, and I have done both.

I have a lot of photos that I take or save that I refer back to during research. (A LOT)

So, if money is not an issue in this particular situation, what is the closest way to add more local storage to an iPad? What is the closest I can come to inserting a 1TB SSD card into a 256GB Android phone? I don't mind dongles, dangles, cables, hubs, whatever- even if they need to be powered and plugged in all the time. I work at my desk, and everything sits in one spot.

Any ideas or solutions you've found, I'd be super interested to know. Most Google results are flooded with just buying more storage in the iPad model, but I'm looking to go beyond that. Thanks!

 

[sparksd]

I use a couple of USB-C 1TB T7 Samsung SSDs with my iPads (and share with my laptop). That's my portable solution - at home I use an SMB connection to my NAS.

 

[Digitalguy]

buy an extenal SSD (Samsung or Sandisk for instance) and plug it either directly or though a USB C hub if you don't have the Magic keyboard or need more ports. Format in a Mac format if you won't use it with non Apple devices so that you have no risk of corruption (avoid exfat for that).

 

[Turnpike]

buy an extenal SSD (Samsung or Sandisk for instance) and plug it either directly or though a USB C hub if you don't have the Magic keyboard or need more ports. Format in a Mac format if you won't use it with non Apple devices so that you have no risk of corruption (avoid exfat for that).

So then the iPad will just automatically use it? Say if I add a 3TB SSD, then my photos will be able to have 2.7TB of photos in the app? No need to set anything up?

 

[darngooddesign]

So then the iPad will just automatically use it? Say if I add a 3TB SSD, then my photos will be able to have 2.7TB of photos in the app? No need to set anything up?

AFAIK if you keep them as files they will be fine on a drive, but if you want to view them in the Photos app they will copy to the internal SSD. There might be a photo app while lets you view an external photo library.

 

[mystery hill]

So then the iPad will just automatically use it? Say if I add a 3TB SSD, then my photos will be able to have 2.7TB of photos in the app? No need to set anything up?

No. You won’t see files on the external SSD in the Photos app.

If you want to manage that many photos, a Mac would be a better option at this time.

 

[rui no onna]

I know the way to add the most storage is to pay for the 1TB of memory and max out the iCloud paid options, and I have done both.

I have a lot of photos that I take or save that I refer back to during research. (A LOT)

So, if money is not an issue in this particular situation, what is the closest way to add more local storage to an iPad? What is the closest I can come to inserting a 1TB SSD card into a 256GB Android phone? I don't mind dongles, dangles, cables, hubs, whatever- even if they need to be powered and plugged in all the time. I work at my desk, and everything sits in one spot.

Any ideas or solutions you've found, I'd be super interested to know. Most Google results are flooded with just buying more storage in the iPad model, but I'm looking to go beyond that. Thanks!

If you want seamless, the only option is to get the higher capacity iPad model.

If you're okay with not so seamless, then an external SSD will work. During the holiday sales, I think portable 4TB SSDs were going for less than $300.

You mentioned your iPad is always at the desk anyway. You might as well keep your entire photo library on the external SSD (just make sure you have backups).

 

[Mark Stone]

I know the way to add the most storage is to pay for the 1TB of memory and max out the iCloud paid options, and I have done both.

I have a lot of photos that I take or save that I refer back to during research. (A LOT)

So, if money is not an issue in this particular situation, what is the closest way to add more local storage to an iPad? What is the closest I can come to inserting a 1TB SSD card into a 256GB Android phone? I don't mind dongles, dangles, cables, hubs, whatever- even if they need to be powered and plugged in all the time. I work at my desk, and everything sits in one spot.

Any ideas or solutions you've found, I'd be super interested to know. Most Google results are flooded with just buying more storage in the iPad model, but I'm looking to go beyond that. Thanks!

I manage a lot of photos from my Air 5th Gen (see my website http://sketchclub.net — just a portion of my architectural history studies). I use a simple SanDisk flash drive with a USB-C to USB A adapter. It is accessible through the Files app on the iPad. Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

 

[Mark Stone]

No. You won’t see files on the external SSD in the Photos app.

If you want to manage that many photos, a Mac would be a better option at this time.

They’re accessible through the Files app, and can be moved freely in/out of the Photos app. 😊 An iPad would be quite capable.

 

[sparksd]

They’re accessible through the Files app, and can be moved freely in/out of the Photos app. 😊 An iPad would be quite capable.

Exactly. Another option - which I use because I don't trust Files interaction with exFAT external storage - is FileBrowser Pro. Other, similar file mgr. apps, would also work. I'd like to see a fully functional DAM app for the iPad.

 

[Slartibart]

Exactly. Another option - which I use because I don't trust Files interaction with exFAT external storage - is FileBrowser Pro. Other, similar file mgr. apps, would also work. I'd like to see a fully functional DAM app for the iPad.

E.g. RAWPower will allow to edit and organize Photos on external media as well as the internal Photos library. There is a free trial.

 

[sparksd]

E.g. RAWPower will allow to edit and organize Photos on external media as well as the internal Photos library. There is a free trial.

I had looked at that but for Canon (my cameras) it only supports DNG, not native Canon RAW format (CR2, CR3), so I'd have to do an intermediate conversion with another app (plus an additional file store).

 

[Slartibart]

I had looked at that but for Canon (my cameras) it only supports DNG, not native Canon RAW format (CR2, CR3), so I'd have to do an intermediate conversion with another app (plus an additional file store).

I do not have access to CR3, but CR2s are e.g. easily referenced in RAWPower (as long they are on a SSD or a USB-stick):

and can be edited:

I just tried with .CR2s from a 5D Mark II and a 6D on iPadOS 16.3b1. There is an issue after loading a CR2 and changing the position of the ipad from landscape to portrait - the displayed image gets “scrambeled” - seems related to the iPadOS beta.

 

[sparksd]

I do not have access to CR3, but CR2s are e.g. easily referenced in RAWPower (as long they are on a SSD or a USB-stick):

View attachment 2140499

and can be edited:

View attachment 2140510

I just tried with .CR2s from a 5D Mark II and a 6D on iPadOS 16.3b1. There is an issue after loading a CR2 and changing the position of the ipad from landscape to portrait - the displayed image gets “scrambeled” - seems related to the iPadOS beta.

Judging from a couple of reviews, it does look like it supports CR3 - I had only seen the DNG support notes on their website. But it also appears that the free trial is gone - the only option is a $9.99 purchase. Since I'm already using Lightroom across my devices (my laptop is my primary editing & photo mgmt. device), I'll have to pass on it.