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How to Wirelessly Connect Your DSLR to Your iPad


Many times, I go out on a shoot and feel like I captured the scene how I wanted it to look but then I get home and look at the photos large on the computer only to realize that the photos didn't turn out.  I think one of the biggest reason for this problem is that the tiny screen on the back of the camera doesn't give me a good view of the photo as a whole.

About a year ago, I started searching out a way to make the camera wirelessly display my photos on the iPad or my Android phone so that I can view them larger during the shoot.  This is also a great technique for professional photographers who want to show Mom the photos on the iPad while shooting photos of their children, for example.

I have developed a really nice workflow for doing this, and MANY MANY of you have asked me to share how I do this.  So, Dustin and I hopped into the studio for a quick video tutorial (available at the top of this blog post if you're viewing this via email).

A graphic showing how to tether a dslr and an ipad
If this is valuable to you, would you pin this on your Pinterest photography board?

Here's the step-by-step…

Step 1: Get your gear together.  You'll need a camera that is compatible (virtually any DSLR made in the last 3 years will work) and an eye-fi x2 pro card.

Step 2: Set up the eye-fi card via the computer interface.  Your eye-fi card has software available to make these changes.  Define the network for when you're shooting at home or in your studio.  Then, set up direct mode to connect 30 seconds after not finding a wifi network.  You may also want to configure the eye-fi card to only transmit the small jpegs and not the raw files.

Step 3: Set up your camera to shoot RAW plus small or medium JPEG.  This will make the transfer much faster.

Step 4: On your iPad, go into the settings > Wireless > Connect to the router that the eye-fi card is connected to.  If you're working in a place that has no wifi router available (like when you're outside), simply connect  in direct mode to the eye-fi card, which will show up in your wi-fi networks after 30 seconds.

That's it!  You're ready to connect the iPad wirelessly to your DSLR camera.

29 thoughts on “How to Wirelessly Connect Your DSLR to Your iPad”

  1. I shoot a Canon 400D and they Eye-fi website says it doesn’t work for that model. Do I have any other options?

  2. I am looking for an android app and found Eye-Fi on google play. I’m thinking about getting the card and trying it out. I have the same problem of not being satisfied with my photos when I get them on the computer.

  3. @ Andrea:
    I saw this on Amazon, received good reviews
    SD-CF II: SD to CF Type II Adapter (Supports SDHC MMC)
    by i.Trek

  4. Hi! I have a Nikon D50 and it doesn’t read SDHC. Any card over 2GB will not be read on the camera. I looked up for the 2GB Eye Fi and they have been discontinued. Is there any other way I can do exactly what is shown on this video with another card?

    Many thanks in advance!

  5. I have a Canon 5D. Will the SD to CF adapter in the 5D, transfering to a I-pad work? Are their any issues in doing this?

  6. I heard the Toshiba FlashAir SDs are:
    – the same type of product
    – offers even more compatibility (not only app based) and OS independant
    – consumes less energy (save our battery)
    – a little cheaper
    – easier to configure

    I’m not saying it is the best and I have not yet tried it personally but I would say check it out!

  7. I was reading the article on sending pictures from you camera to Ipad does this also work with and android Tablet?. I also look up eye-fi w2 Procard, but it asked me if I meant bye-fi. It tooks interesting and I would like to try it if it will work on an android tab.

  8. thank you thank you for this article, I have been looking for something like this since 2009, i have tried to find any kind of way to see my pictures on the computer as i was taking them, now I can thanks to you.

  9. Lots of misc but the basics were not well explained for me. In the middle of nowhere where does the WiFi card plug in. dos it go in the memory slot of the camera? And if so does it also function as the memory card for the camera?
    I have only one memory card slot in my camera.

  10. So I just watched your video and am wondering why you didn’t show us what you were explaining? You had a camera, you had the card and the iPad with the program, I was expecting a demo.

    1. @Eleena,

      It doesn’t make the camera itself available in photography applications, but it would allow you to take a photo with your camera, get it on your iPad, and do whatever you would like with the photo from there.

  11. Hey guys how did you manage with film? I don’t go near my rear screen unless it is to check curves on particularly difficult exposures
    I did buy a lightning camera connection kit that didn’t work and haven’t risked another one yet

  12. I camera is CASIO (EXILIM EX – F1) and iPad (air iOS 9.0.2).
    Let me try it out while I giving a golf instruction.
    If somebody has best solution for mine, it will be appreciated.

  13. I love my eye-fi card. I have to connected to phone and have my phone set up to automatically backup my photos so I don’t have to worry about losing my photos should something happen to the card or camera. And I love that I can immediately post them to Facebook if I want

  14. Hi Kezia.
    I like you shot with a Canon D400. I have an android tablet and I use a micro USB and connect to my camera, this let’s me view and edit my pictures in with. Hope this helps

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