Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda

New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site

New Feature: SMS Notification alert

New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist

FM Forums | General Gear-talk | Join Upload & Sell

iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

pshambroom
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

I just ordered an iPhone 15 Pro with 512GB storage specifically for field backups from my Sony full frame. Should be enough for several days shooting, say 200 or so 61 mp files every day. (along with normal phone data- music, etc.) The iPhone 15 Pro supposedly has a much higher speed USB-C port than the cheaper and previous models.

My goal is to use this on short trips without bringing along a laptop. (I might bring a compact SSD storage device for secondary backup and to free up space on the phone if needed.) Is anyone using this combo? I would love to hear more specifically how this is working for you? Are using the File App for downloads? (I had tried that with an iPad with spotty results.) Can this handle incremental backup/downloads (that is- only downloading new files since the previous download)?

Are you using the Apple SD to USB-C reader? They list this as having "UHS-II speeds", would there be a difference with 3rd-party readers? I'd probably get the Apple anyway because I want the most compact solution. Ideally, I'd have the phone with the reader in my pocket doing a download while I continue shooting.

I know these phones are very new. Any solid information (from someone with actual experience using the new phone this way) would be most helpful!

Oct 04, 2023 at 06:20 PM

jj1804
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

I don’t have any first hand experience as I don’t have an iPhone 15 yet. But I was intending to do the same as you some time in the future when I don’t want to bring the iPad Pro.

In case your camera has a usb-c port you don’t even need the card reader. Just plug in the camera to the phone and select mass storage as file transfer option (in camera settings). People over on macrumors forum have successfully connected some cameras and SSDs. Some have reported problems due to the drives unmounting (probably a power delivery issue) so maybe a simple usb-c memory stick for a redundant backup should suffice? Not sure how many images you shoot or how long you plan on going on a photo trip but 512GB is a lot of images.

If you do want to get a card reader the one from apple will work fine. Your SD cards read speed will be the limiting factor. UHS-II V90 maxes out at a theoretical read speed of 300MB/s so nowhere near the iPhone 15 Pros theoretical port speed of 10Gbps.

I can’t say how the files app handles data transfer as I‘ve been importing images to LR CC directly from the camera or the SD to the iPad. But I assume copy and paste should work just like on the PC at home.

I‘ll probably go with the 256GB Pro and get a usb-c memorystick and a backup SD card just in case. SSD is imho overkill since I‘m not paid to shoot and usually not in a hurry to offload images. YMMV

Oct 08, 2023 at 04:32 PM

Choderboy
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

I just use the camera. Fast, easy.

Oct 09, 2023 at 02:14 AM

pshambroom
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

Just tested my new Lexar UHS-II speed SD cards and reader with great results copying RAW files from my Sony A7RIV to my iPhone 15 Pro. Using the built-in Files app, the copy speed with this combo is 232 mb/second. So (200) 123mb files (from 61mb sensor) takes 106 seconds, or less than two minutes. Definitely fast enough for on-the-go-backup in my pocket while I keep shooting. And easy on the phone battery too. The only downside is there is no incremental backup feature to avoiding duplicates in the file, so you have to take time select only the uncooked files if you are not backing up the whole card. Also (and strangely) the command you use in the Files app is "Move", not "Copy". (Don't worry, it still leaves the original files on the card.

This seems like an opportunity for an app developer to make a one-button incremental backup app (if the Apple developer protocols would allow it.)

Oct 14, 2023 at 03:08 PM

jj1804
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

I don't know about Sony, but Canon and Leica have Phone Apps that "know" what files have already been imported so you don't have to manually select or deselect anything. LR CC does the same and uploads the files to the Cloud if you're connected. Backing up files using the finder app of iOS sounds cumbersome.

Oct 16, 2023 at 03:18 AM

sjms
Online
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

This has been a ongoing question of overall usability with every new generation of iphone. The traction has been low for it.

Oct 16, 2023 at 09:37 AM

pshambroom
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

Not sure what kind of "traction" you're talking about, but this is a huge game changer for me. As stated above, the newest iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have very high speed USB-C ports- quite different from previous generations. I'm just back from a week of shooting and was able to backup hundreds of 123mb RAW files each day in a couple of minutes to my phone with a USB-C card reader. I can go out all day with a single camera with 20-70mm lens, a couple of batteries and the tiny card reader in my pocket. I have three copies of each file- one on each card in the camera and another on my phone.

I'm very interested in the new Sony A7CR, but was hesitant because of the single card slot. Being able to back up to my phone makes this more viable for serious work.

As stated, the only downside now is not having automatically incremental backup- I have to use the phone's File app to select photos to backup. It's a hassle, but I'm looking at solutions- possibly Lightroom Mobile or the something in the Sony apps.

Oct 22, 2023 at 09:52 AM

sjms
Online
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

traction as in overall usability interest. well maybe you have just what you need now as far is the processing. now someone has to be interested enough to build the software. it may come this round as long as the big A allows it. contact developers. i played around with the latest ipad and my z9 files. for me it was less than what i would want. my 11" full function laptop though larger allows me to do a lot more work.

hope you find what you are looking for in usability.

Edited on Oct 22, 2023 at 10:31 AM · View previous versions

Oct 22, 2023 at 10:04 AM

pshambroom
Offline
•
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

sjms wrote:
traction as in overall usability interest. well maybe you have just what you need now. i played around with the latest ipad and my z9 files. for me it was less than what i would want. my 11" full function laptop though larger allows me to do a lot more work.

hope you find what you are looking for in usability.

It's been clear over several threads that you and I have different needs and ideas about gear and usability. I want to travel and work with a minimalist ultra-light setup. You don't and that's fine. I still wonder how it is you feel that your ideas somehow represent the overall interests of this community, anymore than mine or anyone else? That's sort of a rhetorical question, just wanted to express that but not get int a big thing about it.

Oct 22, 2023 at 10:30 AM

sjms
Online
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

i do quite a bit a travel in my work. i'd love to go ultralight. but i found there are limitations to it. as to my ideas and what they represent to any particular group, it all depends on what skillset is required and understanding of said situations. that would be hopefully with us all.

Oct 22, 2023 at 10:52 AM

jj1804
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

sjms wrote:
traction as in overall usability interest. (...)

How would you gauge that "traction". There are a ton of third party dongles for iPads to connect SD cards and USB-C drives. Now it's possible to connect those to the iPhone (finally). If that doesn't interest you, why even comment in this thread?

sjms wrote:
now someone has to be interested enough to build the software. it may come this round as long as the big A allows it. contact developers. (...)

No need for that. That's already possible with the Sony App for iOS for example. More usability but not free is Lightroom.

Oct 23, 2023 at 02:24 AM

sjms
Online
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

Been using the dongle for iOS for awhile from hyper. Lightroom even on ipad is still pretty awkward. If that satisfies you have at it. No simple download software. I do have every right to comment.

Oct 23, 2023 at 04:31 AM

jj1804
Offline
• •
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

sjms wrote:
Been using the dongle for iOS for awhile from hyper. Lightroom even on ipad is still pretty awkward. If that satisfies you have at it. No simple download software. I do have every right to comment.

I didn't say otherwise. Just asking rhetorically...

I think LR for mobile use has come a long way and it's good enough for me while on the go to cull images. I don't use Sony but Leica and Canon have their respective Apps that download images into the Camera Roll. If you use iCloud Storage the images will sync to your desktop. Could there be a more refined app for the exact purpose OP has asked for? Sure. Does it work right now how it is. Sure. If you think otherwise, you're free to express your thoughts. It just came across as if it didn't interest you, so I questioned why even bother to answer. Sorry if I misunderstood you. Not native english speaker here.

Oct 23, 2023 at 06:04 AM

sjms
Online
• • • • • • •
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · iPhone 15 for SD card field backup?

why thank you. you do just fine getting your points across.

you are assuming i use the mac environment exclusively. just an ipad. its a great picture frame

refined apps have been an issue for this particular situation for years and it was just awhile back that the ipad got a usable, not proprietary, port. and i do thank the EU for making the one port type a policy.

Oct 23, 2023 at 06:27 AM


FM Forums \| General Gear-talk \| Join Upload & Sell

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.