With iOS 9.2, Apple has enabled iPhone support for the USB Camera Adapter for getting your photos on your iPhone’s camera roll. When you plug the adapter into your iPhone and camera, your iPhone will automatically open the Photos app and allow you to import photos or videos.
Per Apple, “After you connect the Lightning to USB Camera Adapter, your iPad [and now, iPhone] automatically opens the Photos app, which lets you choose which photos and videos to import, then organizes them into albums.”
Compatible models include the iPhone 5 and newer. It also works with the iPad models that have a Lightning port.
The USB Camera Adapter is also $29 and available at Apple Stores and Apple.com. You can also find it here at B&H Photo.
Additional import options include the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader, which is $29 and is available at Apple Stores and Apple.com. You can also find it here at B&H Photo.
[Updated: An earlier version of this article referenced that the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader support was added in iOS 9.2. However, support for the SD Card Camera Reader was previously available on the iPhone.]
Darren says
I may be nuts, or my crummy memory is playing tricks on me, but I’ve been doing this for a considerable time now on my Air 2 and iPhone 6.
I don’t get what changed?
Eric Reagan says
Sorry Darren. You’re right. The SD Card Adapter was previously supported. The iOS 9.2 updated added support for the USB Camera Adapter, which was previously only supported on iPad.
The post has been updated to reflect this info.
Nick says
My camera d750 has wifi and transfers photos as I take them . So I guess this doesn’t mak sends for me.
Darren says
OK Eric, thanks for clearing that up. My memory is leaving, so you could fool me easily?
An exciting fall. I just got the Ricoh Theta S. Have you seen it, and what do you think. Could be a game changer in some industries.
Darren
Eric Reagan says
VR and 360 video is coming on big time. It’s gonna be a major theme at CES next month.
I haven’t used the Theta cameras, but I’m dying to jump into some 360 video. It’s a bit daunting to consider but so much upside to the genre.
I’d love to hear more of your thoughts about it…
Maybe a guest post on it…?
Darren says
Yes, I’d like to do a guest post on it. Give me another few days to get some video I like, and I’ll write something up.
I figured CES would be about Drones again, with GoPro releasing more info, DJI releasing something new, I’m assuming here, and the other new players.
Eric Reagan says
Drones will be big at CES again, I’m sure. But I think this will be the coming out year for VR and 360 video. It’s wide open right now and I think we’ll get a sense of direction on it when CES is over with.
Hit me up at contact@photographybay.com with your guest post whenever you get to it. Thanks!
Jared says
I’ve been doing this for a few years already with Android.
Adam says
Of course you have. That is a different product with different features. If the products were exactly the same then what would be the point?
Eric Reagan says
Are you all-in on Android, Jared?
I tried the Galaxy Note 3 a couple years ago. There are so many things that I like about the Android ecosystem. I’m all about the widgets on home screens and the incredible customization options.
However, I came back to Apple on the iPhone 6 because of 1) podcasts, 2) messaging apps, 3) camera/photo solutions. The Android alternatives for me just lagged behind. Also, Samsung’s bloatware drove me a bit mad…
I’d love to hear your thoughts on it and how you are managing mobile imaging and connecting to your camera(s).
Jared says
Yeah, I’m still running a Note 3 myself, and the 2014 Note 10.1 tablet. I was transferring my CF card to my phone back when I was using the Note 1. I use an EyeFi card now, but because of the slow (cheap) SD card reader in the Canon 5D Mk3, I need to remove the SD card when I’m shooting anything fast paced, or the buffer will fill up and shooting comes to a stop.
For my 5D Mk2, I still connect via cable, but only if I need to post images before I get home to my big-boy computer.
There are apps that are only available for iPhone, and I get a bit jealous when I read about them, but quickly forget and move on with whatever I was doing.
For the Samsung bloatware, just root the phone and either remove things one by one, or completely load a custom ROM and do anything you like.
Eric Reagan says
Thanks for the summary. Good stuff.
Darren says
I went down the Android path a couple of years ago and while I enjoyed the OS, once you buy it, at least here in Canada, you never get to upgrade the OS as things get better. You are stuck with Samsung’s and the carrier’s version of the OS.
I like the iPhone because I can upgrade the software(OS) as Apple does.
The only way to go android is with a Google branded product, and the Nexus line is limited. I did upgrade a Nexus 7 to the most recent OS the other day, and I started with 4.x
Eric Reagan says
Yeah, that’s another thing about Android that hurts the overall experience – fragmentation.
While Apple loses some support as devices age, a brand new Android device that has to wait months before a carrier deems it acceptable to upgrade isn’t helpful in the battle with Apple.
Ed F. says
I seem to be in the minority on this but what would be wrong with using these adapters to download pics from the iPad or iPhone to an SD card or external device? On a long trip it would be nice to clear off a 16 gig model to take pictures again. For some reason Apple sees this as a one way street.