Importing DNG files from SD card to iPad with Lightroom premium

[Guest]

hello,

I recently upgraded to Lightroom CC premium for my iPad Pro. Among the features that I’ve been promised, there was the direct importation from the sd card (with the official Apple dongle that I have) for all the raw files, instead of saving them in the camera roll first.

the problem is that when I upgraded, I didn’t manage to find a way to do that, since I can only import files from the camera roll still.

can you please tell me whether it’s me that I don’t use the app properly or it’s Adobe that didn’t implemented the function as promised?

thank you in advance And best regards,

David

[selondon]

Unfortunately you still have to go through the Camera Roll first. This is an Apple limitation.

[Joakim_R]

What do you mean by "go through the camera roll first"?

[mikebrodt · Accepted solution]

Apparently there is a limitation in iOS that prevents third party apps from using the SD card reader. This is not a limitation on Android. The only way to work with the card reader  to go through the camera roll... And I can tell you that it is a slow and painful process.

There is another option... you can get an external hard drive, such as ones by LaCie or Western Digital that are made for mobile photography. They have built-in SD card readers, imporat directly to the drive, and because you can access the files via the Files app in iOS 11, they can be directly imported into Lightroom. This option also solves for the missing “backup on import” feature.

https://www.lacie.com/products/dji-copilot/

https://www.wdc.com/products/portable-storage/my-passport-wireless-ssd.html

[Guest]

Thank you for the answers. Indeed I am noticing that the workflow on iOS is really slow and terrible... I cannot even export more than 15 pictures in The same batch. I can’t understand what makes an iPad pro made for “pro”.

[mikebrodt]

The 15 picture export is a Lightroom limitation, but yes, it is quite frustrating when trying to use the iPad and Apple puts these limi on tools. I suspect it is to help prevent the malicious upload of malware, but that is just an assumption on my part. The wireless option is the best way to go for now.