Apps to manage RAW library

[John.Laninga]

My goal is to import my RAW + JPG images from my Olympus EM1 onto my android, review them, and delete the worst ones. I have managed to copy from my SD card to my Android storage (removable micro SD card) so step one is complete.

Now to find a way to display the images and select for deletion. Any suggestion for an app? I have found one called Slingshot but I would like to see if anyone has found any other solution. Suggestions?

 

[Lumosity]

Hi John,

Hope you find the solution that works best for you. I just noticed your message, and thought to mention that I'm the developer of slingShot Portfolio, and will be happy hear back your comments and suggestions.

slingShot is our camera controller app. The image management app is called Portfolio.

Thank you and best regards.

 

[TSGames]

Hi,

may also take a look at Photo Mate which comes with several filter/rating functions and also a develop-module.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tssystems.photomate2

Regards

Torsten

 

[John.Laninga]

Torsten: Bought your program, looks great! I'm new to it, but I have a question:

Is there a way to import images (from my USB reader) and save them to in internal (removable) sD card? I have limited space on the internal memory, so saving it to me (removable) sD card would be beneficial.

I can save to the internal memory, but couldn't find a way to save to the removable sD card...

John

:

Hi,

may also take a look at Photo Mate which comes with several filter/rating functions and also a develop-module.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tssystems.photomate2

Regards

Torsten

--
= John
http://www.laninga.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laninga/sets/

 

[TSGames]

Hi John,

do you run Android KitKat? If so, you may suffer from the limitation which prevents Third-Party Apps to write to external memory. The only way around it is to root the device.

Or, you have to use the file-manager which comes with your device and copy the files with this application. After that, you can access the images with Photo Mate. Please note that, while you can still edit and rate images on the read-only storage, the XMP-Files are getting saved internal and not along with the images, so you may have issues if you want to import them to Lightroom later.

Regards

Torsten

 

[Brian Thomas]

Hi, I'm a Mac user from the beginning of their time ready to buy an Android because the iPad seems to be too locked up to make it easy to review, select and backup (to Micro SD and the cloud my best Raw files -Pentax DNG) when traveling.

Now I read that Android with OS 4.4, KitKat, is going the Macintosh Way.

My question is, is buying last year's Android machine and not updating the software a viable route?

:: is Photo Mate R2 going to continue to support OS 4.2 (which is what is on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8 inch)

:: Is it possibile to upgrade now from 4.2 to 4.3, should that be necessary?

:: Are there other brands of Android I could buy now with pre KitKat on them that you would recommend I look at? -- I want a MicroSD card and a USB connection.

Thanks,

 

[willvan]

Hi, I'm a Mac user from the beginning of their time ready to buy an Android because the iPad seems to be too locked up to make it easy to review, select and backup (to Micro SD and the cloud my best Raw files -Pentax DNG) when traveling.

Now I read that Android with OS 4.4, KitKat, is going the Macintosh Way.

My question is, is buying last year's Android machine and not updating the software a viable route?

:: is Photo Mate R2 going to continue to support OS 4.2 (which is what is on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8 inch)

:: Is it possibile to upgrade now from 4.2 to 4.3, should that be necessary?

:: Are there other brands of Android I could buy now with pre KitKat on them that you would recommend I look at? -- I want a MicroSD card and a USB connection.

Thanks,

--
Brian
http://www.pileofprints.com/

Hi Brian. I have a Galaxy Tab 3 8" and I have to admit there are days that I almost wish that I had not upgraded to KitKat 4.4.2 but after weighing the pros and cons, while it might be a viable alternative in the short run to stick with 4.2, given the security risks, I am more comfortable going with the upgrade and using workarounds (which I detest) to accomplish what I want or need my tablet to do. In sticking with 4.2 you will likely also have to forego future upgrades which may well include important security measures. I gave my input about KitKat 4.4.2 in a post to an ongoing thread which is here and as to which way to go, I am satisfied with my decision to upgrade. I continue to be happy with my Galaxy Tab 3 and working with third party apps like RawDroid, QuickPic and X-plore together with the built in file manager "My Files" and the built in "Gallary" app, I am able to view my RAW files via a card reader and OTG and download them for backup to the external SD card.

No question that KitKat has had a crippling effect on the third party apps that worked so well prior to the upgrade but they are still useful. From the get go I found the built in file manager in the Tab 3 to be very cumbersome and confusing and I opted to download X-plore from Google play. It has helped a lot in understanding where various files are. Similarly, RawDroid and PhotoMate R2 allows you to view RAW files, which the built in Gallery app cannot do, but for downloading them onto the external SD card you have to use the built in file manager or Gallery app if jpegs only. RAW files are more cumbersome since the Gallery app cannot display RAW files but the exercise is still doable.

Hope this helps,

Bill

 

[Brian Thomas]

Thanks, Bill for your careful answer.

I just went to the store to check out the Androids for the first time. That 8" is way too big for me. Do you know if the 7" has any limitations that would effect the way it allowed you to select and backup your RAW files?

 

[willvan]

Thanks, Bill for your careful answer.

I just went to the store to check out the Androids for the first time. That 8" is way too big for me. Do you know if the 7" has any limitations that would effect the way it allowed you to select and backup your RAW files?

--
Brian
http://www.pileofprints.com/

Unfortunately yes, the 7" Galaxy Tab 3 does not share all of the features of the 8 and 10 inch models and one of the limiting things is that it does not support an OTG which is necessary for reading files via a card reader. You can plug in an OTG but it won't work. Lower cost but you only get what you pay for type of situation. Here is a link on the subject and I recall it also being discussed on this forum.

http://compare-e-readers.com/galaxy-tab-3-supports-usb-otg

Sorry, I am not aware of other tabs that might work and are smaller, perhaps a Nexus 7.

Bill

 

[MattC]

Hi John, all,

I'd like to do basically the same thing, but I know less about Android tablets and the apps. All I know is that getting the master library of raw+jpg off my iPad3 after my last vacation was a nightmare, as were several other parts of the process.

From this thread, it sounds like you can use the tablet's native file manager to copy from an SD card to some other external flash memory, then go through the deletion process on that. Is that correct? Did you find a software package that allows you to review the jpg, then delete both the raw and jpg simultaneously, or do you have to delete the raw file separately? (Incidentally, does anyone know how to do that in Bridge, or use another software tool that can?)

Thanks,
Matt

 

[John.Laninga]

I just started my trip and hope to do the following. I dusted off my old Acer A500 tablet, a 10" one running 4.0.3. It also has a standard USB port, as well as a 16 GB micro SD card. I think everything will work like this:

Take SD card from camera and insert in USB port using a card reader. Use an an app called Slingshot to move JPEG and RAW files to internal memory. Also use Slingshot to delete obvious bad ones.

Now use Photo mate R2 to edit images on internal memory.

Use Slingshot to move edited images to the A500 built-in micro SD card. I will use a file folder structure to keep dates apart.

Finally, when the trip is over remove the SD card from the A500 and copy all the now edited files into my home computer.

All these steps have been tested and not as complicated as it sounds. Hopefully it will work well as work flow (fingers crossed)

 

[Joseph V. Morris]

I just went to the store to check out the Androids for the first time. That 8" is way too big for me. Do you know if the 7" has any limitations that would effect the way it allowed you to select and backup your RAW files?

I have an old Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (GT-P3113) running Android 4.2.2 that provides the requisite USB Host/OTG functionality. It works, but it's slow, has lousy display resolution (worse than my Samsung Galaxy SIII) and uses that godawful proprietary Samsung connector (at least they make an OTG cable for that). I was looking for something better, but it's very hard to find these days with a 7-inch display. Apparently there's at least one version of the Nexus 7 that does, but I don't know exactly which one. (MUCH better screen resolution, fast too, I think). As I understand it, Samsung has dumbed down subsequent Galaxy Tab products, but it's possible that a Galaxy Note would work. It's just damnably hard to find an authoritative source as to which tablets support USB Host/OTG these days.

I use the tablet as an inexpensive field monitor with my camera running qDSLRDashboard (beta) and LRTimelapse, so the USB Host/OTG functionality is essential. The 8-inch tablets, in my opinion, are too large for run-and-shoot use.

Captured RAW files end up in a subfolder of the DCIM folder. Not sure if it's on the internal memory or external SD card, to be honest about it.

Incidentally, I was also astonished to find that I could upload RAW files from my laptop (via Wi-Fi) for processing with Photo Mate R2, not quite sure why I would however, since I've got LR on the laptop.

 

[Barry Margolius]

I just went to the store to check out the Androids for the first time. That 8" is way too big for me. Do you know if the 7" has any limitations that would effect the way it allowed you to select and backup your RAW files?

I have an old Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 (GT-P3113) running Android 4.2.2 that provides the requisite USB Host/OTG functionality. It works, but it's slow, has lousy display resolution (worse than my Samsung Galaxy SIII) and uses that godawful proprietary Samsung connector (at least they make an OTG cable for that). I was looking for something better, but it's very hard to find these days with a 7-inch display. Apparently there's at least one version of the Nexus 7 that does, but I don't know exactly which one. (MUCH better screen resolution, fast too, I think). As I understand it, Samsung has dumbed down subsequent Galaxy Tab products, but it's possible that a Galaxy Note would work. It's just damnably hard to find an authoritative source as to which tablets support USB Host/OTG these days.

My understanding is that the 7" Tab 3 is the only Tab 3 that does not support OTG. Both the 8" and the 10" do support OTG. This is based on my reading, not personal experience. I have the 8" Note, and it definitely does support OTG.

Most, if not all, Nexus 7's do support it too. I read that newer ones support OTG out of the box, but my old Nexus 7 (original model) did not. However I found a reliable app that added OTG support: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homeysoft.nexususb.importer&hl=en

Good Luck,

-barry

 

[TSGames]

My understanding is that the 7" Tab 3 is the only Tab 3 that does not support OTG. Both the 8" and the 10" do support OTG. This is based on my reading, not personal experience. I have the 8" Note, and it definitely does support OTG.

Most, if not all, Nexus 7's do support it too. I read that newer ones support OTG out of the box, but my old Nexus 7 (original model) did not. However I found a reliable app that added OTG support: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homeysoft.nexususb.importer&hl=en

Good Luck,

-barry

Just my short experience on the 7" devices, since I've to test the app somewhere

I use the Nexus 7 (2013) which has a good display (full-hd if I remember correctly).

The Nexus Media Importer does actually work, but is cumbersome: You always have to import from the external device first. I prefer to directly rate and store xmp-files on the SD-Card if possible and directly delete bad images.

For this, you need to root the Nexus 7. It's quite easy and I think the only way to get the best out of it. After that, you can use an OTG-Cardreader and directly access files (e.g. take a look at the one here in my tutorial: http://www.photo-mate.com/content/Ways_to_get_images_from_the_camera_to_the_device-97.html )

Overall, if you consider the price for the Nexus I think it's a good choice because the overall performance is quite good (of course there are already faster devices, but it does it job) and the display is good for image viewing.

Hope that this may help some of you

Regards

Torsten

 

[Brian Thomas]

Thanks, Torsten,

However, The Nexus 7, I don't think has a microSD slot.

If I understand things correctly the most effective backup tablet for PhotoMate would have

:: microSD slot (often labeled as 32gig, but can all 32 gig slots really take 64 gig, or even 128 gigs???)

:: OTG tech to hook CD card reader up to micro USB port

:: pre-Kitkat software to allow Photo Mate to move files from SD card to microSD card.

I want a 7 inch because I want this thing small for traveling light.

One of the seeming best unit I've found is the Lenovo A7-50.

--
Brian
http://www.pileofprints.com/

 

[Barry Margolius]

Thanks, Torsten,

However, The Nexus 7, I don't think has a microSD slot.

You're right. No SD slot on the Nexus 7. I had forgotten that.

If I understand things correctly the most effective backup tablet for PhotoMate would have

:: microSD slot (often labeled as 32gig, but can all 32 gig slots really take 64 gig, or even 128 gigs???)

:: OTG tech to hook CD card reader up to micro USB port

:: pre-Kitkat software to allow Photo Mate to move files from SD card to microSD card.

I think Photo Mate can move files from SD card to microSD card under KitKat. It would only be able to move them to a specific directory assigned to it /android/data/files/<package specific directory> I think Android assigns a package specific directory to each app. You can also write to sub-directories.

I'm a bit vague about this - it may require some coding by the developer - but it definitely works with DropSync on my KitKat Samsung Note 8.

I want a 7 inch because I want this thing small for traveling light.

One of the seeming best unit I've found is the Lenovo A7-50.

My good luck is that I much prefer 8" tablets over 7's. That works poorly for you though.

-barry

 

[TSGames]

Thanks, Torsten,

However, The Nexus 7, I don't think has a microSD slot.

Yes, sorry, did forget to mention that, because for my photo workflow that's not that important (I prefer real sd-card readers).

If I understand things correctly the most effective backup tablet for PhotoMate would have

:: microSD slot (often labeled as 32gig, but can all 32 gig slots really take 64 gig, or even 128 gigs???)

I'm not sure if that's true, I think that depends on the device, most of them can take 64 gig.

:: OTG tech to hook CD card reader up to micro USB port

:: pre-Kitkat software to allow Photo Mate to move files from SD card to microSD card.

Either pre-Kitkat, or you root it so that you can access external storages via third-party apps (like Photo Mate)

Regards

Torsten

 

[TSGames]

I think Photo Mate can move files from SD card to microSD card under KitKat. It would only be able to move them to a specific directory assigned to it /android/data/files/<package specific directory> I think Android assigns a package specific directory to each app. You can also write to sub-directories.

I'm a bit vague about this - it may require some coding by the developer - but it definitely works with DropSync on my KitKat Samsung Note 8

Actually, I've to admit I never tried it because I think that's a pretty "poor" solution. I really hope that Google will go back to the normal behaviour with Android L (although in the Dev-Preview, you still can't even access external storages on the nexus at all.

May you can try it. If it's not working, I think we can change the code so that it'll work. But I guess since this is managed by the system, it should already work.

Regards

Torsten

 

[markkuk]

:: microSD slot (often labeled as 32gig, but can all 32 gig slots really take 64 gig, or even 128 gigs???)

No, SDXC support is required for cards larger than 32GB. SDHC card slots are limited to 32GB or smaller.

I want a 7 inch because I want this thing small for traveling light.

I have a Samsung Galxy Tab S 8.4 and I think it's near perfect size. It's not significantly larger or heavier than Nexus 7 and the display is great.

 

[John.Laninga]

Although I have a Nexus 7", I am taken my older Acer A500 because it has:

16G internal memory

16G internal but removable micro SD

A full size USB 2.0 port

My workflow is to copy from the camera SD card to internal memory, purge the junk files, use Photo Mate to edit and adjust the remaining files as needed. Then I move the edited files to the micro SD card, into dated folders.

When I get back from my trip, I remove the micro SD card - which has all the edited files on it for the entire trip, sorted in folders by date- and copy them directly to my home PC. Now I can make any final touch ups on my home system.

--

= John

John and Romola

[email protected] [email protected]

www.laninga.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/laninga/sets/