Can I use my R5 as a card reader?

[tlinn]

My standard workflow relies on a dedicated CFexpress card reader to move files off my memory card. Should something go wrong with the dedicated card reader, I have always considered my R5 as a backup card reader. Today for the first time, I needed to use my R5 in this capacity, and from what I can tell it doesn't work.

I travel with an iPad Pro, not a laptop. I connected my R5 to my iPad Pro with a certified USB-C [Thunderbolt 4] cable. The camera does not show up as a drive as I had expected. Am I missing a setting somewhere? I seem to recall that my Fujifilm bodies had a way to change the USB Mode but I don't recall anything that sophisticated on my R5.

Perhaps I could use the Camera Connect app to do transfers wirelessly—I haven't even tried—but I'm guessing this process is so slow that it is impractical with RAW files and video.

 

[Duane Burleson]

I believe this is how you do it from the camera to the iPad using a USB cable:

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support.apple.com

On a laptop you use the EOS Utility to download the files from the camera to (in my case) a MacBook Pro. I've done this a couple of times when I forgot the card reader. I do not have an iPad to try.

The camera/card will not show up on the desktop as a card reader.

I'm not sure if the camera connect app has a usb transfer function.

 

[tlinn]

I didn't even think to check if the app works over USB. Thanks for the reply, Duane.

 

[Stuart Carlton]

You need to download the EOS utility. Has worked flawlessly for me on my iMacs and Macbook pro.

 

[Duane Burleson]

tlinn, according to this:

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image.canon

transfer via wireless and USB is supported from the Canon Camera Connect app for smartphone/tablet.

Cheers

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I travel with an iPad Pro, not a laptop. I connected my R5 to my iPad Pro with a certified USB-C [Thunderbolt 4] cable. The camera does not show up as a drive as I had expected. Am I missing a setting somewhere?

You're missing a real computer. The last time I checked, some years ago, an iPad wasn't a real computer and didn't have a file system with a user interface. The iPad is a USB device, not a USB host. It's mainly just a display device.

I talked to Apple salesmen and then called Apple. They told me to upload to my Mac Pro and from there to an iPad. But if I had the Mac Pro, then I wouldn't need the iPad, would I? Apple thought maybe there was a way, somehow, but they put me on hold for a long time until I lost the connection.

If you're guessing that I am offended by a useless device, you're right. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If the situation has changed and it works great, now would be a great time for someone to come up with the information.

 

[Greaves]

IPad Pro can download files. I regularly transfer files from my Mac to my iPad, including images.

 

[PicPocket]

I travel with an iPad Pro, not a laptop. I connected my R5 to my iPad Pro with a certified USB-C [Thunderbolt 4] cable. The camera does not show up as a drive as I had expected. Am I missing a setting somewhere?

You're missing a real computer. The last time I checked, some years ago, an iPad wasn't a real computer and didn't have a file system with a user interface. The iPad is a USB device, not a USB host. It's mainly just a display device.

I talked to Apple salesmen and then called Apple. They told me to upload to my Mac Pro and from there to an iPad. But if I had the Mac Pro, then I wouldn't need the iPad, would I? Apple thought maybe there was a way, somehow, but they put me on hold for a long time until I lost the connection.

If you're guessing that I am offended by a useless device, you're right. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If the situation has changed and it works great, now would be a great time for someone to come up with the information.

It's very clear that you are offended, so much that you are spreading what you feel as a fact, despite knowing that last you checked was years ago.

IPad pro has a host controller, has a files app now, and can connect to USB accesories as long as they are supported via some software. Canon cameras don't expose themselves as mass storage devices, so you cannot simply use them as a card reader, but using camera connect app should work (which is the case even on a desktop)

I have a Mac desktop as well as an iPad pro, and the reason why I need both is because I use the iPad for basic culling and high level editing on the go (a view only device being able to do that is awesome, no?) and I find it very hard to carry around my desktop while doing so. Final edits happen on the desktop because of that large monitor connected to it

 

[John Sheehy]

I travel with an iPad Pro, not a laptop. I connected my R5 to my iPad Pro with a certified USB-C [Thunderbolt 4] cable. The camera does not show up as a drive as I had expected. Am I missing a setting somewhere?

You're missing a real computer. The last time I checked, some years ago, an iPad wasn't a real computer and didn't have a file system with a user interface. The iPad is a USB device, not a USB host. It's mainly just a display device.

I talked to Apple salesmen and then called Apple. They told me to upload to my Mac Pro and from there to an iPad. But if I had the Mac Pro, then I wouldn't need the iPad, would I? Apple thought maybe there was a way, somehow, but they put me on hold for a long time until I lost the connection.

If you're guessing that I am offended by a useless device, you're right. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If the situation has changed and it works great, now would be a great time for someone to come up with the information.

It's very clear that you are offended, so much that you are spreading what you feel as a fact, despite knowing that last you checked was years ago.

IPad pro has a host controller, has a files app now, and can connect to USB accesories as long as they are supported via some software. Canon cameras don't expose themselves as mass storage devices, so you cannot simply use them as a card reader, but using camera connect app should work (which is the case even on a desktop)

In Windows, I have never "needed" any special software to access a memory card in a Canon; the camera appears as a multimedia device in Explorer, rather than as mass storage, but the behavior is quirky, like transfers stopping before being finished, a large file on the card showing up as 0 bytes on the computer, daylight savings time ignored in the date in the transferred files, etc. I have been burned too many times to consider the camera as anything but an "emergency reader", where you copy the card to the computer, check to make sure the total file sizes are the same, that the files all display properly, etc, before reformatting the card. Very stingy of Canon not to allow access as a mass storage device as an option, especially now that the USB access is actually fairly fast. The 7D2 had a "USB3" port, but I never saw anything faster than 10MB/s go through it. The R5 can do at least 130MB/s with large files.

 

[Yana2]

As I know, for USB connect a camera to iOS Device, you need a Apple MFI Certified camera such as Canon R3/R7/R6II/R8 and Leica Q2/Q3.

I can connect R3 to iPad Air using a USB C to C cable to view or import pic by iOS Photo app. (or a special Camera USB C to Lightning cable, not the cable come with your iPad / iPhone. (Leica included.)

It appears that R5 deesn't have MFI certified, I think you can use camera connect with WIFI only.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

IPad Pro can download files. I regularly transfer files from my Mac to my iPad, including images.

Exactly! You can't do it without your Mac, can you? That's the OP's problem.

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

I travel with an iPad Pro, not a laptop. I connected my R5 to my iPad Pro with a certified USB-C [Thunderbolt 4] cable. The camera does not show up as a drive as I had expected. Am I missing a setting somewhere?

You're missing a real computer. The last time I checked, some years ago, an iPad wasn't a real computer and didn't have a file system with a user interface. The iPad is a USB device, not a USB host. It's mainly just a display device.

I talked to Apple salesmen and then called Apple. They told me to upload to my Mac Pro and from there to an iPad. But if I had the Mac Pro, then I wouldn't need the iPad, would I? Apple thought maybe there was a way, somehow, but they put me on hold for a long time until I lost the connection.

If you're guessing that I am offended by a useless device, you're right. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If the situation has changed and it works great, now would be a great time for someone to come up with the information.

It's very clear that you are offended, so much that you are spreading what you feel as a fact, despite knowing that last you checked was years ago.

IPad pro has a host controller, has a files app now, and can connect to USB accesories as long as they are supported via some software.

Yes, there's the problem. They can't do it without some added software. But if you have found a convenient way, please do let us know.

Canon cameras don't expose themselves as mass storage devices,

Yes they do. At least mine do. On any Linux, Windows, or Mac computer.

so you cannot simply use them as a card reader,

I can, with any Linux, Windows, or Mac computer.

but using camera connect app should work (which is the case even on a desktop)

No, not required. The camera just appears as a drive. But I don't recommend that method, because many of the camera connections are fragile. Better to read the card with an inexpensive card reader. No additional software required, although you can use it if you want to.

I have a Mac desktop as well as an iPad pro, and the reason why I need both is because I use the iPad for basic culling and high level editing on the go (a view only device being able to do that is awesome, no?) and I find it very hard to carry around my desktop while doing so....

Good to know. But the OP has an iPad and can't do it because apparently the iPad doesn't work that way. The iPad is a USB device, just like the card. As far as I know, it doesn't read USB devices directly, and that's the problem.

Since you have apparently found a way with additional software, that's what the OP needs to know.

 

[Ephemeris]

I travel with an iPad Pro, not a laptop. I connected my R5 to my iPad Pro with a certified USB-C [Thunderbolt 4] cable. The camera does not show up as a drive as I had expected. Am I missing a setting somewhere?

You're missing a real computer. The last time I checked, some years ago, an iPad wasn't a real computer and didn't have a file system with a user interface. The iPad is a USB device, not a USB host. It's mainly just a display device.

I talked to Apple salesmen and then called Apple. They told me to upload to my Mac Pro and from there to an iPad. But if I had the Mac Pro, then I wouldn't need the iPad, would I? Apple thought maybe there was a way, somehow, but they put me on hold for a long time until I lost the connection.

If you're guessing that I am offended by a useless device, you're right. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. If the situation has changed and it works great, now would be a great time for someone to come up with the information.

It's very clear that you are offended, so much that you are spreading what you feel as a fact, despite knowing that last you checked was years ago.

IPad pro has a host controller, has a files app now, and can connect to USB accesories as long as they are supported via some software. Canon cameras don't expose themselves as mass storage devices, so you cannot simply use them as a card reader, but using camera connect app should work (which is the case even on a desktop)

In Windows, I have never "needed" any special software to access a memory card in a Canon; the camera appears as a multimedia device in Explorer, rather than as mass storage, but the behavior is quirky, like transfers stopping before being finished, a large file on the card showing up as 0 bytes on the computer, daylight savings time ignored in the date in the transferred files, etc. I have been burned too many times to consider the camera as anything but an "emergency reader", where you copy the card to the computer, check to make sure the total file sizes are the same, that the files all display properly, etc, before reformatting the card. Very stingy of Canon not to allow access as a mass storage device as an option, especially now that the USB access is actually fairly fast. The 7D2 had a "USB3" port, but I never saw anything faster than 10MB/s go through it. The R5 can do at least 130MB/s with large files.

I see the same as what John describes. Shows itself as a device, gives me space used and remaining on a card. Usually transfers around 80MB/s

 

[drsnoopy]

I know it’s not a direct answer to the OP, but I was looking for a similar solution - to use my iPad as an intermediary device to transfer files from the memory cards (either in the camera or with a card reader) to a portable SSD. This was for backup while travelling without taking a laptop. It turns out it is simply not possible with an iPad. An Android tablet can, using a powered hub, but I had no reason to buy one.

I already knew I could do it with Windows so my solution was to replace the iPad with a Microsoft Surface Go. With a simple dumb plug-in USB-C hub this works flawlessly. So I have a highly portable backup solution that weighs 500g plus the SSD and card reader, and can be used for other things too. Faststone viewer completed the setup, as I don’t want to edit while travelling. I prefer to use a card reader rather than the camera body’s USB-C port as it is reputed to be easily damaged.

 

[Ephemeris]

I know it’s not a direct answer to the OP, but I was looking for a similar solution - to use my iPad as an intermediary device to transfer files from the memory cards (either in the camera or with a card reader) to a portable SSD. This was for backup while travelling without taking a laptop. It turns out it is simply not possible with an iPad. An Android tablet can, using a powered hub, but I had no reason to buy one.

I already knew I could do it with Windows so my solution was to replace the iPad with a Microsoft Surface Go. With a simple dumb plug-in USB-C hub this works flawlessly. So I have a highly portable backup solution that weighs 500g plus the SSD and card reader, and can be used for other things too. Faststone viewer completed the setup, as I don’t want to edit while travelling. I prefer to use a card reader rather than the camera body’s USB-C port as it is reputed to be easily damaged.

Could you not use a card reader in an Andoid (not sure about Apple) device and that to the cloud?

 

[Ephemeris]

My standard workflow relies on a dedicated CFexpress card reader to move files off my memory card. Should something go wrong with the dedicated card reader, I have always considered my R5 as a backup card reader. Today for the first time, I needed to use my R5 in this capacity, and from what I can tell it doesn't work.

I travel with an iPad Pro, not a laptop. I connected my R5 to my iPad Pro with a certified USB-C [Thunderbolt 4] cable. The camera does not show up as a drive as I had expected. Am I missing a setting somewhere? I seem to recall that my Fujifilm bodies had a way to change the USB Mode but I don't recall anything that sophisticated on my R5.

Perhaps I could use the Camera Connect app to do transfers wirelessly—I haven't even tried—but I'm guessing this process is so slow that it is impractical with RAW files and video.

Would the wireless connection option help you?

 

[drsnoopy]

I know it’s not a direct answer to the OP, but I was looking for a similar solution - to use my iPad as an intermediary device to transfer files from the memory cards (either in the camera or with a card reader) to a portable SSD. This was for backup while travelling without taking a laptop. It turns out it is simply not possible with an iPad. An Android tablet can, using a powered hub, but I had no reason to buy one.

I already knew I could do it with Windows so my solution was to replace the iPad with a Microsoft Surface Go. With a simple dumb plug-in USB-C hub this works flawlessly. So I have a highly portable backup solution that weighs 500g plus the SSD and card reader, and can be used for other things too. Faststone viewer completed the setup, as I don’t want to edit while travelling. I prefer to use a card reader rather than the camera body’s USB-C port as it is reputed to be easily damaged.

Could you not use a card reader in an Andoid (not sure about Apple) device and that to the cloud?

I’ll be in the Arctic, no internet

Also backing up to an SSD is far quicker than uploading to cloud storage.

 

[NiftyThrifty]

Consumes no data too.

 

[Greaves]

Yes I can, you are years behind what’s happening.

 

[Ephemeris]

I know it’s not a direct answer to the OP, but I was looking for a similar solution - to use my iPad as an intermediary device to transfer files from the memory cards (either in the camera or with a card reader) to a portable SSD. This was for backup while travelling without taking a laptop. It turns out it is simply not possible with an iPad. An Android tablet can, using a powered hub, but I had no reason to buy one.

I already knew I could do it with Windows so my solution was to replace the iPad with a Microsoft Surface Go. With a simple dumb plug-in USB-C hub this works flawlessly. So I have a highly portable backup solution that weighs 500g plus the SSD and card reader, and can be used for other things too. Faststone viewer completed the setup, as I don’t want to edit while travelling. I prefer to use a card reader rather than the camera body’s USB-C port as it is reputed to be easily damaged.

Could you not use a card reader in an Andoid (not sure about Apple) device and that to the cloud?

I’ll be in the Arctic, no internet

The backup to a phone doesn't need the internet but may require quite a bit of storage. This suggestion was because you had a concern about using the port on your camera.

You can connect an SSD to a phone and backup there.

Also backing up to an SSD is far quicker than uploading to cloud storage.