Camera that automatically backs up to NAS or computer?

[clockworks]

I often take pics as I strip down complex or unusual clocks, as an aid to reassembly.

I've got a really old DSLR, have to remove the memory card and use a USB card reader on my iMac to view them. I've also got a compact camera that has WiFi, but it's a proper pain to manually transfer pics to the computer. I have to use third party software, manually start the camera's wifi, and manually connect the computer to it.

Are there any cameras that will automatically upload photos as they are being taken, either to my iMac or Synology NAS, so that I can view them later without messing about?
I much prefer using a proper camera, rather than my iPhone.

[ARHarh]

What about the phone in your pocket? Can be set to automatically backup to google drive or what ever the Apple equivalent is. This can then be easily synced to a PC, or probably a NAS.

[thepritch]

I assume there will be. I used to shoot tethered from my Canon 5D, directly into Lightroom on my pc. I had it set to also save a backup to my Synology. That was 10 yrs ago, so I guess newer, cheaper and smaller cameras could do the same, or similar.

Sorry I can’t direct you to exact models, but shooting with a tether is pretty common and Lightroom (software) didn’t used to be that expensive.

[clockworks]

Phone would be the easy option, although I find it much easier to take closeup pics using a viewfinder and physical buttons.

Can't really use a tether, as computer/NAS are not in the workshop.

I used to use an SD card with onboard WiFi (Eye fi?), but app support has ended, and it won't work with my newer iMac.

[simon_harris]

I am sure that a mate of mine into photography used to have an SD card that connected to wifi to backup his photos as he shot them to his phone.

[Griffith4ever]

I get the phone vs dslr thing but I do the same often with electronics. The game changer with a phone is getting one with real zoom lenses. All those lenses on the back are real. My xiaomi has a macro lens, regular, zoom, another zoom, and wide. The macro lens is super and gives no fucussing issues. Its actually a zoom not macro thinking about it.

Phots go straight to Google photos.

[clockworks]

simon_harris said:

I am sure that a mate of mine into photography used to have an SD card that connected to wifi to backup his photos as he shot them to his phone.

Yes, my Eye Fi SD card used to do that. Unfortunately the company closed in 2016, and the app won't work on my current iMac.



I just been having a play taking some pics on my iPhone 14 Plus. iCloud seems to be a bit flaky in transferring the pics to my iMac "Photos" app, but they show up after a bit of a delay, and are actually good enough for my purposes.

My only real issue is actually taking the photos on the phone. Feels very unnatural holding the phone at arm's length, and looking at the screen. Hopefully I'll get used to it.
Think I'll have to have a play with the focussing options, make sure the part I want to see is actually in focus. Hopefully the iPhone can do "spot focus" in the centre of the screen, with a focussing guide frame displayed on the screen?

The lack of physical feedback will take some getting used to as well - no beep when focussed, or shutter sound. Options in the phone settings?

[Harpoon]

If you don't mind your image first going up to a cloud service, image.canon has a PC/Mac app to automatically download anything upload from a compatible camera:

https://image.canon/st/en/auto-download.html

[Griffith4ever]

I did a couple of tests for you.

2 x lens: (I took another with no depth of field effect - all in focus at the rear, but deleted the wrong one!)



And 5 x lens:



They end up on Google Photos within a minute with no manual intervention at all.

[clockworks]

I'll have to read up on the camera in my iPhone. There must be a way of controlling the focussing point(s) and exposure for macro shots

[Griffith4ever]

On all phones I've had you just touch where you want focus. You can edit exposure in "pro mode" but auto exposure works just fine.

[Steve_H80]

The problem is phones are designed by young people with perfect eyesight. Once you reach "reading glasses" age you find your arms aren't long enough to see the phone screen clearly
Joking () aside check your phone manual, many do allow tethering.

[clockworks]

Griffith4ever said:

On all phones I've had you just touch where you want focus. You can edit exposure in "pro mode" but auto exposure works just fine.

Had a play, and touching the screen does indeed bring up a focus box.

Sorted.

[drdel]

You might try an indoor security camera as you can 'record' to an NVR and extract images as captured stills.

[Griffith4ever]

drdel said:

You might try an indoor security camera as you can 'record' to an NVR and extract images as captured stills.

The quality is st - even the ones that claim to be 2k / 4k etc. They can't compare to a camera MP sensor with a decent zom lens

[gangzoom]

Griffith4ever said:

I did a couple of tests for you.

2 x lens: (I took another with no depth of field effect - all in focus at the rear, but deleted the wrong one!)



And 5 x lens:



They end up on Google Photos within a minute with no manual intervention at all.

Any of current gen phone should be able to take some really good macro shots providing you have enough lighting. The wide angle lens is the one that does all work, ‘zoom’ options are all digital. Not all phones have good wide angle lens thought, and I need to are more care when using the DVI to HDMI adaptor .

[Griffith4ever]

Very nice!

Never thought of trying the wide lense.

Fyi the 2x and 5x are both actual lenses , not digital zoom, on mine. Its very common now to have one or two zoom, a wide, and a "portrait" (shallow depth of field ) set of dedicated lenses.

Mine will also do 108mp images but even zoomed in (post edit) they are not as good as the actual magnified lenses.