Apple iPod Camera Connector
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: M9861G/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Make sure your camera is supported before you add this useful accessory to your iPod Photo arsenal.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
Apple iPod Camera Connector price range: $28.99
- Reviewed by: James Kim
- Edited by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 04/12/2005
- Released on: 03/24/2005
The good: Compact and light; frees your media card so that you can shoot more photos; turns your iPod into an in-the-field storage and viewing device; doesn't need a battery; works in harmony with iPod software.
The bad: Sluggish transfers; no automatic synchronization with iPhoto; transfer process can affect battery life; not (yet) compatible with USB media card readers.
The bottom line: Make sure your camera is supported before you add this useful accessory to your iPod Photo arsenal.
At $29, the iPod Camera Connector accessory is a sweet bargain for iPod Photo owners who tote digital cameras, though there's no support for non-Photo iPods. Measuring about 1.5 by 1.2 by 0.3 inches, the Camera Connector is a USB-to-dock-connector adapter that draws its power from the iPod itself and is made of the same smooth, white plastic as the iPod Shuffle. Along with a firmware update 1.1 released in early March, this accessory lets you connect most popular brands of digital cameras (see the compatibility list) via USB 1.1/2.0 and facilitates the transfer of "rolls" of digital photos to the iPod Photo. Thanks to an onscreen interface that's uniquely photocentric, the process is simple and reliable. This experience is a breath of fresh air compared to the guesswork and patience needed for a device such as Belkin's Digital Camera Link, which is a brainless, battery-powered, hulked-up version of the Camera Connector.
The instant you mate the Camera Connector with the iPod Photo, you go into Import mode. Plug in your camera using a typical USB-to-mini-USB cable and turn on the camera; in a few seconds, you'll see stats such as: Photos: 49, Size: 41.9MB. Once you begin importing, a progress meter begins its ascent, and tiny thumbnails render onscreen. You can stop and save at any moment, and the final screen documents how many photos have been imported to the iPod. For the record, it took a bit more than three minutes to transfer 41.9MB from our Canon PowerShot S410 equipped with a SanDisk 128MB CompactFlash card to the iPod, or a very slow 0.2MB per second. Another transfer of 65.3MB from a Nikon D70 camera and an IBM-branded 1GB Microdrive came in at a faster 0.4MB per second. Owners with USB 2.0-compatible cameras will fare much better. A couple of performance notes: Once in our testing process, the iPod wouldn't respond to a Camera Connector-aided connection, even with the camera in viewing mode. Also, while Apple wasn't specific, the company mentioned that since the iPod hard drive is constantly in use during a transfer, iPod battery life will be lower than usual.
Before you browse your photos, you also get the option to erase the camera's media card. Your photos will show up as Roll #x, which behaves just like any album so that you can view photos optimized for the iPod Photo. Unfortunately, the process of getting photos off the iPod and onto your computer isn't automatic; AutoSync is still reserved for music only. Instead, you'll have to open up iPhoto or another iPod-compatible photo application and manually transfer photos. iPhoto will add your roll and create an additional optimized-for-TV version, which is then sent back over to the iPod.
Some folks will argue that their 256MB or even 1GB memory card is more than enough storage to last several days without the need for transfers. Others will contend that the iPod's 2-inch screen is not much larger than the typical digital camera's and that you can still output to a TV for big-screen previews--so why not spend your $29 on an extra 256MB media card? All valid points, but we think it's worth $29 to be able to empty your card and view photos in an intuitive, musical, and battery-safe environment.
User reviews
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Exellent additon
by jimblock on April 16, 2005
Pros: tiny adapter, easy transfers
Cons: can't instantly view on TV screen
Summary: The Apple iPod camera connector is the primary reason that I upgraded from an older 5 GB iPod to a new 30 GB iPod photo. I keep a 1 GB ...
Summary: The Apple iPod camera connector is the primary reason that I upgraded from an older 5 GB iPod to a new 30 GB iPod photo. I keep a 1 GB card in my Olympus E-1 Digital SLR, and usually that is enough for a day's shooting. However, on vacation, or other busy days, I want to be able to unload the card in the field and continue shooting. The iPod photo with the camera connector is perfect for this.
My camera has both USB 2.0 and Firewire outputs so transfers are quick enough, especially since I usually will transfer at night. I find viewing the pictures on the screen instantly to be good, although being able to show them on a TV screen would be better. (You have to transfer the photos to the computer and then reimport to do the TV slideshow.) However, the iPod captures the full images, has plenty of room, and quickly transfers them to the computer at home.
All in all, a very useful addition for only $29.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Transfer speed makes it worthless
by tjlski on April 13, 2005
Pros: it's white
Cons: way too slow
Summary: Maybe my math is wrong here... with a D70 it transfers 0.4MB/sec: so, to upload a 2GB card would take...83 hours? Ok, probably not fair to blame ...
Summary: Maybe my math is wrong here... with a D70 it transfers 0.4MB/sec: so, to upload a 2GB card would take...83 hours? Ok, probably not fair to blame this on the ipod, since the D70 is stuck with USB 1.1, but unless your camera has USB 2.0, this is worthless.
4 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome device--simple iPod interface (no surprise from Apple), quick to use!
by jpo1962 on April 13, 2005
Pros: Small size, intelligent commands on iPod, immediate viewing available
Cons: Transfer speed--but this is not a major problem
Summary: Just what was needed--a small, simple connection with the ability to view photos on the iPod immediately. Incredible improvement in size over other vendor's items that have been on ...
Summary: Just what was needed--a small, simple connection with the ability to view photos on the iPod immediately. Incredible improvement in size over other vendor's items that have been on the market for more than a year.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great for Backing up!
by Lordsbassman on January 1, 2007
Pros: Apple product, Seamless introgration, small,
Cons: Hardive spins during transfer and dives battery down
Summary: It's great if you only own one memory card or you let one at home well on a trip. If you really want you you can even charge your ...
Summary: It's great if you only own one memory card or you let one at home well on a trip. If you really want you you can even charge your old shuffle... I've used it on trips and music festivals.. don't for get to pask your charger though!!!
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my camera and card reader don't work
by rykelsey on August 7, 2006
Pros: nice idea if it worked
Cons: not working for me
Summary: So, I bought this connector for my video ipod knowing my camera was not compatible, but after reading a bunch of reviews, it seemed like the way around this was ...
Summary: So, I bought this connector for my video ipod knowing my camera was not compatible, but after reading a bunch of reviews, it seemed like the way around this was to use a card reader, so I bought a USB 2.0 card reader for SD cards (IOGEAR GFR202SD), but it is NOT working either... why do some card readers work and not others??? which card readers work?
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some models needs firmware upgrade
by localhero on July 17, 2005
Pros: simple to use
Cons: not built in)
Summary: I have a 30GB color iPod, after I installed the firmware upgrade, it works with ease.
Summary: I have a 30GB color iPod, after I installed the firmware upgrade, it works with ease.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: M9861G/A
- Description: The iPod Camera Connector provides a fast, easy way to transfer images from your digital camera to your iPod with color display. Simply plug the iPod Camera Connector into the iPod dock connector, plug your camera's USB cable and watch your images make their way to the iPod, ready to view in a slide show! This connector is compatible with iPod with color display and iPod with video.
General
- Product Type USB data copier
- Color White
Manufacturer info
- Apple
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.apple.com
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
