Usb wires, flash drives, card readers are very fed up, I want something light and airy. In one of the online reviews, I came across a device called eye-fi - a mixture of an sd card and a wifi transmitter. The gadget is capable of transmitting jpeg and raw photos over a secure channel, works with 802.11b/g/n wi-fi networks with Static WEP 64/128, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK secure channels.

Bought in the online store bhphotovideo.com. When buying, a nuance arose - as always, marketers put their hands on the device and made several varieties of the card: eye-fi, eye-fi pro, the differences can be in the amount of stored information (4-8 GB) and eye-fi pro can connect directly to wi-fi map, bypassing the router. An adapter for compact flash cards can be purchased as a separate option. I bought the cheapest model in order to test the performance of the card and possibly use it in the studio for shooting into the monitor.

10 days later I received this box:

And then the first minus of a cheaper wi-fi card model surfaced. This model only works with a Wi-Fi access point (the connection diagram is shown in the second picture above). That is, in order to legalize a computer or laptop with an eye-fi card, you need to put the laptop or computer into operation mode as an access point. To do this, we need a small program like connectify or virtual router.

So, to make an access point out of the computer, install connectify, the icon will appear in the tray. The program interface is simple, to create an access point, we will use the Easy Setup Wizard.

Set the name of the network to be created, through which we will connect the camera to the computer:

In the last window, select the network through which the Internet will be connected (the Internet is needed during the first connection, registration and card configuration).

The network is ready, now we are setting up our miracle card. To do this, install the eye-fi helper and eye-fi center applications (included). After installation, it may require updating to a new version, we update. The program interface is simple, nothing more:

Through the adapter, we connect the card with the computer, and create a new account (you need the Internet):

After successful registration, the card will appear in the left Devices panel. If a new version of the card firmware is found, update it:

The map is recognized and updated, it remains only to make friends with our created network, for this we go to the map settings (Eye-fi Settings) and in the Networks - Private Networks tabs select the network we created (in this case connectify) and connect with a predefined username and password:

Everything. The settings are saved on the card. We insert the adjusted eye-fi into the camera, you can shoot. Poyuzav map, I made for myself unequivocal conclusions: convenient, but slow. I use it in studios as follows: Canon 1D Mark III with two cards: source frames are recorded on a compact flash. On the eye-fi card - a jpeg copy with a minimum resolution and high compression to speed up the transfer process. Photos uploaded via wi-fi are placed in the folder specified in the Eye-fi settings and sorted by date of creation. You can also set up Adobe Lightroom to keep track of updates in this folder and thus display the captured images immediately on the monitor via wi-fi. You can also upload images to various photo storage services and galleries.

Tags: wi-fi, photo, memory cards

Most cameras today use the standard SD memory card format, and many laptops have the appropriate readers, but not all users like to remove the memory card from the camera to read photos. If you shoot every day, then this process can be tiring. In the professional segment, cameras use a wired connection to a computer or expensive wireless adapters. But there is also a less expensive solution that performs two functions: a Wi-Fi-enabled SD card. Just such an Eye-Fi Mobi card entered our test lab.

Eye-Fi offers two different solutions that do not differ in the basic principle of operation, but are aimed at different categories of users. The 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB Eye-Fi Mobi cards are class 10. They work with their own Eye-Fi Cloud and transfer photos over a purpose-built Wi-Fi network between the camera, smartphone/tablet, and desktop computer. The 16GB Eye-Fi Pro X2 memory cards can also transfer RAW files and integrate with your home network. An Ad-Hoc connection is no longer required in this case, the card can connect directly to the Internet. The Pro X2 requires a little more configuration effort, while the Eye-Fi Mobi card can be easily connected via a 10-digit code.

We tested the 8 GB Eye-Fi Mobi, which will cost around 40 euros in Europe. For a 16 GB model, you will have to pay about 60 euros. The Eye-Fi Pro X2 card is currently only available in retail at 8 GB at a price of 90 euros. In Russia, the cards have not yet appeared in retail sales. In our review, we will take a look at the Eye-Fi Mobi card. In the future, we plan to publish the Pro X2 benchmark as well.

The Eye-Fi Mobi card looks like any other SD memory card, as it must be suitable for any camera, that is, it must meet strict standards. If you're interested in knowing if a wireless SD card will work with your camera, we recommend checking out the compatibility list on the Eye-Fi website. We tested the card in some cameras, the only problem was establishing a connection. Sometimes the memory card's Wi-Fi network was not visible from our iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. But the problem was not repeatable, after turning the camera on / off, the Wi-Fi network was displayed. The manufacturer has added a “piece of intelligence” to the memory card, it creates a WLAN network only if new photos appear on the camera.

An Eye-Fi Mobi memory card was installed in our Canon EOS 1D Mark II, thanks to the latest firmware, the camera supports such memory cards. No specialized support is required, but in addition to speed and volume, you should consider the current and voltage that are necessary for the Eye-Fi Mobi to work.

The Eye-Fi Mobi card requires significantly more hardware than a standard SD card. An ARM processor (number 1) works inside, which ensures that the Wi-Fi network is activated only after new photos appear on the camera. In addition, the chip provides protection for the wireless network. The second number is the Wi-Fi chip, which includes a 802.11 b / g / n hotspot, to which different devices can then connect. In our tests, the transfer rate was 1.5-3 MB / s - depending on the distance between the two devices. Of course, Wi-Fi transfer can hardly compete with a direct connection, so if you need to transfer gigabytes of photos, it's better to use a "card reader" for this purpose. The third item is flash memory, in which data is stored.

The fourth point symbolically marks Eye-Fi Connect technology. Some manufacturers list their cameras as direct support for Eye-Fi memory cards. And the camera can monitor the wireless transmission of photos, start transmission, and prioritize photos. For all other cameras Eye-Fi Mobi will be visible as a normal memory card. They will not receive any feedback in case of wireless transmission.

Software

Let's move on to the camera software, as well as setting up the camera, memory card and hardware from the receiver side. Eye-Fi has developed an app (iTunes link) in the new iOS 7 design. There is also a version on the Google Play Store. If you plan to work with the map from a desktop PC, an appropriate application is available.

After launching the software on iPhone, you must first select a number of options. You can disable standby so that long transmissions are not interrupted. An Eye-Fi Cloud account is also set, you can use the cloud for free for the first 90 days, the Eye-Fi card will transfer images to the server. This also means that the Eye-Fi Cloud will only upload when the iPhone is on a WLAN. You can also upload photos from your smartphone to the Eye-Fi app, they can also be saved to the cloud.

Eye-Fi Mobi establishes a secure connection. To simplify this step, the user does not need to connect to the WLAN and enter a password, just enter the activation code that comes with each card. Thanks to this code, the smartphone / tablet and PC are connected via a secure connection. The code is activated in the WLAN settings if necessary.

When the connection is successfully established, the photos are transferred and displayed. They can be divided into different categories and sorted into different folders. Photos can be transferred to the smartphone's photo database or uploaded to the Eye-Fi Cloud.

The German language version of the Eye-Fi app still uses the old iOS 6 design and differs in interface from the new version.

Instead of transferring photos to mobile devices, you can download them to your desktop PC. There are corresponding applications for Windows and Mac, we have already given links a little higher. Again, Eye-Fi Mobi is tied to the software with an activation code, new photos can be automatically uploaded if needed. The user can specify in which folders to sort photos and videos.

We found shortcomings only in the interaction of hardware and software. Eye-Fi Mobi cannot transfer new photos to both mobile devices and a desktop computer at the same time. Priority will be given to the device that connects first. But photos can be transferred using the iOS application to a computer folder - but in this case, the user will not be able to choose which photos to transfer to him, first you need to upload all the pictures to your smartphone / tablet.

Unfortunately, only the Pro X2 has the ability to integrate a memory card into a home Wi-Fi network. In the case of Eye-Fi Mobi, this means that when connected to a memory card, you will not be able to connect to the rest of the network. On iOS 7, the operating system at least allows you to switch to a cellular connection. Also, Eye-Fi Mobi doesn't have the ability to transfer RAW photos.

Compact cameras with built-in Wi-Fi modules are no longer a rarity, including in the professional segment. But working with them is not always easy and simple. Eye-Fi positions Mobi cards for users who are too lazy to move the memory card from the camera in order to transfer several pictures to the computer. And from this point of view, there are benefits from Eye-Fi, albeit with some rough edges.

A few words about the reliability of the connection: the SD card did not always reliably create a Wi-Fi hotspot, that is, it was not always visible from the iPhone, iPad or MacBook devices. It is unlikely that all three devices could not find the WLAN, but to solve the problem, it was enough just to turn the camera on / off. The transfer speed is also low. A modern MacBook and the short distance between the laptop and the Eye-Fi card shouldn't impede high transfer speeds - but we only got about 3 MB/s. For us, Eye-Fi Mobi has provided additional comfort for everyday work. Of course, Eye-Fi cards are more expensive than "regular" memory cards, but in the case of Eye-Fi's Mobi, the extra charge seems quite reasonable to us.

Using Eye-fi or over the air photography

• Lumber room *

Usb wires, flash drives, card readers are very fed up, I want something light and airy. In one of the online reviews, I came across a device called eye-fi - a mixture of an sd card and a wifi transmitter. The gadget is capable of transmitting jpeg and raw photos over a secure channel, works with 802.11b/g/n wi-fi networks with Static WEP 64/128, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK secure channels.

Bought in the online store bhphotovideo.com. When buying, a nuance arose - as always, marketers put their hands on the device and made several varieties of the card: eye-fi, eye-fi pro, the differences can be in the amount of stored information (4-8 GB) and eye-fi pro can connect directly to wi-fi map, bypassing the router. An adapter for compact flash cards can be purchased as a separate option. I bought the cheapest model in order to test the performance of the card and possibly use it in the studio for shooting into the monitor.

10 days later I received this box:

And then the first minus of a cheaper wi-fi card model surfaced. This model only works with a Wi-Fi access point (the connection diagram is shown in the second picture above). That is, in order to legalize a computer or laptop with an eye-fi card, you need to put the laptop or computer into operation mode as an access point. To do this, we need a small program like connectify or virtual router.

So, to make an access point out of the computer, install connectify, the icon will appear in the tray. The program interface is simple, to create an access point, we will use the Easy Setup Wizard.

Set the name of the network to be created, through which we will connect the camera to the computer:

In the last window, select the network through which the Internet will be connected (the Internet is needed during the first connection, registration and card configuration).

The network is ready, now we are setting up our miracle card. To do this, install the eye-fi helper and eye-fi center applications (included). After installation, it may require updating to a new version, we update. The program interface is simple, nothing more:

Through the adapter, we connect the card with the computer, and create a new account (you need the Internet):

After successful registration, the card will appear in the left Devices panel. If a new version of the card firmware is found, update it:

The map is recognized and updated, it remains only to make it friends with our created network, for this we go to the map settings (Eye-fi Settings) and in the Networks - Private Networks tabs select the network we created (in this case, connectify) and connect with a predefined login and password:

Everything. The settings are saved on the card. We insert the adjusted eye-fi into the camera, you can shoot. Poyuzav map, I made for myself unequivocal conclusions: convenient, but slow. I use it in studios as follows: Canon 1D Mark III with two cards: source frames are recorded on a compact flash. On the eye-fi card - a jpeg copy with a minimum resolution and high compression to speed up the transfer process. Photos uploaded via wi-fi are placed in the folder specified in the Eye-fi settings and sorted by date of creation. You can also set up Adobe Lightroom to keep track of updates in this folder and thus display the captured images immediately on the monitor via wi-fi. You can also upload images to various photo storage services and galleries.

Tags: wi-fi, photo, memory cards

You won’t surprise anyone with ordinary memory cards. Another thing is if there is a Wi-Fi module inside the card. On the one hand, this is what progress has come to, and on the other hand, why is it needed?

Needed to transfer data from a photo or video camera directly to a computer or to social networks or online storage. Someone will ask that: “Why can’t you take a regular SD card out of the camera and insert its corresponding slot on a laptop or into a card reader?”. Can. But, for example, there is no suitable slot on smartphones, and you will not find one on every tablet. But these are trifles. The global meaning of Eye-Fi is completely different.

All of this is in a box.

This technology will be the first to be appreciated by professional photographers shooting in the studio. Even the displays of top-end cameras are far from ideal and too small to evaluate the resulting image. It is much more convenient to see the image on a large high-quality monitor. And with Eye-Fi, it's easy to organize. We snapped a series of shots with a sexy blonde and immediately saw them on the monitor! Even RAW of 10-30 megabytes will fly away quickly.

I photographed the model, and her picture is already on the computer!

The second convenience created by a wifi card is the automatic transfer of data to a computer. You have returned from vacation and started sorting backpacks and bags with souvenirs. And the camera at the same time sends the footage to a computer, laptop, tablet - wherever you say! Just do not forget to uncheck the "Online" checkbox in the program, otherwise your vacation will become the property of the entire Internet party! Therefore, if you want to buy, get not only a good one, but also this card.

A card reader is only needed when connecting for the first time to install the software

In the Eye-fi series, the maximum card capacity is 8 gigabytes. A little by today's standards. But! The inverted figure eight is the symbol of infinity. And the Eye-Fi Pro X2 really has an endless supply of megabytes! In Endless memory mode, the card deletes from itself those photos that have already been copied. That is, is shooting in the studio again going on, then the images immediately fly to the computer, and you don’t have to worry: how many pictures are there left? Plus, there is no need to change memory cards. And if the camcorder records the footage in chunks (and it usually does), then the video shooting turns into a calm process, and not a baton with the replacement of clogged memory cards. Yes, and now they take laptops and tablets to nature, where you can send your works of art.

All settings go through the Eye-fi center

As for the price. At first glance, the price of almost 6,000 rubles is crazy, unrealistically expensive for an eight-gig card. But with infinite memory and wireless automatic transfer of photos and videos to any of the available devices - from a computer to a smartphone, the cost of Eye-Fi Pro X2 goes to zero! Plus, it comes with a card reader. Let's take cards on 64 gigabytes. The cheapest costs from 2500 thousand. At the same time, shooting Full-HD video or taking pictures in RAW format on a modern DSLR with a matrix of 15, 20, or even 40 megapixels, you will fill this memory instantly! And in the case of Eye-Fi, all material will be transferred to a large hard drive or even to the unlimited space of the servers of the Eye-fi manufacturer. They are stored there for a week, that is, even after returning from vacation, you can have time to download. An excellent solution to combat the lack of space for photos and movies. Plus the possibility of remote shooting.

The copy progress is displayed on the computer screen

Of the minuses, only: the card reader does not recognize ordinary memory cards .. By the way, a big omission on the part of the developer. Where are marketers looking? And the self-sufficiency of the device itself is still not enough! Let not cards, but the same card reader. To be able to work without a laptop. Well, something like a mobile media center

Worries and counting frames on camera film are a thing of the past - modern technologies make it possible to always have a storage of several thousand shots at hand. The market offers a large number of such "helpers", it remains only to choose the right memory card for the camera. It would seem that the task is from the category of easy ones, but this is only at first glance. Being incorrectly selected, such a part may simply not fit your technique.

The easiest way to navigate is the instructions, which spell out the type of card that suits your device. General information about the varieties of such accessories will not be superfluous.

SD cards

Sequre Digital (SD card for short) is the most popular format and has been in production for almost 20 years. Today, these cards are represented by various modifications.

One type of SD card is the Eye-Fi device type. Eye-fi is a type of flash card that has a hardware element inside to support Wi-Fi. It is curious that the cards can be used in any Wi-Fi camera: just insert the card into the appropriate slot, and you will be able to transfer captured photos and videos to the Internet. This is very convenient for journalists and photojournalists working on the road.

Together with the SD card already familiar to us, its micro version can also be found - It has found application in tablets, smartphones, small cameras and action cameras. Despite their small size, these memory cards are fully functional. So if the camera has a memory slot for SD, it is quite possible to insert a micro version through the adapter.

In microSD, the capacity can reach up to 200 GB. For example, in SanDisk models in the Ultra microSDHC category.

compact flash

This type has gained popularity among owners of professional cameras, but such a drive is also used in some outdated cameras. Compact Flash is still the "first place" in terms of write speed and volume. Some CFast versions 2.0 have unrivaled features:

• read speed can reach 515MB/s;
• recording rates reach up to 440 MB / s.

As for the volume, it is represented by a minimum of 64 GB, and a maximum of 128 GB. This already resembles professional indicators.

You should make sure that the technique itself can support such a data transfer rate. For example, in this case, the camera must support UDMA (direct memory access).

Own types of flash drives

Attempts to establish the production of such accessories are found, one way or another, from each of the manufacturers. Most often, there will be a separate slot on the vehicle itself for this purpose.

For example, used to be the prerogative of only Sony digital cameras (which is why they got the abbreviation sms). However, the drives have been upgraded since their release - this has affected the incompatibility. The problem was solved by the advent of special adapters.

xD-Picture only used for Olympus and Fuji. However, now the format has made room for the most affordable SD options. But Nikon, on the contrary, is betting on the release of new cards - XQD line intended for professional use only. Last but not least, thanks to the large capacitive potential and high speeds.

However, even within the same format it is very difficult to know what to choose. The issue is resolved by placing an emphasis on the main characteristics.

What to look for when choosing a flash drive

Among all the significant criteria, the following are of interest:

• memory size;
• write and read speed class;
• protection options;
• manufacturer.

Determine the amount of memory

This indicator will show the number of pictures that fit on the card. Every year these indicators become more and more "in demand": the quality of photo and video materials and, accordingly, the place they occupy increases. The amount of detail preserved in a snapshot will determine its size. This is where the format comes into play: combination of RAW and JPEG only one picture can already occupy 100 MB. For example, a forty-second Canon EOS-1D X Mark II video can take up as much as 5 GB. And in 4K, one minute can take hundreds of times more space. Therefore, today it makes no sense to purchase flash drives with a capacity of less than 16 GB, especially if you plan to actively shoot photos and videos.

We give good advice: when going to a photo session, it makes sense to take several memory cards with you. This will save all the important moments.

Optimal speed for writing and reading

This parameter is relevant, if only because it determines the scope in which the memory card will be used. For example, it makes no sense to try to record sports footage or Full HD video on a slow card - it will just “freeze”. Previously, there was a simple gradation: classes 2,4,6,10. In fact, this was the designation of the write speed in megabytes per second. Fast flash drives had an extra marking U1 or U3– 10 Mb/s and 30 Mb/s respectively. If we talk about formats, then U1 supports Full HD video recording, and for shooting in 4K format, you will have to purchase a card labeled U3. But Sandisk has slightly different information:

• write speed Ultra II goes from 9 Mb / s;
• Extreme III starts at 20 Mbps;
• Extreme IV indicators were 45 Mb / s.

Recently, new standards UHS-I and UHS-II write speeds. The first type supports speeds up to 104 Mb / s, and the second - up to 312 Mb / s. Such technical characteristics will make it possible to realize all the talents inherent in modern technology. The most interesting, of course, is the second version. It differs in that the contacts in it are arranged in two rows.

In general, the manufacturer must indicate the following parameters: on the left, the speed at which reading or writing is performed, and on the right, the class through which the card passes.

Here are some tips for choosing a write speed class.

1. For Full HD shooting we advise you to choose a memory card with a write speed of at least class 6 (ten would be ideal).
2. If it is supposed continuous shooting, then it’s better to take care of even faster options, for example U1 or U Better not save money: a slow flash drive will miss a very interesting frame, wasting time transferring pictures taken a little earlier to the camera.
3. If plans include shoot moving objects, then the speed requirements increase, because there are already several series. Therefore, the speed itself must be at least 80 Mb / s.
4. Cards from 90 Mb / s are better to choose for professional camera.

But the read speed is not so relevant - most often it will be equal to or exceed the write speed.

The importance of protection

Naturally, when the memory card is inside the camera, it is more protected than when it is taken out. However, manufacturers have taken care of these moments. Usually on the package is indicated degree of protection against negative impacts, ranging from frost and sun to X-rays, which is most likely during screening at the airport. It is better to buy for yourself a product with the maximum degree of protection.

There are also extra precautions which will allow you to work much longer. You must not allow:

• exposure to strong magnetic fields;
• flash drive falls, especially into water;
• exposure to too high or low temperatures.

Advice! You cannot insert or remove a flash card while the camera is turned on.

Accessory manufacturer

According to professional photographers, SanDisk has the highest level of reliability. However, in this case, when choosing a memory card for the camera, you should focus on the class of devices. For example, for a SLR camera, choose SanDisk Extreme PRO microSDXC UHS-II, for amateur shooting, stop at UHS-I, and in the case of professional work, even choose PRO CFast2.0. For action cameras UHS-II version SDXC microformats will do. There are other well-established manufacturers - Transcend, Kingston and Samsung. But the inexpensive price of an unknown brand should not be trusted.