Using an iPhone to take your home inspection photos and sharing via your iCloud Photo Library may be the easiest way to view photos on an iPad but not everyone likes using an iPhone.
A number of Tap Inspect’s home inspectors that either have an Android phone or still like to use a point and shoot camera or maybe even a high end DLSR. We are big believers in using the best tools for the job and the best tool is usually down to the preference of the person using it. Here are three ways that some of our users have told us about. Let us know if you have more.
Wifi Enabled Camera
Over the past few years many manufacturers have released point and shoot cameras with built in WiFi to let you share photos right from the camera. So what is the general consensus?
These camera are worth a look if you want a higher quality home inspection photo than you can typically get with your smartphone. Beware though. They can be pretty tricky to get setup right.
Once you do get them setup they work like a champ. Just install the camera’s companion app on your iPad . Then every photo you take is wirelessly sent from the camera for you to view on your iPad or add to a Tap Inspect report.
Fair warning. If setting up a wireless router forces you to call the Geek Squad these devices may be more trouble than they are worth.
Wifi Memory Card
Much like a Wifi camera there are WiFi enabled memory cards like the EyeFi memory card that can give your non-Wifi camera, Wifi connectivity.
Once you insert this gizmo into your camera and get it setup it works just like Wifi cameras. Each photo you take is wirelessly sent to a companion app you install on your iPad.
This is little less expensive than buying a new Wifi camera so that can be a plus. The downsides are that these things can burn through batteries. In my experience, I got about half the life from my batteries compared to using a non-wifi enabled memory card. The other downside is that, just like the wifi cameras, these devices can be a little tough to get setup or to troubleshoot if anything goes wrong.
Apple’s SD Card Connector
If you are looking for the simplest, most reliable method to transfer home inspection photos from a camera or even your Android phone, it is hard to beat the Apple Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader.
Just remove the SD card, plug it into this device, then plug the device into your iPad. The Photos app will launch and allow you to import all the photos on the card or select just the photos you want.
The biggest down side is that you have to remove the card from your camera or Android phone first. This is fine if you want to import all your photos at once. If you want to add and view photos as you take them the Wifi options may be better.
So there you are, three ways to get home inspection photos onto your iPad. There is no best way but there is probably the best way for you.
Tap Inspect is great!!! When will we have the ability to send for signature the inspection agreement??
Hey Doug,
You can collect signatures right on your device now.
If you are asking about the ability to email agreements it may be quite awhile. There are so many other services not to mention email addons that do this we may not get to it for some time.
Hi there, just getting into the biz and likely going to pick up your software. Question. If I shoot photos with the FLIR ONE IOS do the photos go straight to report or do I need to import them?
Hey Stu,
I believe the FLIR ONE puts the photos into your Camera Roll on your device. Once they are there you can add them into your reports just like you would add any other photo.
It is incredibly easy.
I had purchased a Flir one ios for inspection purposes thinking that the thermal resolution was sufficient for inspection purposes. Most people who do infrared for inspection services recommend a resolution of 120 x 160. In the advertising for the Flir one that was the resolution listed, but actually the native thermal resolution is much lower. The 120 x 160 is an “enhanced” resolution. After I used the Flir one I realized that the thermal images were very inconsistent and contained very little useful thermal info. I have since upgraded to a Flir I7 which has a native 140 x 140 resolution which is about the same as 120 x 160. There is a good used market right now for the I7. The new model, the E6, will cost about $2400, whereas you can get a used I7 for $500-700. As an instructor told me, educate yourself before you buy, you get what you pay for.
I am a Florida state certified building contractor and building inspector, and I have been in the business since 1999.
That is great info Chris!
We do not use Flir much in my area and it is always great to hear from people that use this tech.
Thanks for sharing! I hope it saves some heartache for others.