As an amateur photographer and creator of ZenTransfer, I've spent a lot of time figuring out the best way to reliably transfer images from my camera via FTP. For me it is about sharing great photos with friends and family, but for you it may be about delivering photos to clients at events or breaking news at world events.
Choosing the right mobile hotspot — whether it's an iPhone, Android, or dedicated mobile hotspot device—can make a huge difference in workflow and reliability. Should you just go with whatever phone's in your pocket?
You probably have a Mac. And an iPhone.
Let's face it. If you are a photographer, chances are you have a Mac. And with that Mac, an iPhone. Even if this is not you, keep on reading.
I've used an iPhone for years (actually since the very first generation which I had to go to the US to get home to Norway), and while it's convenient and easy to set up as a personal hotspot, I've noticed occasional disconnections. It especially seems to turn off if there are no devices connected, which happens if I turn off my Sony A7 camera. Other reviews, like this one by Chris Smith, highlights the same.
I have my Sony set up to auto-transfer with FTP (which may not be everyone's cup of tea). If the connection drops, the Sony will stop sending photos and I need to go back and see which ones were, and which ones weren't, transferred, and manually send.
So is this the time to get a Pixel?
Android phones, on the other hand, have served me better. I've tested various Android devices and they may warn about the hotspot being on, as they want to preserve battery life just as much as the iPhone. BUT, critically, they do not turn off the hotspot automatically. They sometimes get scorching hot, and eventually they die when the battery is out, but at least it works all the way till the end. I usually fix the heat by putting the phone in an outside compartment of my backpack, so I don't have to have that thing close to, ... ehh ..., in my pocket.
I have a Pixel for testing the software I create, and I now bring that as my hotspot - the iPhone is still my primary device. The Pixel is truly nice, but also a tad expensive. You can basically pick up the cheapest Android on the market for this, but pay attention to battery life. If you dedicate it as a hotspot, then look for devices with small screens, they typically have better battery life.
What about dedicated devices?
Years ago I would travel frequently to NYC, and of course I wanted data connectivity. I bought an AT&T pay-as-you-go data subscription that came with a portable hotspot. That way both my laptop and phone were always connected (let's face it, hotel and conference Wi-Fi always suck).
That device (can't remember what it was), would just work and work, as long as I charged it overnight. It was perfectly stable, and handled multiple connections well - one vacation all three kids were streaming over this little thing.
It comes at the cost of having another SIM card, maybe another subscription, and most importantly yet another thing to keep charged. I have now ordered the Acer Connect Enduro and will test that over the coming weeks and months paired with my A7.
I absolutely hate it when people shoot great photos with professional gear, just for some random iPhone shot be the one that gets shared and all the attention. Using FTP straight from the camera is the way for me, and with my integration with ZenTransfer and Buffer, I'm as fast to social as anyone else. But connectivity is key, and hopefully sharing my experience can be useful in getting your setup right.
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