Despite all of the rumors about the iPad 2 having a camera, it will probably not be as good as one you can buy that is not attached to the device. Having said that, we wanted to cover some of the top cameras you can buy and then show you some of the best photos apps to go along with it. Here’s your iPad photo guide.
The Top iPad Cameras And Fun Photo Apps
The iPhone has a great camera at 5 megapixel and the iPad 2 is rumored to have a very low resolution back-facing camera that is used for things not necessarily related to taking photos. But the iPad photo apps and the nice touch interface lend very well to keeping a library of photos and doing some great things with them that you can then share with others.
While there are no digital cameras that are specifically made for the iPad, there are certainly great choices if you want to take some amazing photographs and then transfer them to the iPad. Once you do that, you are free to use any one of the iPad photo apps that you will see below. Before you transfer your photos, keep in mind there are a few ways to do that:
- Transfer photos from your camera to your computer and then sync your iPad with iTunes
- Get the iPad Camera Connection Kit
The first way to transfer photos is one of the easiest but the second method is also a great way, especially if you are traveling or don’t want to rely on your computer to have to sync photos. Either way will work just fine but I think most people enjoy the convenience of not having to be tied to their computer.
The Top iPad Cameras
So what are the top digital cameras that you can get that will be a great companion for your iPad? There are a ton of them but needless to say some are definitely better than others. Personally, I was shocked to see how advanced these have come from just a year ago. They are small, powerful, and have some amazing features for the prices. Here’s a few of the top rated digital cameras you can get to accompany your iPad.
The Canon PowerShot SD1300
Here is a great camera that is an exceptional price ($107). This one is 12.1 megapixel and it has spent over 350 days in the top 100. Here is a brief list of features:
- 28mm wide-angle lens; 4x optical zoom and Optical Image Stabilizer
- Smart AUTO mode intelligently selects from 18 predefined settings
- 12.1-megapixel resolution allows you to print large size images with clarity and detail
- Clear 2.7-inch PureColor System LCD
- Shoot in Low Light mode for dimly-lit situations
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20K
Another amazing digital camera that packs in 14.1 megapixels and an 8x optical image stabilized zoom. The Lumix series of digital cameras are almost always at the top of these lists and for good reason. They are small, compact and take excellent photos. It’s amazing to see this many megapixels for $129. Here are some other specs:
- 14.1-megapixel effective recording
- 8X optical zoom (4X digital zoom/32X total zoom)
- 2-11/16″ LCD screen
- Optical image stabilization
- Sonic Speed AF for quick focusing on moving subjects
Nikon Coolpix L110
For those that want the look for an SLR camera and love the Nikon brand, then you can’t go wrong with this one. It is a 12.1 megapixel powerhouse with 15x Optical Vibration Reduction and a 3.0 inch LCD. This would be the perfect digital camera to use for sporting events or when out and needing to take landscape photos or wide-angle shots. It’s a steal at $199 for what you get and the Coolpix series consistently gets great reviews and feedback. The specs:
- 12.1 megapixels for stunning prints as large as 16 x 20 inches
- Incredible 15x wide-angle optical (28-420mm) Zoom-NIKKOR glass lens
- Bright 3.0-inch high-resolution HVGA (460k-dot) Clear Color Display
- HD Movie with HDMI output; 5-way VR Image Stabilization System
- EXPEED Image Processing; Smart Portrait System
Fun iPad Photo Apps
So you have your camera and you have your iPad with a bunch of great photos. But what can you do now? The next thing you want are some fun iPad photo apps…these are great for making your photos stand out, touching them up, or creating something entirely new.
Artstudio for iPad ($2.99)
ArtStudio is a professional drawing / painting application. It uses advanced mathematics to attain the highest level of quality, at the same time offering incredible performance achieved through numerous code optimizations. It still remains a fantastic tool for beginners – it contains drawing lessons showing step-by-step instruction on drawing various types of images.
The list of features for this great and definitely fun iPad photo app is pages long. There really isn’t much this app does not do (except for take the photos for you). It even supports layers and masks!
MobileMonet HD ($1.99)
MobileMonet HD generates a black and white sketch version of any picture you select. There are settings to adjust the sketch line thickness, intensity and even color, as well as the shading.
MobileMonet HD then lets you paint onto the sketch using a soft flow brush tool that applies a painterly version of the original photo. The more you brush, the more paint is applied. It’s deceptively simple, but very creative. Brush in just the areas you want to highlight. You can adjust the paint settings to get just look you want. The adjustments include vibrance and brightness, as well as number of color shades and edge softness.
Artify ($0.99)
Inspired by the great Impressionist painters Monet, Renoir, and Degas, Artify instantly transforms your favorite photos into masterpieces. Create gorgeous impressionistic interpretations of photos of friends, family, landscapes, or anything at all. Reveal and highlight any detail you want with just the touch of a finger.
Web Albums for iPad ($2.99)
Web Albums App, the most popular Picasa Web Albums viewer, uploader, and manager for the iPhone, is now available on the iPad. Using your Google account and the app’s easy setup and intuitive layout, you will be viewing, emailing, and showing slideshows of your favorite online Picasa photos and videos in no time.
This app won’t manipulate or touch up your photos but it’s perfect for storing and retrieving them.
SoftBox Pro ($2.99)
Turn your iPad into a professional studio lighting system. “SoftBox Pro” gives you the perfect reflection you are looking for. Unlike conventional lighting equipments, you can carry it with you, wherever you go! Simply choose an appropriate shape, pattern, and brightness, you are ready for shooting.
Besides using it as a soft box, “SoftBox Pro” can also be used as a light table. Or maybe something else? Let your creativity run wild.
PhotoTell ($9.99)
PhotoTell is a fun iPad photo app that is an easy way to display and organize your favorite photos with audio captions. It lets you record a message for every picture and allows you to play it each time that photo is displayed. Photos can be linked across multiple pages by placing from one to nine picture-based “buttons’ on each page, allowing you to create nested albums in just a few moments.
There are some great cameras and really nice iPad photo apps. It’s the perfect time to get out and start taking photos. Even though iPad 2 is on the way, you will still want a good, high quality camera and these photo apps to really explore all that they have to offer!
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