Trail Camera Photo Viewing

I have an Android Smartphone (S4 mini) and looking for an easy way to take a look at the photo's on my trail camera (Trail Cam doesn't have an onboard viewing screen) . The trail camera takes a standard SD card and there is currently nothing available at tech stores that will read the SD card utilizing the micro USB port on my S4 smartphone. The phone doesn't recognize a card reader of that sort (there's no driver on my phone to read the reader).

Is anyone else wanting do this? Have any suggestions?

There are adapters for micro to sd, but you are correct, nothing I've seen going the other way, (hard to fit something bigger into something smaller) (that's what she said)

That aside, they do sell "viewers" just a screen with an SD slot at places like cabelas, bps.

All I do is bring a point and shoot camera with me, pop card in and view on playback LCD screen, if I want to copy the pics, I toss the laptop into my pack.

Or, run 2 memory cards, pop new one in take old one home to look at and clear, and repeat with each visit.

Check out eBay, I bought an adapter for my iPad so I can plug the card Into the reader and right to my iPad and I can view or transfer from there. I think it works on my iPhone too. Haven't tried yet. Easier than bringing a laptop to the bush or swapping cards.

That's exactly what I want to do...eliminate the need to bring extra tech equipment into the field. I always have my phone though, so that's the only piece of tech equipment I want to bring if I can.
The other side of this question comes from wanting to share photo's faster (ie. as soon as I get them). Its not a huge deal, but if I can post photo's from my phone rather than having to swap SD cards and loading them onto my laptop at home, etc...
I'm starting to think there is an opportunity for an App and hardware development for outdoor guys like us with trail cams and smartphones...

You could just run micro SD's in you trail camera using the adapter. Then pop that micro SD directly into your phone?

or something like this?
http://www.amazon.ca/kwmobile-Adapte...rd+usb+adapter

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Originally Posted by TurkeyRookie

There are adapters for micro to sd, but you are correct, nothing I've seen going the other way, (hard to fit something bigger into something smaller) (that's what she said)

That aside, they do sell "viewers" just a screen with an SD slot at places like cabelas, bps.

All I do is bring a point and shoot camera with me, pop card in and view on playback LCD screen, if I want to copy the pics, I toss the laptop into my pack.

Or, run 2 memory cards, pop new one in take old one home to look at and clear, and repeat with each visit.

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X2 thats what i use to do was just bring my camera with me and view them, but now i just have 2 cards and swap them out each trip, upload to computer, snap a picture of the comp screen with my cell phone... no interweb on my home computer, only reason i even have it is for trail cam pictures lol

I would not want to be messing around wit micro SD cards in the bush, I doubt you need to share it that instantly, if so, maybe a trail cam that will email / SMS the picture to you as soon as it's taken is for you.

Otherwise, the two SD cards is probably the best bet, they are dirt cheap, you're not bringing in another piece of gear to drop, scratch (iPad, laptop, camera, etc).

I use the camera trick when in camp for a week and don't have the computers etc.

Otherwise, 2 SD cards, and wait till I get home, or if that excited, pop it int he SD slot in my vehicles and watch them on the NAV screen.

I always have an extra sd card in my wallet or in the car, if im out by the farm for whatever reason isn't hard to just switch them out and bring home to view on the computer. Sd cards are cheap these days anyways, unless you're doing long videos all you need is an 8gb

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Originally Posted by bassboy19

I always have an extra sd card in my wallet or in the car, if im out by the farm for whatever reason isn't hard to just switch them out and bring home to view on the computer. Sd cards are cheap these days anyways, unless you're doing long videos all you need is an 8gb

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8gb!? Wow, I wanna hunt your farm. :D
1-4gb cards are generally enough if you're checking them once a month. Depending on your camera settings. I have 10 SD cards for 5 cameras. Swap them all out in one trip and load them on my PC at home.

Take pictures with your phone. Buddy does that when he is baiting and texts us the pictures.

X3 on the spare SD cards. I just take a fresh one in for each camera I check.

easy swap 1gb SD cards........then plug into laptop at home and then erase the cards for next swap

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Originally Posted by COYHUNTER

easy swap 1gb SD cards........then plug into laptop at home and then erase the cards for next swap

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One important thing I've learned is that delete pictures is not enough when switching multiple cards between different brands of cameras. My Bushnell won't work with an SD card taken out of a spypoint or Moultrie. You need to 'format' the cards after you're finished with the photos.

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Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher

8gb!? Wow, I wanna hunt your farm. :D
1-4gb cards are generally enough if you're checking them once a month. Depending on your camera settings. I have 10 SD cards for 5 cameras. Swap them all out in one trip and load them on my PC at home.

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I have no idea I assumed 8gb is small these days considering they're up to 64gb lol!

I always have an extra SD on me, check batteries, swap cards and view on the large screen of my laptop at home, many a time I have seen something in the background I would never have seen on a smaller screen.

I have been swapping out SD cards for 10 years, this isn't a new idea for me. I originally asked if anyone has any suggestions with regards to uploading SD or MicroSD cards to your phone for quick sharing capabilities (wasn't looking for ways to view the photo's at home). Whether or not I have to share that quickly is irrelevant, I just wanted to know if there was anyone else out there that is already doing this (and would share with me how) or if there is any else also interest in being able to do this. Considering there is an "app" for everything, I figured this would already be thought of, but maybe this concept slipped through the cracks. I better apply for a Patent now!

As already mentioned, use a micro sd card in your trail camera, with a regular SD adapter, same way we do in our GoPro's

Take the micro out of the adapter out of the camera, and pop into your phone. You may run into formatting issues though, as some phone's want to format cards before they go into them, (when they have data from previous devices) therefore erasing all the pictures before you get to see them.

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...cro+sd+adapter

Or, get a trail camera that will accept a SIM card, and have it sms/e-mail you the pictures directly.

I have a blackberry smartphone that I use a "on the go"usb cable with a sd card reader to view images from my game camera. I know that the same can be done with android phones.

ok, so I've already been using the micro SD card with the standard SD card adapter in the trail Cam's. I have already tried what Luc suggested - a Micro USB port cable adapter to a card reader on my phone (S4), and the phone doesn't recognize that anything is plugged in. It's almost as though I need an 'App' as a driver to open the external memory storage (the SD card) when it is connected. I have downloaded a few file manager type apps, but they don't help either. I think I need a Tech guy to solve this one!

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Originally Posted by outdoorfriendly

ok, so I've already been using the micro SD card with the standard SD card adapter in the trail Cam's. I have already tried what Luc suggested - a Micro USB port cable adapter to a card reader on my phone (S4), and the phone doesn't recognize that anything is plugged in. It's almost as though I need an 'App' as a driver to open the external memory storage (the SD card) when it is connected. I have downloaded a few file manager type apps, but they don't help either. I think I need a Tech guy to solve this one!

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This just sounds way more complicated then it really needs to be. But, you obviously know what you want.

With that in mind, maybe the best solution, to suit your needs, or to achieve the end result you want.

Is to just get a wireless camera that will sms/email the pictures to your phone after it takes them.

I'm low-tech - I just take a digital camera with me and check the sd card in the camera.
When I get about 800 pics I'll swap cards and take the card how and transfer pics to a laptop.

You can pickup digital picture frames dirt cheap (popular a few years ago to give to Grandma with a bunch of pictures of the kids that would flip through). Many of them take batteries, will play video and the big advantage is that they will play or display almost any format of photo (unlike putting the card in your phone which may not like the format).

You can also get cheap (like $50) older android tablets and use them the same way, I have a stack of old tablets (from kids when they upgraded). They take the small SD cards, so again, you have to use an adapter in the trail cam.

I havent read through the whole thread so this may have been brought up. You can buy a micro sd card that comes with an adapter to normal sd. I use them in my cameras. When I want to check the pictures I pop the micro sd out of the adapter and stick it in my phone. I used to use a digital camera but every now and then switching out the cards will lock the sd and it will need to be formatted.

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Originally Posted by oaknut

I havent read through the whole thread so this may have been brought up. You can buy a micro sd card that comes with an adapter to normal sd. I use them in my cameras. When I want to check the pictures I pop the micro sd out of the adapter and stick it in my phone. I used to use a digital camera but every now and then switching out the cards will lock the sd and it will need to be formatted.

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Read would ya! :joker:

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ok, so I've already been using the micro SD card with the standard SD card adapter in the trail Cam's. I have already tried what Luc suggested - a Micro USB port cable adapter to a card reader on my phone (S4), and the phone doesn't recognize that anything is plugged in. It's almost as though I need an 'App' as a driver to open the external memory storage (the SD card) when it is connected. I have downloaded a few file manager type apps, but they don't help either. I think I need a Tech guy to solve this one!

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Lol. Thanks TR.

It takes my Galaxy S3 about five minutes to bring up the photos off the card. Sometimes a bit quicker if I restart immediately after switching the card. It all shows up in a separate file in the gallery.

did some looking around on the good old Internet seems like the s4 mini phone will not work with out some other app on it. here is a link to what I found. http://www.s4miniarchive.com/2014/01/usb-otg-kernel-for-galaxy-s4-mini-duos-i9192.html?m=1

With my iPhone I use something called an Airstash. Basically, it looks like a usb memory stick that you can also insert an SD card into. It generates it's own wifi network, so I can see the files on my phone....

Other then having to charge it once in a while, it works perfectly for this.

We bought hand held viewers and even the expensive geopad. Finally we found a product called BoneView. It attaches directly to your i-phone or android phone and you just download a small app for it. Can view all photos and store photos on your phone. It is fantastic. Check it out on line. Also can be bought thru Amazon.ca. About $50. Highly recommend it.