The iPad 3: Photographer-Friendly?

A guest post from Raymond Cheung

Another iPad?!

You better believe it.

Apple has once again released its infamous tablet, attempting to expand the number of consumers within their technological community. With the third edition of the device, Apple has chosen to raise the bar within the tablet market by featuring a retina display on its gorgeous 9.7-inch touch screen surface that is said to rival that of a standard 40-inch HD TV. Along with the retina, Apple has upgraded the camera system to 5 megapixels crushing its older brother (iPad 2) with its VGA (Video Graphics Array) display.
So the big question here is, will those who fancy photography flock to this new device because of its improvements in photographical specifications? Considering I recently purchased the Canon T3 Rebel DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera for the convenient price of about $500 (USD) just to take photos and make video recordings, what’s preventing me from returning the DSLR I purchased and trading it in for the iPad 3, which is roughly the same price, for more versatility? The specifications do state that the iPad 3 can autofocus or ‘tap to focus’, and the video recordings do record at a whopping 1080p with 30 frames per second, which is more than enough for the average photographer and home movie maker.

At this point, if you’re a professional photographer reading this, you may be riling up the need to give me a grand slapping in the face. For obvious reasons, DSLR’s (a professional camera device) crush the iPad 3 and if you’re a professional photographer, you’ll most likely pass up the iPad 3 for a new lens or related accessory. However, if you’re the average snapper who uses programs like Instagram and Camera+ to edit your photos, then it seems the iPad 3 may be in your realm of technological needs. Not only are the specifications off the charts (see them here: http://www.apple.com/ipad/specs/), but the ease of use and portability is enough to entice your eyes and wallet.

So is the iPad 3 photographer- friendly? With a 5 megapixel camera which is equivalent to an old Sony Cybershot I used to own, I definitely think so. Heck, some of you professional photographers may pick it up just for the user-friendly interface of taking photos and storing them in conveniently placed albums (not to mention the cool touch screen features like expanding and contracting photos within your events and albums). However, it is worth noting that if you are thinking of purchasing an iPad 3, don’t do it solely because of its improved photographic features. Buy it because it’s better and cooler than that Acer netbook or huge Dell laptop that you’re reading this article on.

Raymond Cheung is a Marketing Executive at Outreachr, the best online tool for finding influential bloggers and sites for link building and outreach campaigns.