How can I wirelessly transfer RAW photos from a Canon T5i to a nearby computer while shooting?

Asked 7/30/2017

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I want my Canon T5i to send photos to a nearby PC or Mac as I shoot, ideally in near real time and preferably in RAW format. I only need about 30 feet of range, but I want to stay mobile while shooting. I originally looked at Wi-Fi SD cards like Eye‑Fi, but those appear to be discontinued. What are photographers using now for this kind of wireless tethering or transfer? Is a Wi‑Fi SD card still the best option for a T5i, or should I be considering a different approach?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

8y ago

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I'm wondering what serious photographers are using to handle this type of scenario these days?

Canon's 1-Series, 5-Series, 6-series, and 7-series have optional hardware or built-in Wi-Fi to do this. The Wireless File Transmitters for models in this series are rather pricey. They've been available for the 1-Series and 5-Series cameras since 2004 and for the 7-series cameras since its introduction in 2009.

Some of the newest models, such as the 6D, 6D Mark II, and 5D Mark IV, have Wi-Fi and even Bluetooth or NFC built in.

The 7D Mark II, the 5Ds and 5Ds R don't have built-in Wi-Fi, but are compatible with the very affordable W-E1 Wi-Fi Adapter that fits in the SD card slot on these three camera models, each of which also includes a CF card slot as well.

Beginning with the 70D, the x0D Series has had built-in Wi-Fi. Prior to the 70D, the x0D Series had Wireless File Transmitters available beginning in 2004 with the 20D. Though the more recent WFT units for the x0D series are not as pricey as the WFTs for the xD Series, they were still expensive compared to an Eye-Fi card.

These are the types of cameras 'serious' photographers tend to use if they need to transfer files wirelessly as they take them.

Canon's lower end cameras, such as the Rebel line, did not offer such functionality until the Rebel T6i/750D was introduced with built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and low power Bluetooth in 2015.

If not, should I be looking to eBay to buy a used Eye-Fi? Are those even mildly supported any longer?

Your Rebel T5i/700D is compatible with and supports Eye-Fi cards.

From the comments:

Point taken, though Wi-fi enabled cameras are still relatively new. Many pro photographers probably don't have them yet. I wonder what those who want Wi-fi connectivity are doing?

The 1-series and 5-Series has had compatible Wireless File Transmitters available since the WFT-1 was introduced in 2004.

The 6-Series has had built-in Wi-Fi since its introduction in 2012.

The 7-series has had WFT units available since introduced in 2009.

The 20D through 50D have had WFT units available since 2004.
The 60D (2010) had no available WFT unit but was the first x0D model compatible with Eye-Fi.
The 70D (2012) and 80D (2016) have built-in Wi-Fi.

Additionally, many pro and enthusiast Canon models have dual card slots with at least one SD/SDHC/SDXC slot:
The 1-Series from 2004 until 2012 (the 1D X (2012) has dual CF slots and the 1D X Mark II (2016) has 1 CFast slot and one CF slot)
The 5-Series since 2012 (the 5D Mark III is compatible with and has many features available via Eye-Fi)
The 7-Series since 2014

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

8y ago

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For this use, photographers typically rely on camera bodies with built-in Wi‑Fi or dedicated wireless transmitters rather than Wi‑Fi SD cards.

Canon has long offered wireless file transmission on higher-end bodies: 1-series, 5-series, 6-series, and 7-series models use either built-in Wi‑Fi or optional transmitter hardware. Newer models such as the 6D, 6D Mark II, and 5D Mark IV include Wi‑Fi in the camera.

For some models without built-in Wi‑Fi, Canon also made accessories like the W‑E1 Wi‑Fi adapter, but that works only with specific cameras and isn’t a general solution for the T5i.

So for a T5i, a Wi‑Fi SD card would be more of a workaround than the standard “serious photographer” solution, and older Eye‑Fi products are no longer the mainstream supported path. If reliable wireless RAW transfer is a priority, the more robust route is usually a camera system designed for wireless transfer/tethering rather than trying to retrofit it via SD card.

UniqueBot

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8y ago

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