This means you can do things like e-mail photos of your trip while you’re still on vacation, or get pictures directly off your camera and to an editor quickly if you’re a photojournalist.
As with non-WiFi cameras, your choice of camera will be dependent on how you plan to use it. WiFi-enabled point-and-shoot cameras retail for a little bit more than their plug-and-play counterparts, from about $200 on up. As of early 2010, no WiFi SLR cameras were available; however, by using a WiFi-enabled SD card called an Eye-fi, many cameras can gain this capability for $50 and up [source: Eye-Fi]. These SD cards have a WiFi antennae built into them, which allows them to offer basically the same functions as a camera with built-in WiFi, but they lack the on-screen interface if a camera doesn’t directly support it. With the Eye-Fi, you set up the card on your computer, then place it in the camera, where it automatically uploads photos to your computer or Web space anytime it detects a compatible WiFi network.
The difference between WiFi cameras and Eye-Fi cards is straightforward: WiFi cameras are already built to use WiFi functions out of the box, whereas Eye-Fi cards are an extra memory card. Both require a brief setup process and offer the same basic functionality.
If you’re worried the simplicity of having a WiFi camera comes at the cost of image quality, your concerns are well directed. Certain models, especially early ones, may upload files at lower resolutions than what is stored on the camera. The high-quality shots remain on the camera, so they can still be transferred through a wired connection when you have the chance. You won’t have that problem with most newer models, though.
So, once you’ve got your WiFi-enabled camera in your hands, you’ll need to set up basic features, automatic functions and the Web site or computer to which you plan to upload your pictures.
Benefits of WiFi Cameras
The benefit of life without cords is appealing enough for many; however, WiFi cameras come with some downsides in addition to their benefits. As the technology moves forward, many of the kinks may be ironed out and new functions introduced, but for now we’ll look at the benefits of cameras currently on the market.
Wirelessly uploading files at the touch of a button might be the main benefit of a WiFi camera, but other pluses include:
Quick access to storage
Ability to share albums and photos with one step instead of several
If you set it to delete photos as they upload, you’ll never have to worry about a full SD card
All these features come at a cost. For example, WiFi cameras are still unreliable when it comes to maintaining battery power while connected to the Internet. As with other portable electronics, it’s still a lithium drain — and one that can make or break vacation documentation if a power source isn’t handy.
Another major downfall is the fact that a WiFi camera needs a place to connect to upload pictures. While coffee shops, restaurants and hotels often have free access to these, many locations do not. Additionally, WiFi connections aren’t always reliable, so there may be the risk that your photos won’t upload properly.
There is also the issue of encryption and privacy. Some photo sharing services are open and publically available, so while it’s unlikely anyone is going to accidentally stumble on your vacation photos, it’s still possible. This also comes into play when you’re dealing with a public connection like one you’d find at a coffee shop, where privacy isn’t guaranteed while your camera is on a public network. Many WiFi-enabled cameras offer encryption options for WiFi uploads during the initial setup process.
There is also the problem of interfacing between the user and the camera itself. As touch screen technology grows in popularity, this may become less of an issue, but for now it’s rather cumbersome to navigate through passwords and usernames without a keyboard. Several cameras already feature an on-screen keyboard, while others have let users hit various camera buttons to point-and-click their ways through.
Although WiFi-enabled cameras haven’t completely caught on yet, many technology experts believe it’s inevitable they will in the near future [source: Moynihan]. For now, the offerings are slim, but as cost of production goes down, you may someday see WiFi become as common a feature as red-eye reduction.]
