Onsite photo printing using the Eyefi MOBI wifi card.

In addition to my day job in IT, I have started to develop a fun sideline in photo booths for weddings, events and parties. As part of the package I offer the production of a photo memory book at the event along with re-prints being immediately available for purchase or pre-purchased as part of the package by the organiser.

Previously this has involved me in repeatedly removing and reinserting the memory card from the camera in use, usually my K-r, in order to produce the prints using a pair of Sony FP-60 dye sub printers.

For the next event I decided to up my game and so purchased an 8Gb eyefi MOBI wifi card to immediately transmit jpeg files to my laptop. The idea being to then use the laptop to print out to the printers connected by usb leads and so speed up the workflow.

Last night I set it all up for the first time and I have to say I am blown away by the results. Admittedly the first image takes around 25-30 seconds to start to transmit to the laptop but thereafter takes maybe 10-15 seconds at my chosen resolution of 6 megapixels. The laptop is loaded with Sony's own application, Playmemories Home, which uses the Eyefi folder on the laptop as its source folder and then simply and easily outputs either single images or collections to whichever printer I select. In fact the system is so light in using the laptops resources it is a simple matter to use both printers simultaneously whilst receiving the next file from the camera.

From tripping the shutter to handing over a finished 6"x4" print takes about 90 seconds but with two printers I effectively reduce this to 45 seconds. For the type of events I shoot this is perfect and allows a smooth workflow with far more flexibility than I had previously. It also feels so much more professional to be able to focus on the picture taking whilst leaving the print production side of things to my long suffering wife, who is invariably co-opted as my unpaid labour.

My next booking is for this coming Saturday and I have to say I am quite excited to be using the new system for the first time in anger.

That's innovative and impressive....

...can't wait until you scale it up to framed 20x16 prints in 30 seconds

I've got the older (slow) Eye-Fi card and wouldn't be without one for use at home. It picks it up even in the garden without an extender. A full JPG (10-11MB) averages 16 secs. over N300 Wi-Fi. It did about the same over a slower router. Some USB dongles struggle with the connection so you may have to try others.

The camera battery doesn't last as long, but that really isn't a problem.

--

I use a 32 gig Toshiba FlashAir in my K3 and it's wonderful. I use it to send photos to my phone so I can send them immediately to friends via Whatsapp or uplaod them to FB. Much better than using the phone's camera.

@Algernon - I read up on the battery issue and have bought a couple of cheap generics as back up to my two Pentax originals.

@LennyBloke - I wish

@Jonathan-Mac - I looked at the Toshiba cards but elected to go down the MOBI route for the benefits of the adhoc network and simplified set up.