Vivitar Mobile Reader 4+

Alright, so the app isn’t the worse but definitely can improve. I found the app favors JPEG over RAW files when it comes to downloading and viewing them, but I figured out how to transfer my RAW files nonetheless. Just putting this out there for those who are struggling. RAW files are in the “File/Folder” section only. When I tried to download a single RAW photo, it said that it did...but the image never appeared in my camera roll. So what I did was, “multi select” multiple raw files, then click “more” (bottom right), and “save to photo album” should appear. I clicked that, and THEN my RAW photos appeared in my camera roll. I wish the app was easier to work with but for now this will do.

I bought this card reader after losing two other ones and assumed it’d work like any other: you plug it in, iOS sees it and allows you to import photos and you go on your merry way. Not so with the Vivitar! You have to install this extremely poorly-made app to even access the contents of your card. However, heaven help you if your photos are anything other than jpegs (i.e. raw files). The app won’t let you save any raw files to the camera roll, claiming that iOS only supports jpeg, png, and a couple video formats. The app doesn’t even let you preview the images. You CAN save the files to the “documents” section of the app (again, without previewing them), and you could theoretically save them to iOS’s files app from there, BUT, dear reader, Vivitar’s crack developers have disabled the “share” button if more than one photo is selected making you have to individually select each file and save it to iOS’s Files app.

I would give this less than one star if I could. I’ll be returning the card reader and ordering something that works. A real bummer that it doesn’t just use the native iOS import functionality.

Upon inserting the first SD card into the new reader a little bubble pops up asking you to download an app. Being in the woods checking my trail cams, I had no service. Flash forward to at the house, now with a pocket full of SD cards and having downloaded the vivitar app, the first SD card popped up with all… or…some(?) of the pictures on it, many had problems loading. I thought “Well, that’s frustrating but let’s see how the next card turns out…”
Insert the next card… totally blank (according to this device), maybe just a really poorly placed camera… but all of the remaining cards are blank too, including a card that I used in an extra camera I had to record myself checking the cards… also blank. I have and highly recommend an apple reader that works every time, doesn’t require an app, and cost approximately the same, but I left it out of town. Don’t waste your money or your time with this company.