Lightning to camera adapter vs Lightning to USB 3 camera adapter

In order to print from an iOS device, no cable is needed.

See these support articles:--> Use AirPrint to print from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

and this one:--> About AirPrint - Apple Support

If you mean something different, please better specify your needs.

Regards

Giulio

To my knowledge, it is not possible to connect a printer directly to the iPad via cable.

I know there are possibilities to connect the printer to the modem-router via USB, but I've never used that connection and I'm not sure it will work. I've also read that there are some apps on the App Store that can help, but I've never tried them and can't give you any further information.

Try contacting your printer manufacturer, indicating the correct model, and see if there are alternatives.

Regards and best of luck.

Giulio

There are multiple points of consideration.

1) When comparing the Camera Adapters, consider that the Adapters have considerable differences.

The Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter offers USB3 speed and the ability to simultaneously connect your Power Adapter. The ability to supply power is essential when using external USB storage devices and some other USB peripherals. USB3 offers considerably higher transfer speeds when used with newer models of iPad.

By contrast, the older “basic” Camera Adapter only offers USB2 transfer speed, regardless of the iPad to which it is connected. There is no facility to connect the Power Adapter - which will inhibit, or substantially complicate, connection of most storage devices. This option is only generally usable if the connected device is itself battery operated- or has its own source of power.

The Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter is considerably more useful and flexible than the slightly cheaper alternative - and provides considerable performance and functional benefits.

2) As for printing, printers need a print-driver of some sort to be installed on the host computer. For traditional PC and Mac, with an internet connection, this is usually automatic - or facilitated by installing the manufacturers driver from CD or other downloadable file.

For iOS/iPadOS, it is not possible to install driver software. Instead, your iPad uses a “driverless” technology called AirPrint - supported by the majority of domestic printers that have a WiFi connection.

iPadOS/iOS devices support AirPrint over WiFi - this being a “driverless” printing protocol. Unless your printer explicitly supports AirPrint over USB (which would be unusual), direct connection to the printer would require installation of a printer-driver, which can only be achieved by way of a printer App coded specifically for the attached printer model. 

It’s worth looking at your printer manufacturers support site for specifications and details of any manufacturer-specific Print Apps for iOS; if an App exists, it will likely link back to the Apple App Store.

If your printer does not support AirPrint over USB - or you cannot find a corresponding App for your printer - then direct connection over USB won’t be possible.

If you printer only works with a wired connection - and doesn’t support AirPrint - you might simply connect the printer to your PC or Mac computer and install a print helper application. The computer then acts as Print Server for AirPrint, passing the print job from your iPad to the printer via the PC/Mac.

Take a look at Readdle Printer Pro:

https://readdle.com/printerpro