How can I view my DSLR photos at full size on the iPad?

If you want full screen pictures from your DSLR, you need to change the Aspect Ratio on your camera. Try setting to 4:3

I think your current setting is 16:9 that's why you have two black bar, on top and below your pictures.

Your best bet is 3:2 short of changing you camera 😁

Basically the camera and iPad have different Aspect Ratio.

If you really need 4:3, you need to crop picture.

I think Diavonex got it right. Your iPad is doing what it's supposed to do. Instead of stretching your DSLR photos to fit the shape of the iPad screen (which would make them look wrong), it is showing them with their correct proportions, and filling any left-over space on the screen with those black bands.

So if your camera can't shoot at 4:3 then you will need to open your photos in an image editor program and crop them in a way that turns them into the 4:3 ratio. Resizing is not enough because that won't change the ratio of width to depth - it only changes the size.

The resolution of an iPad 2 is 1024 x 768 pixels, and the iPad 3 is 2048 x 1536 pixels. (Notice that in both of those examples, the ratio is 4 x 3.) So depending on your model of iPad you should make sure that you do not make your images any smaller than that if you also resize them when you crop.

Anyway, I personally don't mind the look of the black bands but I understand that it's a matter of personal choice!

Heck, this is an age-old problem. 35mm cameras have always had 3:2 negatives but there was a time when absolutely NO 3:2 paper was available. Even now, the only 3:2 paper is 6"X4". As a former colleague used to say: "The great thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from!"

The only solution is to routinely include more background than you really need and then to crop as required for the display and/or paper you intend to use.