DSLRUsers.com

Hey guys, been a few years (?) since I've posted here - so hi again! (:

Looking for a GPS unit for my D3 - there seems to be lots of options:

Nikon GP-1
Opteka GPN-1
Promote Systems GPS-N-1
Dawn M3-MTK-S3, M3L-S3, and M3L-SP
Blue SLR blueSLR for Nikon Professional DSLR
Custom Idea GeoPic II
Geomet'r GNC-38
Wolverine Geotag GPS

It'd be awesome to have these and do a "GPS shoot-out" to find all the pros/cons of each model. Big question I have that perhaps someone who has one or more of these units could answer - if you take a photo before the GPS unit has achieved a complete satellite location fix, does any GPS information get passed to the EXIF such as last known GPS coordinates, or nothing?

Thanks in advance,
Scott

An alternative is to use a separate GPS logger and geotag the image in post processing. This tends to be easier and cheaper.

ATJ wrote:An alternative is to use a separate GPS logger and geotag the image in post processing. This tends to be easier and cheaper.

I use my iPhone and gps4cam app and desktop client when I want to tag them (although I do have to remember to do it)

NB: I notice the new Lightroom 4 beta has much improved GPS tagging capabilities (like taking data from GPX tracking logs or even just choosing places on a map (from google maps) and dropping photos on that point to tag them after the fact)

Cheaper but I don't know about easier. With a dedicated GPS all you have to do is plug it in.

Remorhaz wrote:NB: I notice the new Lightroom 4 beta has much improved GPS tagging capabilities (like taking data from GPX tracking logs or even just choosing places on a map (from google maps) and dropping photos on that point to tag them after the fact)

I have a plug-in for LR3 that dos that already.

Murray Foote wrote:With a dedicated GPS all you have to do is plug it in.

But you then have the added weight on the camera and potential inconvenience of having a dongle hanging off the camera. Some units take power from the camera and so reducing battery life.

With a separate GPS logger, all you have to do is turn it on and carry it with you (in your pocket, backpack or wherever). A separate GPS is not camera dependent (works with any camera) and also works if you carry and use more than one camera.

When I went to Antarctica with a dedicated GPS, I didn't notice any added weight when I used it but then it only added between 1% and 3% depending on the lens. I had no problems at all with battery power; on arriving in Patagonia it took me 5 days to run the battery down and I never came close to exhausting it in a single day (mind you D3s has pretty good battery characteristics). I didn't find having it attached to the camera a problem and it's not a dongle, it has a use - do you regard your flashes as dongles?

With a separate GPS logger you still have to deal with the software and assigning locations to each image. I observed Greg using his and checked out the logistics of using the software. I initially considered a GPS logger and I still maintain that as far as I can see, a directly connected unit is much more straightforward.

With respect to the original post, one reason I went with the di-GPS is that you can attach a remote release to it.

One issue with some of the camera based GPS units is that as they take their power from the camera, when you shut the camera down (or it powers itself down to conserve battery life) that also shuts down the GPS.

That may be problematic if you're wanting to shoot quickly after restarting your camera.

In that case you'd copy the GPS location in Lightroom from a couple of shots later when the GPS kicks in. The other case is when you forget to add the GPS but then you can forget to turn a logger on too.

Murray Foote wrote:The other case is when you forget to add the GPS but then you can forget to turn a logger on too.

In that case you just get the tracklog from someone else with you who has a logger.

For the Blue Mountains trip on the 21st I will wear my Garmin running watch. All I'll have to do when we start the walk is turn it on. I won't have to plug anything into my camera, in fact, I won't even have to get my camera out of its bag until I'm ready to take a photo. For me, this will be much easier, others may see it differently.

I reckon gps4cam is the way to go, if you have a smart phone, no extra outlay, no power issues (camera), very little weight penalty (in ya pocket), just take a picture at the end of the trip.

and its on android now

In terms of the GPS units that attach to the camera, I have owned both the Opteka GPN-1 and the Nikon G-1.

The Opteka was flimsy and broke after very little use, hence my purchase of the Nikon unit. It is far sturdier.

I believe that you need to have acquired satellite signals before any info is recorded in Exif.

I own and occaisionally use a Phottix Geo One...like the Nikon GP-1 it is well built, but will suck the life out of your batteries. I will confirm that you need a GPS lock for it to embed anything into the EXIF

I use GeoLogTag on my iPhone. It records a GPX log which I just input via a LR plugin.
I went with this option because it only cost a few dollars, where on camera devices and stand alone units are extremely expensive in comparison.
If I was using it all the time then I'd probably consider a dedicated unit.

I have used a Photix GP1 for my last few trips to Europe and can't say that it wasted battery life at all as I changed to a fresh battery every day and charged at night.
Co-Ordinates are embedded into the EXIF and Lightroom will read locations to within four or five meters.
The unit does not get in the road of camera use and you can use a remote with it attached.

I also have the Phottix Geo One. I do not really notice major battery use as I take fewer pics than some when out and about.
It definately does not give any info at all if there is no fix at the time of shutter release. They have the same limitations as most GPS units when you are in dense cover, or gullies.
The difference with one of these units is that you can actually plug it into a laptop and, if you have the maping software, use it to navigate as well. Handy for car based trips.