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R. Francois
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p.1 #1 · Do you use GPS?

i'm looking at some GPS solutions to geotag my images. Not that i travel that much, but since i'm a gearhead i love gadgets like that. And i'm planning a trip in a couple of weeks and i would like to geotag my images. So i wonder: do you guys use any kind of GPS device? how do you like that?

I'm looking at the DawnTech Di-GPS (Basic). It writes the GPS data directly to the images. That way i do not have to 'synchronize' afterwards. I think when i keep track separately i will not use it as much as when it's done on the fly with every click i make. I could be completely wrong here, since i have no experience with tooling like this.
So tell me your ideas

Best,

Raymond

Aug 01, 2008 at 05:35 AM

mlife
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p.1 #2 · Do you use GPS?

My phone (nokia N95) geotag's images... its really fun and great to be able to see where the image was taken... If there were an "easy" way to have this built into a DSLR (D3x idea for you guys at nikon) I would be all over it!!

In the meantime, If I take a picture with my D2x and want it "geotagged" ill usually just pull my phone out of my pocket and take the same image again... when I get home Ill then transfer the exif location data to the D2x image... Extra work, I know, but for now it beats lugging around a gps attached to my DSLR untl there's a better way!

...oh.. and by the way "picasa" lets you upload pictures for free and reads the location data from the exif.... great for sharing with your friends and family. Samples below

http://picasaweb.google.com/mymobilephotos/MiscCellPhoneImages/photo#map

Edited on Aug 01, 2008 at 05:49 AM

Aug 01, 2008 at 05:44 AM

AJ Nadershahi
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p.1 #3 · Do you use GPS?

Raymond,

I have the DawnTech and it works very well in exactly the scenario you describe. Mine is attached to the neck strap, which I find less cumbersome than having it mounted on the flash mount.

Even if you don't need it for professional reasons, from a gearhead perspective it's still great fun to click on a shortcut and have a global map show where the image was captured.

Edited on Aug 01, 2008 at 06:29 AM

Aug 01, 2008 at 06:28 AM

MichaelKirk
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p.1 #4 · Do you use GPS?

I've been using 2 of the Solmeta units http://www.solmeta.com/en/
since December on my D200/D300 and noting but good things to say obout this unit. Do a search here, Nikoncafe, flickr, etc and there are a tone of threads compairing gps units.

Michael

Aug 01, 2008 at 01:43 PM

BCNY
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p.1 #5 · Do you use GPS?

I have the Dawntech attached to my neckstrap. It works quite well, but indoors the unit doesn't really lock unless you lock before walking indoors. Battery life on a D200 is horrible but on a D3 it's fine.

Aug 01, 2008 at 02:43 PM

dgillilan
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p.1 #6 · Do you use GPS?

HI,
I use a newly purchased Garmin eTrex Vista. It is handheld and I wanted the option to use it myself and not have one of those that just sits atop the camera, so that its only use is atop the camera. I have mapping abilities, a Mapsource CD coming today so I can have topo all over the US, and I am very pleased with my decision to get the Garmin eTrex Vista. I love having the data on where my images were taken. I wish I had done this earlier so that my recent trip to Utah would have the geotagging, but I did at least get the gps data from a fellow shooter on that trip who had his GPS.
Good luck, a very worthwhile addition (gps) IMO, to your photo equipment,
Debra
p.s. If you get a handheld GPS to attach to your camera, be sure to get one with a serial port connector thing, the MC-35 that connects to the 10 pin remote terminal on your NIkon needs a serial port to connect to. Also, the MC-35 has a remote connector so that you can have the GPS connected to it, and also a remote cable so you can release the cable using the remote.

Edited on Aug 02, 2008 at 12:03 PM

Aug 02, 2008 at 12:01 PM

ckcarr
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p.1 #7 · Do you use GPS?

I use a GPS to figure out how to get back to my Jeep. Mark & wander...

Aug 02, 2008 at 05:59 PM

intero
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p.1 #8 · Do you use GPS?

I used it today for the first time on my D300 (Solmeta NP2). I've been talking about wanting to do this for ages, but never got around to getting a receiver. Glad I waited and didn't get a big, bulky (or syncing) set-up. Anyway, we took the boy for a walk around Castle Island today and tried it out. Being a bit of a geek, I am really digging this. Wish I had it for the 10's of thousands of shots I'd taken over the last 5 years of this addiction.

Not art work, but cool: http://maps.smugmug.com/?feedType=geoAlbum&Data=5602351_ehe8P

-Tom

Edited on Aug 03, 2008 at 04:31 AM

Aug 03, 2008 at 02:17 AM

Pavel
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p.1 #9 · Do you use GPS?

I'm trying to not scratch any gearhead itches, but history would suggest that such is a naive endeavor doomed to failure. So, I'm trying to not think of exactly what Francois is asking, and since I am not thinking at all - I need to know from current gps users, especially those that went with a garmin solution, if the cables get in the way and become annoying?

It just seems like a major pita, while atop the flash mount, with a short stub of a cable seems more transparent, though annoying for the flash being impossible.

I'd love to hear more detailed accounts from you gents that have made the jump ... especially about problem areas. Even though I'm not thinking about anymore NAS, nope, never.

Aug 03, 2008 at 01:06 PM

AJ Nadershahi
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p.1 #10 · Do you use GPS?

I started out with a non-dedicated gps system by way of custom made cable, (the Nikon serial interface is just way too bulky). As nice as the idea is for an all-in-one product, the size and usability are just not worth it.

Admit to yourself that you NEED to bite the bullet and get one of the dedicated devices.

Edited on Aug 03, 2008 at 01:56 PM

Aug 03, 2008 at 01:55 PM

camerapapi
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p.1 #11 · Do you use GPS?

"DO YOU USE GPS"
Yes, but only for driving and when I go fishing.
William Rodriguez
Miami, Florida.

Aug 03, 2008 at 02:43 PM

Timm
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p.1 #12 · Do you use GPS?

As a field biologist, I own and use several Garmin GPS units. Unfortunately, I don't have the MC-35 to attach it to the camera--and I can't see getting one. The Garmin serial cable is bulky enough by itself, and I can't imagine it would be convenient to have it attached to another cable plugged into the camera. The Garmins, BTW, are extremely good units. I have one of the original eTrexes and two of the larger, more sensitive 12XLs. The 12XL works better under forest canopy and in canyons, but, unlike the eTrex, it does not record the elevation when I mark a waypoint. It's also about twice the size and weight of the eTrex. Since it uses 4 AA batteries, the 12XL has a much longer batt life than the eTrex, which uses 2 AAs. I've found disposable Lithium batteries give me the best bang-for-the-buck, and the most power for the weight.

I ordered a Solmeta N2 from Nikonian last month, but it's still back-ordered. I hope it gets here before my field season is over!

Aug 03, 2008 at 05:44 PM

gugs
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p.1 #13 · Do you use GPS?

I have used the small Sony gadget, but I don't use it a lot anymore...
see
http://users.skynet.be/van.hooveld/Reviews/sonygps.html

Guy

Aug 03, 2008 at 05:56 PM

EB-1
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p.1 #14 · Do you use GPS?

I have one of the cheapie portable loggers so I can find the GPS info later by timestamp if needed for some reason. However, I don't contaminate the RAW files after the fact or use it on every frame. Final output has no EXIF data anyway.

EBH

Edited on Aug 03, 2008 at 06:05 PM

Aug 03, 2008 at 06:05 PM

turnert
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p.1 #15 · Do you use GPS?

Like Timm, I'm a field scientist (geologist), but my 'offices' are the forests of western Oregon and Washington where even my $2.5k Trimble GeoXT can't pick-up a signal worth a crap when you're under a forest canopy, or down in a narrow canyon, or both. But when I do get a signal and I want to sync it to a field photo, then I just use the time stamp from both devices.

When I'm taking photos that are not work-related, then I have no need for a spatial reference.

~Ted

Edited on Aug 03, 2008 at 06:28 PM

Aug 03, 2008 at 06:26 PM

gps-kamera.eu
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p.1 #16 · Do you use GPS?

Yes, I use GPS on Nikon D300 and D200. It's part of my job.

I had the chanche to work and test
Solmeta N1
Solmeta N2
Dawntech basic
Dawntech pro

* Dawntech basic is for real money savers. But has the least comfort.
* Solmeta N1 and Dawntech pro are pretty equal in comfort and use
- Do you need to use the original Nikon remote control? ==> pro
- Do you prefere to have a inbuilt battery to save camera power and a jack-plug remote is fine? ==> N1
* Solmeta N2 is unique on its "indoor-function" and the built in compass to tag the pics with the direction of view.

I did a comparison matrix in several languages to be found at http://www.gps-kamera.eu/download.html

Cheers
Seb

Oct 10, 2008 at 03:05 PM

louis fusco
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p.1 #17 · Do you use GPS?

no one looked into the gp-1?

http://www.nikonusa.com/Find-Your-Nikon/Photography-Accessories/Miscellaneous/25396/GP-1-GPS-Unit.html

Oct 10, 2008 at 03:31 PM

Wingspar
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p.1 #18 · Do you use GPS?

Yes. I have GPS in my aircraft.

I see no need for GPS for my photography, I know where the football field is.

However, as some in this thread have mentioned, surveyors, geologists and other scientists probably see GPS and photography as a valuable time saving tool, and I’m sure many just like it cause it adds another dimension to their hobby.
--------
Gary
Will Fly for Food... and more Nikon stuff

Oct 10, 2008 at 08:47 PM


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