James R wrote:
Read an article sometime back that the GPS satellite network is aging and could start failing in the coming years. I haven't read anything about a plan to replace them. I'm certain the satellites will be replaced, but I wonder if there will be disruptions or spotty service until this problem is resolved.




Considering how much our military depends on them, the money will be found. You are right though about possible distruptions.

The thing that concerns me is I can find a program in place to replace them. Maybe Obama will appoint a Satellite Czar!

There are also rival GPS-type systems in the works.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COMPASS_navigation_system

The european one will likely be shelved since they have no dough, but the Chinese one could be realized.

But who are we kidding, the American GPS is so widespread and profitable, there's no way it goes away anytime soon. Fearing the loss of GPS is like fearing the obsolescence of NEFs. Like not gonna happen anytime soon.

I like it.

I use the Nikon GPS system for about half of my shooting. It makes sense to me for my landscapes and others. Do you always remember each moutain lakes name and location years later? Want to sell it as an art print, but don't know the name of the lake......easy to look up with GPS on the file....

Even if you are just driving around backroads and you stumble into something phtographic.....say a farm scene.....now you know where you were, and if you wish to go back for a reshoot in differant light or season, you know exactely where.

For airshows, it helps keeps track of what airshow I shoot a particular plane, that I may have shot dozens of times. Years later I have the GPS tag on the file so I know exactely what airshow I shot that particular photo at.

With the Nikon (and I assume others) it take NO effort to have the GPS coodinates automatically attached to the photos. There is nothing further to do.

I'm thinking of one for the reason wiphotoguy states - what if you want to go back? I have photos taken with 6 and 8 MP cameras that I wouldn't mind having in 24MP now. Trying to get back to that some spot is sometimes easy, sometimes I wish I had exact coordinates. Or maybe you take a scene and think it would look amazing in fog / snow / different sun angle - a gps would let you get back to the exact spot for a reshoot.

Steve

Moose Peterson love the Nikon GP-1 (I know, he loves everything Nikon), but, blogged about a design flaw with the unit. Apparently, the cable has some issues. Here is the post: http://www.moosenewsblog.com/2009/07/not-the-best-design-nikon/

Interesting....

I have the GP1, but haven't had the cable issue...(yet?)
I am not a big fan of the cable though, with the unit on the hot shoe, the cable is longer/larger than it needs to be and so it does make a large arc around the upper left side of the camera. I am hoping someone creates a shorter, more flexible one. Something that would hug the body closer.

I guess the supplied one would work well when attached to the camera strap, but I have only done hotshoe mount so far.

anyone try one of these?

http://www.di-gps.com/di-GPS/mini_2.htm