One this I really miss about my 6DII was the built in GPS. R6II does not have it.
I've tried using the recommended method by using the Canon Connect app on my iPhone, but I find it really hit and miss.
Unless my iPhone is active, and does not fall asleep it either doesn't record the GPS location or it uses the latest GPS location for each subsequent photo even though I have moved to significantly distant location.
When attaching accessories that communicate through contacts of the multi-function shoe, insert the accessory's mounting foot until it clicks into place, then slide the mounting foot locking lever to secure it. For details, refer to the accessory's Instruction Manual.
The following accessories cannot be attached directly to the multi-function shoe.
Speedlite EL-1/600EXII-RT/600EX-RT/580EX II
Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT (Ver. 2)/ST-E3-RT
Off-Camera Shoe Cord OC-E3
GPS Receiver GP-E2
To use the accessories listed above with the camera, you will need Multi-Function Shoe Adapter AD-E1, sold separately. For details, refer to the AD-E1 Instruction Manual.
The Canon connect app works pretty well with my M6 II and M50 II. Usually though I open the app to get the handshake started.
I'm using Android 15.
I for one got the GP-E2 and the AD-E1. I scoured ebay for a month and snagged a deal from Robert's Camera, Indianapolis for a very reasonably priced GP-E2 and got the AD-E1 from the Canon store on Amazon. I also found that the Camera Connect app wasn't as reliable as I needed it to be, especially when I am in countries other than the US, and/or when I was going to remote places.
Sashi wrote:
I for one got the GP-E2 and the AD-E1. I scoured ebay for a month and snagged a deal from Robert's Camera, Indianapolis for a very reasonably priced GP-E2 and got the AD-E1 from the Canon store on Amazon. I also found that the Camera Connect app wasn't as reliable as I needed it to be, especially when I am in countries other than the US, and/or when I was going to remote places.
Why do you need the AD-E1? The GP-E2 is working on my R5, R5 II, and R7 without any adapter.
I have found the Camera Connect app to be unreliable and no fun to use, and worthless if you're shooting with more than one body at a time. That's why I use the now discontinued Canon hot shoe gizmos with my R5m2. This will sync the clocks and automatically record GPS. In addition, I use GPS recording on my iPhone using the myTracks app. This allows me to download the GPX track log to my computer and fill in any potential gaps. On my recent 16 day trek thru Namibia, less than 1% of the photos didn't have a GPS location through the Canon gadget, and those I could easily fill in with the myTracks log.
I forgot to mention, if you're willing to use the command line, another option is to use ExifTool to add the GPS info to (copies of) the images. More details, and example, here
I have other off-brand hot-shoe accessories that I am not too comfortable putting directly on to the camera hot shoe. Also, the AD-E1 offers some level of water and dust protection that I would not have gotten otherwise.
Thanks for all the comments folks!. Much appreciated!
I don't want to go the GP-E2 or equivalent route, just too expensive for my comfort. I'd rather put that money to a new lens.
I think the problem with the Canon Connect app is the iPhone goes to sleep and the camera loses the connection.
The GPS Logger vbnut mentions is an Android app, but I found an Apple app GPS Tracks the does the logging. It also has a setting that prevents the iPhone from sleeping so that might even help Canon Connect to keep working.
Now I need to find a plugin to ON1 Photo Raw that works similar to the Lightroom plugin.
The GPS logging apps and LRC plug-in sound like a good solution. A 'low tech' option I've used when I want to backtrack through images and add GPS coordinates is to use a combination of my Google Maps timeline and GPS coordinates from photos made with my phone while also shooting with my camera gear. While it's not as precise as a frequently updated GPS log, I'm more interested in general coordinates, which I add via the "Set GPS Coordinates" menu option while culling images in Photo Mechanic. I'm guessing it's probably also possible to do this in LRC but haven't looked into it because of PM's ability to do so. If in the middle of nowhere, the point is to take a photo with the phone at locations where key photos are being captured with the 'real' camera. Combined with satellite imagery, it's usually possible to accurately pinpoint locations between phone snaps, if needed. But logging and the plug-in would be a more efficient solution.
I cannot comment on iPhone, but with Android (and R8) I initially had similar issues with the Canon app: the geotagging would initially work well after the camera had been connected, and failed later to the point of being useless. This was due to the following behavior:
- the phone suspended the app when it thought I was not using it any more (meaning e.g. display was on lock screen)
- the app's access to GPS was suspended when the phone thought I was not using it
It took me changing no less than three settings in the phone's configuration menu. The app actually gave some hints about this. After this, the geotagging works reasonably well for me, also on M6ii, and I use it regularly.
Quite possibly the iPhone has similar behavior and options.
rmhh wrote:
I cannot comment on iPhone, but with Android (and R8) I initially had similar issues with the Canon app: the geotagging would initially work well after the camera had been connected, and failed later to the point of being useless. This was due to the following behavior:
- the phone suspended the app when it thought I was not using it any more (meaning e.g. display was on lock screen)
- the app's access to GPS was suspended when the phone thought I was not using it
It took me changing no less than three settings in the phone's configuration menu. The app actually gave some hints about this. After this, the geotagging works reasonably well for me, also on M6ii, and I use it regularly.
Quite possibly the iPhone has similar behavior and options....Show more →
What were the settings that you changed on your Android?
Currently traveling, from memory I recall the following. I have a German Android, and translations may not be accurate.
- settings -> apps -> Camera Connect -> permissions -> position -> allow always
- settings -> apps -> Camera Connect -> battery use -> not restricted
I don't recall the third setting but might find it in my notes later. If your phone has a setting to prevent the app to be moved to standby, this might have to be changed as well. Good luck.
rmhh wrote:
Currently traveling, from memory I recall the following. I have a German Android, and translations may not be accurate.
- settings -> apps -> Camera Connect -> permissions -> position -> allow always
- settings -> apps -> Camera Connect -> battery use -> not restricted
I don't recall the third setting but find it in my notes later. If your phone has a setting to prevent the app to be moved to standby, this might have to be changed as well. Good luck.
Sounds like these are the relevant ones, I hope changing them helps. For the Android case, I did not find anything further in my notes; maybe I also had to maximize the GPS precision.
Both tracked my route while the iPhone was locked and in my pocket.
While GPS Tracks has a better looking user interface, you need to pay a yearly subscription for the Pro version to be able to email the track information.
GPSLoggerS is pretty basic, but emailing the track information is part of the free app. It will save the information as CSV and/or KML file types.
And is also has an app, GPSLoggerS Tracks, for MacOS so you can see the track information on a Mac.
They both use a lot of battery, though. It's interesting that there is no Background Application Refresh on/off for GPSLoggerS
but GPS Tracks does.
I think I will stick with the GPSLoggerS as a backup to Canon Connect.
