Christian Løverås of Automagisk blog has posted a mini review of the Nikon GP-1 Geotagging GPS unit.
Previously, he has used a Garmin handheld GPS unit as a GPS logger to log the locations as tracks and sync the data with the photos afterwards using a specialized software. By using the Nikon GP-1 direct geotagging solution, the geotagging process has become quite simpler. The camera records the information directly in the photos with no post processing required.
Check out the Nikon GP-1 mini review and see how the GPS unit can be mounted directly on flash hot shoe or on the camera strap.
Recently CNet’s Crave gadget blog and other place like Dvice has discovered a new GPS geotagging hardware for Nikon DSLRs from an European company Foolography that we mentioned a while ago. Except the price changes there is nothing new. Basically the “Unleashed” is a tiny Bluetooth module that sits directly on the 10-pin connector of Nikon DSLR cameras. It receives the GPS information from an external Bluetooth GPS unit
then relays the information to the camera. The camera then records the information as metadata in the photos taken. The main benefits of such approach instead of the direct wired connection are, 1) it is very small, 2) the Bluetooth GPS can be used for other things and it can be upgraded independently.
The company is currently at PMA 2009 (Warning: link has autoplay video) in Las Vegas. The product is not yet available for purchase. While you are waiting, you may want to check out another similar device called Blue2CAN.
The Nikon GP-1 Geotagging GPS has been in the market for a while now even though it is still difficult to find one from reputable places. In case you are still debating if you want one, the Nikon GP-1 user manual may help answer some of your questions. Just a friendly warning if you are on a slow connection: the file is >10MB in size. It is not because the GP-1 is complicated, but because the manual contains translations of 20 different languages.
Some interesting information
- The package contains both GP1-CA10 cable for cameras with 10-pin remote terminals (D3, D700, D300, D2X, D2XS, D2HS, D200), and GP1-CA90 for cameras with accessory terminals (D90). It also has GP1-CL1 strap adapter for attaching the GPS to camera strap instead of the hot-shoe.
- If you want to use remote shutter release when the GPS is attached, you will need to get the MC-DC2 remote cord.
- GP-1 does not have a on/off switch. It continues to receive GPS data even when the camera is turned-off. You need to unplug the cable connecting it to the camera to turn it off. Otherwise it will shut off after three hours of idle.
- When GP-1 is connected, the exposure meter on 2-series cameras (D2X, D2XS, D2HS, or D200) will not turn off unless you turn the camera off! D3, D700, D300, or D90 have a custom setting to turn the meter off (GPS>Auto meter off). Somehow the power to the GPS is linked to the metering circuit. Keeping meter on will make sure the GPS data is ready when the shutter is pressed. The GP-1 will still periodically acquires GPS data even when camera or exposure meters are off as mentioned previously.
- If no GPS information is received for two seconds, no GPS data will be recorded.
- The recorded GPS data include latitude, longitude, altitude, and coordinated universal time (UTC). The UTC time is recorded independent of camera time. There is no heading information.
- You can connect GP-1 to a computer for use with mapping software and other applications using the USB cable supplied with your digital camera.
Still want one?
- Amazon
has it from 3rd party merchants
- J&R seems to have it in-stock
- Roberts Imaging has the lowest price of $199.97 but out of stock
- Adorama is currently out of stock
- B&H doesn’t even have a listing for it
According to Nikon Japan, the GP-1 GPS unit has a suggested retail price of ¥21,000. Quick check using Google showed that it is about US $220 (subject to currency exchange rate variation). The price is similar to the US price we have seen.
There still isn’t much official availability information yet. Someone on DPReview said it should be available before December 10th.
Screenshot of the Nikon Japan page showing GP-1 price
Geotagging is the process of adding geographical identification metadata to various media such as photographs, video, websites, or RSS feeds and is a form of geospatial metadata. This data usually consists of latitude and longitude coordinates, though it can also include altitude, bearing, accuracy data, and place names. – [Wikipedia]
Previously, I did a research on geotagging hardwares for Nikon DSLRs and found that most of them are quite expensive, except the $149.99 Geomet’r GPS Receiver Adapter (GNC-35)
. Here is an user review posted on flickr in the GeoTagging Flickr group. From the comments posted after the review, The GNC-35 seems to work well. Read More…
T-Mobile G1 is the world’s first phone based on Google’s Android platform. It has a 3.2 megapixel camera, and a built-in GPS. So the question is, does it support geotagging?
The answer is “yes!”. According to the leaked T-Mobile G1 user guide, it is simply a matter of turning it on in the camera’s capture settings. There is a checkbox labeled as “Store location in pictures”. Once checked, user can then save the longitude and latitude in the picture’s metadata. Great!
My current phone is a Nokia E71. It has a 3MP auto-focus camera and a built-in GPS, but it needs third party software (such as locr) to tag the photos with the location information. The camera software does support more controls such as white balance, flash modes, etc. Unlike the G1, it can take nice videos as well.
Posted in
Digital photography on September 25th, 2008.
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