If you are looking for a geotagging solution for Nikon DSLR cameras, there are the Nikon GP-1 and many other third party options (low cost options). Most of the units I have talked about are direct tagging units, which are capable of directly writing (via camera) the GPS location information (latitude, longitude, altitude, and UTC time) in the photos. Another types of geotagging devices are also available that are basically GPS loggers that log the movements of the camera at a fixed time interval. The location information needs to be synced to the photos later using geotagging software on desktop computers. It adds some extra work and it is not as accurate because the unit may not be logging a location when a photo is taken. But it can log locations (waypoints) when the user is not taking photos. So it does something more than just geotagging.
If you are not happy about the limitations of existing geotagging GPS devices, a new start-up company in China called Shenzhen Easytag Technology Co. has developed a device called Easytagger that can do both direct photo tagging and track logging for about the same price as the Nikon GP-1. Read More…
The Eye-Fi Wi-Fi cards are amazing achievement of digital technology. By incorporating a complete Wi-Fi chip inside the tiny SDHC card together with storage capacity, the Eye-Fi cards enable digital photographers to wirelessly transmit photos, and now videos as well, to their computers and Internet photo/video sharing sites. Some even offer geotagging capability by using location information of known wireless access points.
Now, the company is shipping the 4GB Eye-Fi Explore Video
and Eye-Fi Share Video
models for $99 and $79 respectively. The differences between these two are that the former offers unlimited Geotagging and one year of Hotspot Access. If you decided to go with the latter, you can still add Geotagging and Hotspoint Access services for $14.99/year per feature. Read More…
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
This is the first reported US price of the Nikon GP-1 GPS geotagging unit. J&R has it list for US $239.99 and $30.00 saving brings it to US $209.99 final. The price is consistent with the Canadian price of $275. You still pay a premium for a Nikon brand product but the price isn’t awfully hefty in comparison.
Screen capture of the J&R page (Click to enlarge)
Update [November 26, 2008]: Same price at Adorama.
Nikon GP-1 is a GPS unit for geotagging your images with latitude, longitude, altitude, and time information when you press the shutter release button. It attaches to camera’s accessory shoe or a camera strap and connects to camera’s accessory terminal. Two different connection cables will be provided so it is compatible with all the latest Nikon DSLR cameras: D90, D3, D300, D700, D2Xs and D200. Read More…
